Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant shouldered responsibility for their 103-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, even using a few expletives to describe his 3-15 shooting (2-8 from beyond the arc) performance.
On Monday, in addition to giving Bryant the day off to rest, head coach Byron Scott said he wanted Bryant to get his mind off of basketball, alleviate some of his frustrations.
“I know he’s frustrated and I want him to take a day off to get away from it a little bit,” Scott said at the Lakers facility.
Bryant, who spent the end of the preseason nursing a calf injury (a lower leg contusion suffered during the Lakers preseason game against the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas), has knocked down 16 of his 51 field goals attempts through three games to start the season, 29 of which, have been three-pointers.
— What will Kobe Bryant make this season? Find out here! —
“Fine,” Scott said about Bryant’s shot selection. “I thought yesterday he did a much better job of getting to the basket, and he took some of the shots that we had been talking about as well. So, I’m fine with his shot selection right now. I mean, all of us can do a little bit better.”
Bryant also got to the free throw line seven times last night, knocking down all seven attempts.
At 37 years old, coming off several injuries, playing all 82 games in the final season of his contract has never been in the cards for Bryant. But, just how many games does Scott hope to get from Kobe this season?
“I think if we can get in the 60 (games), I think that will be great,” Scott said on Monday before being asked about back-to-back games. “I haven’t looked at the schedule for those rest games, just taking it one game at a time right now.”
Larry Nance, Jr. suffered a broken nose during Monday’s practice and is officially listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game. Brandon Bass suffered a corneal abrasion in his left eye on Sunday night and is also listed as questionable. The Lakers face the Denver Nuggets (1-2) on Tuesday night at Staples Center before heading out for a five-game roadtrip.
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