The Lakers lost their 6th straight game and second in two nights on Saturday, falling to the Blazers 121-103 in Portland. While there were couple of good individual performances on offense, the team, as a whole, played poorly on both sides of the floor. This isn’t new for a team which ranked 29th and 30th (last) in the league in offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively, heading into the contest.
What was new, however, was that Kobe Bryant took a break from the feel-good vibes of his retirement farewell tour to reportedly voice his displeasure about the loss and the team’s poor defense to his teammates during and after the game. Mark Medina of the LA Daily News has the report:
Bryant took particular aim at Lakers rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell and second-year forward Julius Randle and even called them out by name, sources said.
“You know I don’t do the gossip [expletive],” Bryant said in a friendly exchange when asked about the incident.
No one on the team, including Russell and Randle, were specifically asked about Bryant’s criticisms because Los Angeles News Group learned the revelations after media access to the locker room ended. But multiple sources confirmed that Bryant spoke for about two minutes after Lakers coach Byron Scott addressed the team.
Bryant also expressed his displeasure during a timeout when the Lakers trailed, 93-74, with 1:57 left in the third quarter. That happened after Randle missed two consecutive rebounds before Lillard hit a 3-pointer. The Lakers looked deflated after the play.
Byron Scott also chimed in:
“Our guards didn’t do a great job of getting through the screen,” Scott said. “Our bigs did a horrible job of being up and ready to trap them.”
But Scott expressed hope that message would become better ingrained with Bryant echoing his critiques.
“He was telling guys to get up, pressure the guys and get the ball out of their hands. The things we talked about pregame and things we talked about at halftime,” Scott said. “I think it helps because of the fact [Kobe] is who he is. At times, they’ll get tired of hearing it from coaches all the time saying the same thing. When one of your peers says it, especially someone of that magnitude, you would hope those guys would listen. You would hope they listen to that and take it to heart.”
Here is a clip of the aforementioned huddle where Kobe seemed to be upset with his teammates:
https://vine.co/v/iibWMUanZKw
Well, then. I have a few thoughts on all this.
First, it doesn’t surprise me Kobe would be upset if anyone on the team was smiling and/or laughing during/after the loss. Kobe has a history of being someone who doesn’t take well to teammates yucking it up, even after some wins. To do so after a loss will definitely draw some ire. This is just who he is. If you want to complain about this, feel free, but I don’t really get worked up either way about this sort of thing.
Regarding the team’s defense and specifically that of Randle and Russell, criticisms are, most times, going to be valid. Both young players have multiple defensive lapses a game; both are guys who don’t always put the same effort into defending as they do on the other end of the floor. These are things they will either need to grow through or become one-way players who, if we’re being honest, still can have immense value in the league while also being liabilities. This isn’t ideal, but that’s a story for another day down the road. If this stuff is still happening when they’re heading into their second contracts, it will be a major issue.
Of course, singling out Russell and Randle for their bad defense is akin to singling out two kids out of the 15 in detention for messing up in class that day. I’m pretty sure all the kids in detention messed up in class that day. That’s why they’re in detention. Similarly, the Lakers aren’t last in defensive efficiency because Russell and Randle make defensive mistakes. Look up and down the roster and you’ll find multiple rotation players who show more than just a mild indifference to playing defense.
This isn’t just a young player problem, but one from the veterans too. This includes Kobe. It’s been several years since Kobe could be considered even a neutral defender. In the seasons after his achilles injury, his level of performance on that end has only worsened. He’s not alone, either. Lou Williams is a poor defender who often half steps through possessions. And Jordan Clarkson, while offering effort defensively, is only a 2nd year player and makes mistakes/can have poor fundamentals too.
Some of these critiques, then, become a case of “do as I say, not as I do.” Part of this is natural since Kobe is old and simply isn’t physically able to play defense at the level he once did. There was a time in his career where Kobe was one of the elite wing defenders in the league. All of those 1st Team All-Defense nods he got weren’t a product of him being “Kobe Byrant”. Him not being that guy anymore doesn’t make the things he says about playing good defense irrelevant now.
However, any type of criticism which applies to some but not to others can be problematic, especially when it comes to accountability. If Byron Scott or Kobe single out the young players for not defending, but those same critiques aren’t applied to the older players whose defensive apathy is just as harmful, how is that not viewed as a double standard? Further, there is a responsibility of the coaches to make sure the players get what they’re doing on that end, even if it means relentless drilling of the scheme and its nuances every day. I won’t pretend to know what happens behind the closed doors of practices, but the lack of execution speaks to problems which go beyond the players.
However, we cannot absolve the players here either. As the ones on the floor, they must play hard on both ends, must look to perform what’s being asked of them, must take personal pride in guarding their own man and looking out for their teammates by helping and rotating accordingly. When watching the games, these things do not happen consistently. If you think this is only a coaching problem, well, you’re wrong. Being young offers context for mental mistakes and/or errors of inexperience, but it doesn’t excuse everything we see on that end of the floor.
