Coming fresh off a win Tuesday night in Nick Young’s season debut, the Los Angeles Lakers collected their first win against a Western Conference team and third overall by defeating the Houston Rockets, 98-92.
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Young continued to provide solid offense for the Lakers by scoring 18 points in his 28 minutes of play. Despite only shooting 2-for-8 beyond the arc, Young’s scoring ability was needed to keep the contest close.
Following the game, Kobe Bryant praised Young and mentioned his season goal for his teammate, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes:
What’s Kobe’s goal for Nick Young this year? Kobe: "Have him be Sixth Man of the Year."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) November 20, 2014
Last season, Young finished tenth in Sixth Man of the Year voting with Los Angeles Clipper Jamal Crawford taking the honors. The Lakers are going to depend on Young off the bench again this season to help spark the second unit when Bryant leaves the court.
Of course, Young and Bryant can play together at the same time just as he has done in his first two games back. With both scorers on the court, defenses have to pay attention to both which should open up shots for the other.
Coincidence or not, the Lakers have won the two games Nick Young has been in uniform. While Young was sidelined with injury, the Lakers offense lacked a flow as Bryant carried the team’s scoring load.
It is still early in the season, and Nick Young will have plenty of opportunities to shine as the team’s sixth man.
[divide]Kobe, ‘Things Go Good, It’s Us. Things Go Bad, It’s Me’