D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle deny Lakers played ‘scared’

Drexler may have been on his way out, but “Clyde the Glide” was an all-time great and clearly made an impression on Bryant. There was no Kobe Bryant at all.

But Bryant warned that the Lakers carry a history of success that must be respected by those who would join them.

Coach Byron Scott didn’t downplay anything.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play in so many All-Star games”, he said. “You are dealing with a big business”, Bryant said. “Those guys looked like they were scared tonight or intimidated by [Kevin] Durant and [Russell] Westbrook”, Scott said, referencing the two Thunder stars. And it’s certainly a moment that stuck with Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell, who summed up the awe and fear of God that Bryant’s dunk instilled in his teenage psyche with a priceless quote in the postgame. “We didn’t have energy”. Lou Williams scored a team-high 20 points, with Jordan Clarkson chipping in 15 points on 15 field-goal attempts. Scott had one hope ahead of time.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (17-9): Durant went for 25 points against the Cavaliers and is shooting 55.7 percent from the floor over the last seven games. Bryant is putting up 18.8 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and four assists per 29.3 minutes in his past six contests. Because there isn’t one player in LA who can stop Howard in the post. They were down 46 in the fourth, bordering their worst loss to any team. “Nobody wants to get blown out like that”. “We’re looking to come out [Tuesday against Denver] and make amends for the way we played the last game”.

T-Jones kept the Rockets in the lead during the third quarter when the Lakers tried to make a late game push.

“Players is a little tougher for me”, explained Bryant. He felt that his point guard needs to do a better job of getting other players involved.

“It was about me continuing my training and believing my timing will come back and that’s what happened”.

Bryant will let the shoulder rest and doesn’t plan on seeing a doctor.

“We put together run after run and we just continued to do things that we needed to do”, Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.

“It’s just something that needs a couple days”, he said.

Inhibited by injuries in recent seasons, Bryant is now suffering with a sore right shoulder, and his performances have not been up the standard his fans have grown accustomed to during his stellar career. Bryant and Durant dined in a restaurant in Oklahoma on Friday night.

Bryant’s retirement has been a huge assist to many bottom lines. With that in mind, the team expects him to instead opt out of his contract and become a free agent. “That is excellence”, Bryant said, referring to the franchise’s 16 National Basketball Association championships. “We talked about a lot of things, honestly”.

But the Lakers play no defense, despite the claims of their head coach to know a thing or two about the subject.