Ultimately, I don’t mind Kobe speaking up and saying guys need to do better. Singling out a teammate or two may seem harsh, but good leadership is about the carrot and the stick. However, it’s also important when you hold others accountable to point some of that spotlight on yourself. This is true for the players and the coaches. This season we have seen leaders doing a lot of pointing out what someone else needs to do better, but little public acknowledgement of any inward looking.
I can’t say with any certainty seeing more of the latter would help improve the team’s play, but it certainly would help the optics of a team which too often, at least from the outside, looks to have a different set of rules for different sets of players.
Jack says
Oh stop it. Byron has declared that is the year of kobe no matter how bad he plays. No time for improving the youngsters. Kobe kobe kobe. So why should the youngsters give a rip. Everything changes next year and they can start over with the new coach and whichever 3rd tier free agents take the buss’s money.
LKK says
I agree that everyone on the team needs to be held accountable for the putrid defense we have seen all season. Coaches, vets, Kobe, younguns….they all need to own it. I would hope that what Kobe is trying to do is single Randle and Russell out as the future leaders of the team. As such, they need to set the tone on both ends of the floor. Let’s hope that as these kids gain more experience, the defensive side of their games will show up strong. Both players have the physical attributes to be decent defenders. They need coaching and experience to reach that goal. They also need to make up their minds that they are going to put in the effort necessary to achieve that goal. I think Kobe sees a lot of positives in both of these young men and is trying to make them realize that in order to reach their potential they’ve got to embrace the team concepts of defense.
Busboys4me says
Great point. Both though, are not known for the defensive prowess. Randle is undersized for his position and appears dissinterested in anything other than scoring or getting the rebound (so he can go score). Russell is slow-footed and appears bored on defense.
LM says
What’s worse? A couple of 19yo that laugh after a loss or an experienced front office that doesn’t do anything in face of the 2nd worse record in the league? Some time a laugh is a good medicine by the way, that’s not how a player demonstrates to be a serious professional.
LKK says
—So why should the youngsters give a rip—
Hopefully because they want more out of professional basketball than just a paycheck.
Gene says
Kobe has been laughing….goofing off….not getting back on defense….and leaving the bench before the end of games to receive treatment….He is a terrible leader…..
Busboys4me says
He is retired. I have no problem with him enjoying his last year in the business.
Baylor Fan says
It sounds like there is a note of desperation in the criticism of the rookies. They already have been moved to the second unit and Randle’s minutes have been reduced. It might work better to put them back in with the starters with the proviso that their defensive efforts need to be improved. Of course that should apply to the other starters. Maybe Kobe even gets the talk that it is time for his minutes to be reduced. It was a little jarring to see Genobli have a solid 20 minutes against the Lakers. He is older than Kobe and also playing with chronic injuries. Wouldn’t it be great if Kobe could still play like that.
KevTheBold says
Agree, these comments from Kobe were wrong.
Isn’t it true that Kobe excuses himself from many practices?
If so, that’s where he should instruct the rookies, not in the media.
In addition, to call out the rookies when the vets are no better, is simply unfair.
As to the smiling, the kids are naturally taking their cues from Kobe, thus is seems hypocritical for him to mention that aspect, as he smiles and jokes with everyone in this strange season.
I hope he realizes that if the Lakers were winning many of the away games that his reception in those stadiums would not be as welcoming.
On the bright side, we have not moved out of contention for the draft pick.
Jack says
Look, for the past few years, kobe has been the bad odor in LA that drags everyone down. I don’t know that we really wanted Dwight, but he wanted NO part of the Lakers after his year with kobe. Melo wasn’t going to share the ball with kobe. The LaMarcus thing was an embarrassment. He wanted no part of kobe or the lakers.
Honestly, the lakers should have amnestied kobe for $30m when they had the chance.
The youngsters will be fine when they leave LA.
BigCitySid says
– Hmmm, this may be a bit more serious than some want to admit. No way you believe all these men are happy about Kobe, Scott, and the franchise wasting a year of their career.
– They wouldn’t be the first to be unhappy playing within this “system”. Maybe some have already decided they would rather be somewhere else…better players have.
– Interesting Kobe has so much respect for a coach (Pops) who has no interest in the type of ball Kob believes in.
pat oslon says
We get torched by opposing guards on a nightly basis. The young players have a long way to go and a short learning curve. If they want to succeed they will have to play defense. That message needs to be drilled in their heads daily whether its from Kobe, Scott, or the FO .
Kobe singled them out because he cares about them and their future.
Robert says
Jack: “Byron has declared that is the year of Kobe no matter how bad he plays” Byron did this all on his own? Nobody else had anything to do with this?
