Lakers’ Kobe Bryant isn’t concerned about playing so many minutes

“It could”, Scott said of Bryant’s offensive aggression and any affect on the team, “but first of all, he’s had 20 years of experience in this league”. Kobe does have a competitive side, but with the pain and a team that isn’t going to challenge for a championship anytime soon, maybe the time is now and not later. His shot selection tapered off in the second half scoring just eight points on 3-of-6 shooting, but he was on the floor late in the fourth quarter playing with the game on the line. “But I think that’s on the guys that have been here – myself, (DeAndre Jordan), J.J. – we have a good group of guys who have been here for about three or four years”. After his performance against the Detroit Pistons – one that led to the Lakers’ second win of the season – Kobe said that he was dreading the walk to his auto after the game due to his injuries. Over his twenty years in the league and 17 All Star game appearances, Kobe has done it all.

“You always expect that from a former player, a guy that used to be with you, he feels like he knows your players”, Casey said.

In terms of the what the Blazers have to prepare for, the best play the Lakers have is one they don’t run enough: pick and rolls with Russell. “They’re the best team I’ve seen in a while”.

Bryant has been plagued by injuries that have forced him to miss 123 games in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons combined and the Lakers won just 48 of the 164 games in those two seasons.

According to Mark Medina, Byron Scott argued that Kobe “has earned the privilege” to take the shots he’s taking.

The coaching staff wants to monitor his minutes and make sure that he is getting plenty of rest, which includes sitting him on certain back-to-back games.

“All indications are, to me, from him, that this (two-year contract) is going to be it”, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told National Basketball Association last year about Bryant. Will Kobe Bryant finally hang it up after the season?

“Talking about tonight and talking about Tuesday, if you want him to be able to play both games and be effective, I got to put the minutes back down.”

“He’s one of the greatest of all time”, DeMar DeRozan, a Compton native and life-long fan of Bryant said. So for the most part, I’ve been playing 30, 32 minutes. He is shooting 33 percent from the field and 20 percent from 3-point territory. Yet, Bryant is averaging the most minutes on the team right now, and this needs to change.

Los Angeles struggled defensively in the first half allowing Toronto to make seven of their first 11 attempts, including Lowry going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first half. As if this season is all about making Bryant comfortable as he heads into retirement.