[excerpt] Kobe Bryant’s relationships with his teammates off the court aren’t questioned or even really monitored anymore, because they’ve been going so well. On the court, though, there has definitely been some love lost.
Bryant had one of his shakiest games of the season, shooting 7 of 26 from the field and scoring 17 points. For the second consecutive game, Bryant was muted in the fourth quarter against a defense totally bent toward him.
“The challenge we’re facing now is the other guys have just got to make plays,” Bryant said of his teammates.
According to Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Bryant was so irritated by the team blowing its game to the Clippers on Thursday night that “he was challenging his players after the game” before calming down. Jackson followed it up with his own challenge, saying: “If they’re going to finish games like they finished games the last three or four games where we can’t produce in the fourth quarter, why should we go in the playoffs? We’re just going to be four and out in that situation.”
“For us to win games as of late, I’ve got to be on,” Bryant said. “If that shot’s not falling, we struggle. If teams are going to double- and triple-team me, other guys have to step up.”
Bryant did praise his teammates for playing hard, and one thing Jackson likes about his team is its “camaraderie” – even if he joked before the game: “I’ve enjoyed coaching this team. The guys have a good time. I told ’em they have too much fun together. They enjoy each other’s company. It might be a problem.”
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