Defense: Let’s say that Magic had not had “the announcement” and had lasted into the late 90’s. Kobe and Shaq arrive and start loafing on Defense. What would Magic have said? Keeping in mind that Magic never did too much on D and Kobe has 12 All Defensive nods. The issue is not what Kobe and Byron are saying. It is the fact that the players have shown nada on D.
Kobe: He can’t play both ends of the floor anymore. He can show flashes of himself on one side only. Those who loathe him need to ask – what to do about this? Answer nothing – we are what we are. The time to ask that question has long past and blaming this on Byron and Kobe is futile. We pay Kobe $24 million per year for a retirement tour and that is what we are getting.
LM: “What’s worse? A couple of 19yo that laugh after a loss or an experienced front office that doesn’t do anything in face of the 2nd worse record in the league?” Well I don’t know. However some do not want to acknowledge either hence the Byron/Kobe bashing. It is the most optimistic scenario possible so that is what some believe.
Rick says
Looking forward to Luke Walton coaching and watching Randle, Russell, Clarkson, Nance, Brown and our 2016 pick next year.
rr says
Jack,
The bad odor is the team’s W-L record and emaciated talent base. Howard said flat-out that he left LA so that he could win. Anthony decided to go for the money and trust Phil. Aldridge had a chance to play in his home state for a great team. Both CM and LMA spoke very highly of KB. Like many fans, you have let Kobe get in your head so much that you have no business trying to analyze anything related to him.
That said, the extension was a mistake, and I see no upside to Kobe bagging on Russell and Randle when KB plays no D himself these days
–but KB has always been the same guy.
Mid-Wilshire says
@ Rick,
Please add Tarik Black to your list. Thank you.
Rob says
Kobe is as much a liability on defense as anyone else on the team. Watch how many times it’s his man who beats the shot clock with a corner three because Kobe is playing center field and trying for improbable steals.And where did Hibbert get the reputation of being a rim protector? He is at best a rebounder in place and strong-side help defender. If he’s required to move laterally, or move to the weak side to stop a drive, he typically ends up being late and/or fouling. I don’t ever recall seeing him get a rebound that didn’t fall into his lap, or a strong rebound in traffic. And has there ever been another seven-footer who falls down as much as Hibbert (Vlade’s flops aside)? Both Sacre and Kellly have a better understanding of help defense, but neither is athletic enough to really make a difference. Robert Upshaw, everyone’s favorite last summer, is athletic enough, but also showed a lack of lateral movement, and was slow on help rotations in summer league. Remember, in his half-year at Washington, he only played against weaker non-conference opponents, which I suspect is why his shot-blocking numbers were so inflated.
Marques says
What’s with this oh he’s 19…so is the majority of the rookies. 19 to 23..that’s the drafting age right? Russell is lazy, not because he is 19, he’s lazy because that is who he is, he was lazy last year in college where everybody plays defense.
I’m sure he has great skill….and you can ignore his laziness until it’s to late like James Harden.
If nothing you expect any young player to be full of hustle and energy on both sides. You can be bad on defense and still hustle….you can play the pick and roll wrong and still get back on defense when you turn it over
You can close out incorrectly and get fouls or blown by, but you can not just watch a 3 point shot or give up straight line drives.
Be mad at byron, be mad at kobe, but when they are gone, you will still have lazy defensive players as building blocks…..then what? Oh I know, he’s only 25….
mud says
good job Kobe.
the kids need to be personally responsible no matter what anyone else does, or even if it’s fair that they be personally responsible.
matt says
Why is it called rip city
matt says
Who did kobe guard? Al furuq aminu
matt says
The criticism is justified though
rr says
Jack,
The bad odor is the W-L record and the emaciated talent base. Kobe’s extension is a symptom, but he is not the disease.
AusPhil says
And here I was checking this thread because I thought I’d see some happiness about the Nets getting a W against OKC…
A Horse With No Name says
AusPhil–Happy the Nets won tonight! Suns and T-wolves both won yesterday as well. Just need the Sixers to win a few too . . . .
Chearn says
These rookies don’t play defense now, nor do they even remotely have a clue or a care in that area, but they’ll turn it on next year when Kobe and Byron are gone. Really? Where they do that at?
On Kobe’s defense, I can guarantee you that not one of these rookies will garner a 5-year defensive nod over the life of their career. Add to the fact, that not one of them will have a 20-year career.
Let’s stop making excuses for these players and hold them accountable for the future of the franchise. No one gave Kobe that much rope 20-years ago, not even me. So I certainly won’t give this group any latitude.
KevTheBold says
Another chance to rip into Russell was to much to resist huh?
Yet to simply ignore how much he has improved is telling.
Additionally as I said in answer to your previous thread inquiry, defence is a team effort. To call out the rookies only, is weak.
