As Warriors make National Basketball Association history, Kobe Bryant has disaster of a night

Lakers coach Byron Scott didn’t mince words about Bryant’s play.

The former NBA MVP went 1-of-14 from the field against Golden State, tallying just four points in 25 minutes of action on court. “In all honesty, it’s tough when the shots that I take, the pull-up shots, jumpers and contested jumpers, were tough shots to hit at 27”. I could’ve scored 80 tonight. We just have bigger problems.

A sell-out crowd at the Oracle Arena had come to see the National Basketball Association champions make history and the outcome never looked in doubt from the outset against a Lakers side who slumped to 2-12 with the loss.

From there, the Lakers start a trip in which they play five games in seven days.

Earlier this year, Curry broke the NBA’s three-pointer record by landing 286 in the regular season – surpassing his own record of 272. “We’ve got to figure out how to play systematically in a position that’s going to win us ballgames”.

Scott said he’s not going to reduce Bryant’s playing time because he has decided “how much he’s going to play per quarter and I’ll stick with that for as much as I can”. Through their first 16 games, the Warriors’ 15.6-point average margin of victory is the NBA’s highest since the 1996-97 Bulls outscored opponents by 16.0 per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers met in El Segundo following a long night in Golden State, where the Warriors blew out the Lakers and led by over 40 points at one point. But, things still favored the Warriors.

“I’m not really anxious about it, honestly”, Kobe Bryant said after the game.

“But the one thing about KB, he’s willing to do it, whatever I ask him to do. Do they think I’m happy?”

On Wednesday, Scott clearly stated that he had not even considered reducing Bryant’s role or attempting to cut minutes. Stephen Curry held his follow-through after breaking the league’s 3-point record before halftime as he finished 7 for 9 from long distance, including a 4-point play. “I think when you’re not making shots, I would prefer him not to shoot as many 3s and try to get to his sweet spots”. In short, even the optimistic Lakers fans are losing hope that this season will bring some pleasant moments or Bryant will mellow and be a logical player in his retirement (hopefully) year. “I got faith in Kobe that he’ll be okay”.

For head coach Byron Scott, he wants his rookie to take the situation constructively as this will also serve as a learning experience for him.