Byron Scott, CP3 sympathize with how Kobe's career is ending
Playing out the string on one of the worst teams in Los Angeles Lakers franchise history is not exactly the Hollywood ending many had hoped for Kobe Bryant.
In a final act as uplifting as the conclusion of the 1992 Quentin Tarantino film "Reservoir Dogs," the Lakers will need to win all five of their remaining contests just to tie last season's franchise-worst 21-61 mark.
"It bothers me that his last five, six, seven, eight games are going to be with the way we're playing as a team," coach Byron Scott said Tuesday night, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes. The remarks came after a 103-81 spanking by their Staples Center co-tenant Clippers - the Lakers' 10th loss in 12 games.
"That bothers me, because you're talking about a champion (in Bryant)," Scott said. "That bothers me, because he is a champion. And I hate to see him go out this way. Unfortunately, this is the way it's going to be."
It took Bryant six seasons to lose his first 120 NBA games. He's now lost that many the past two years alone.
"It bothers the hell out of me that somebody who's given 20 years to this league and has played through broken fingers, come back from the Achilles, come back from the shoulder surgery, and he still goes out there and gives it everything he has, that bothers me," Scott continued.
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In a Lakers season that - outside of Bryant's farewell tour - has been highlighted only by D'Angelo Russell's adventures in video recording, even the much-maligned Scott can't be held totally responsible for the team's failures. The ability to win is just not there, and that combined with Bryant's fading skills make it tough for opposing players like Chris Paul to watch as well.
"He's a competitor and he wants to win every night," Paul said. "To see him end like this is sort of tough."
Bryant's production has fluctuated in his last 10 games, averaging just under 17 points on 34.4 percent shooting. Throwback performances against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics (69 percent shooting and 34 points respectively) have been countered with sub-20 percent shooting nights, like his 2-for-12 outing against the Clippers.
Bryant told reporters Tuesday he has frequently discussed with veteran teammate Metta World Peace the need for the younger Lakers to approach the game with a fierce intensity that has been noticeably absent.
"I don't know," Bryant said. "It's hard to comprehend or understand where that comes from. But at the same time, we've seen players not have that at the beginning and then develop that. It's just a matter of them developing it at this point."