And again stop saying that defence is a fish only caught as a rookie, as many top players including Curry, learned it years later.
Tonefinder says
Think about it from the perspective of the kids: There is a credibility gap which shields them from the demands of excellence. Psychologically, they are unable to take ownership of their own performances amidst this dumpster fire where Kobe gets a pass. Imagine what it’s like on this bizarro team, where nothing (ownership, coach) is as it should be. Imagine the disconnect of receiving criticism when nothing else works, either. No wonder they laugh on the sidelines. Who could figure out how to proceed in such an environment of unaccountability, mixed messages and double standards.
As many others have said- nothing changes until the white elephant is out of the room. Or black mamba, as it were.
KevTheBold says
Insightful post !
desmo says
Sad, Peyton Manning probably goes out with at least a Super Bowl appearance. No damn “tour” no “last time at “bfd stadium”. He just goes out and plays to win for his team. Kobe has made me appreciate Manning and I am Charger fan.
T. Rogers says
Mitch Kupchack has publicly signaled that this season is first and foremost about Kobe’s farewell. Player development and winning games has taken a back seat. That’s the message from the guys up top.
I’m all for chastising Russell and Randle publicly if it means the guys up top have changed their tune. If this season is now about their development then have at it. But if this season is still about mailing it in until Kobe’s gone, then Kobe needs to stick to smiling and joking with well wishers in opposing arenas. Leave the youth development for year’s coach. The inconsistency with this organization is terrible.
J C says
I read somewhere that, ‘to call the Lakers defense a tire fire is an insult to tire fires.’
I’m sure Kobe’s comments were warranted. He has a right to speak his mind. An obligation, really.
Naturally he needs to speak out since his coach has been revealed to be a figurehead anyway.
If I were the Lakers FO I’d fire Byron now and hire Thibs. Why wait?
They may want to give Byron all the chances he needs to show what he can do, out of professional courtesy, but if they can’t see his obvious limitations by now they’re watching him with their eyes closed.
They may be hesitant to disrupt the feel-good flow of Kobe’s farewell tour – as if their fan base hasn’t noticed the losses piling up.
I still love my team but like someone above said, the season is a death march. Check, please!
In the meantime, those of us who just enjoy good hoops can still appreciate games like tonight’s matchup between the Spurs and Warriors. If I were the coach I’d make it mandatory viewing for the team to see how good defenses perform and the positive effects of good passing.
Mr.G says
Let`s move on. Kobe`s farewell is a disaster. FO created this.
Kobe1 – He`s always laughing on the bench. Sacre, Huertas, Metta and even Scott, who do not even call a TO in crucial moments of the games.
Kobe1 – But my question is…Why all this now in the middle of the season and with a record 9-37. He could`ve done this early in the season. He tried 17 3pts attempts against Philly in all that road-tour(8 games) and did not show this anger.
Kobe3 – He`s playing 29.1 minutes per game. Thats crazy for a guy with all these recently injuries.
Anonymous says
Robert- Why is it so hard to admit Byron Scott is just a poor coach? He can’t manage the kids. He can’t manage Kobe. He is really coaching himself out of professional sports. Dude is terrible. You lose much credibility by blame shifting every single time you post. Its pathetic.
matt says
I can understand the frustration, to get blown out by the spurs, and warriors is one thing, but when we are getting blown out every game, even by teams that might not make the playoffs, it’s gonna get to you, it hurts to watch, imagine the embarrassment of the players.
matt says
Kobe is lashing out at these 2 because he cares about their future
KO says
Interesting that giy shooting 29% during Lakers 1 and 9 who often is last down court on defense and has avaraged a minus 21 in the 1st and 3rd quarters is pointed out issues with19 and 20 year olds.
Perspective. Kobe?
Andrew Andrekopoulos says
Kobe is trying to help these youngsters and instill some of his Alpha Male in them. Something that is dying breed. Bryant is not the first to shoulder the burden of an all or nothing effort to keep a team afloat. He is a descendant of a long line of Alpha Males who led and won. The Patriarch of the family is Bill Russell, and the rest of the family tree reads of the most determined, win-at-any-cost, toughest SOBs who ever played the game: Willis Reed, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan. These are the Alpha Males. The ultimate competitor who teeters on the verge of sociopathic tendencies to scratch and claw for that prized championship. Reminder that he has Five NBA championships, one MVP, two scoring titles, two Finals MVPs, 18-time NBA All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 12-time NBA All-Defensive team. His legacy is set in stone as the second best shooting guard to ever play in the NBA!
Ryan says
It’s pretty obvious to me that kobe singled out those two because they are the only guys who are going to be on the Lakers in 3 years. He should ride them as hard as he can. I find if upsetting and shocking that it might be actually bothering Randle and DAR…yikes! That’s supposed to be our future.