Yesterday, the Lakers played the New Orleans Hornets and as hard as they tried to lose, they actually won. They won despite the kind of game from Kobe Bryant that comes along once in a blue moon. In fact, a blue moon happens more often than that kind of game for Kobe. As you've no doubt heard (and may have seen), Kobe went scoreless for three full quarters, missing 15 straight shots before hitting one in the fourth quarter. He only made three on the day and his last one was a doozy, a 3-pointer to give the Lakers a one-point lead with less than 30 seconds to play. If he had missed the shot, I think 105-year-old Allene Wynn may have had more than a few words for young Mr. Bryant.
After the game, Kobe came as close to admitting he's exhausted as you'll ever hear, though it's painfully obvious to everyone else, except perhaps Lakers coach Mike Brown.
Lakers coach Mike Brown said he did not believe Bryant's struggles against New Orleans were tied to him playing a game-high 38 minutes and 19 seconds. With 14 games left in the regular season and the Lakers holding a tenuous lead in the Pacific Division over the Los Angeles Clippers, Brown is trying to balance resting Bryant while still winning games.
"I'd love to be able to not play him 38 (minutes). Obviously a couple minutes less would be ideal, but sometimes that's how it goes," Brown said. "Hopefully I can get his minutes down from what it is throughout the rest of the year because that would be ideal."
The coach said last week he has no plans to give Bryant a game off to rest as the Lakers head down the stretch.
In the meantime, the Lakers again face the Golden State Warriors tonight at Staples, where they'll try to pump up their slightly deflated home-winning record. I'll be at today's game, along with Silver Screen and Roll members l3oh and firstto100. Wish us (and the Lakers) luck!
Around the league, Jeremy Lin is likely out for the season with a meniscus tear that will require surgery; Jason Kidd wants to run the front office of an NBA team when he's done playing; Michael Jordan may consider selling the Bobcats if he ""make a profit in the next three to four years" - too little, too late, Mr. Jordan?; and there's a play about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird coming to Broadway.
↓ More after the jump ↓
L.A. Times
- Lakers' Kobe Bryant makes the big shot against Hornets
- Lakers FYI: Andrew Bynum is cut off at the pass
- L.A. Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors on Sunday
- Lakers running out of excuses for poor playing
- Lakers should feel embarrassed for close win over New Orleans
- Kobe Bryant admits fatigue in Lakers' 88-85 win over Hornets
Lakers.com/NBA.com
- Hornets vs. Lakers | NBA.com
- Notebook: Lakers 88, Hornets 85
- LAKERS: Lakers Gameday | 03/31/12 | Hornets
- LAL 88, NOH 85: March 31 Running Diary " Lakers Blog
- Kobe Meets 105-year-old Fan " Lakers Blog
- Sessions bringing new energy to Lakers' up-and-down offense | NBA.com
- Nash And Terry Could Heat Up Summer " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog
- Garnett vs. Love: The greatest Timberwolves player ever? | NBA.com
ESPN/ESPNLA
- Rapid Reaction: Lakers 88, Hornets 85 - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA
- Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers admits fatigue may be setting in - ESPNLA
- Lakers Late Night Replay vs. New Orleans, plus postgame video - Lakers Blog - ESPNLA
- Los Angeles Lakers meet 105-year-old fan Allene Wynn - ESPNLA
- Stan Van Gundy of Orlando Magic says Dwight Howard was punched by Dallas Mavericks' Brendan Haywood - ESPN Dallas
- Weekend Dime -- latest word on big NBA coaching decisions - ESPN
SI.com
- Mike Brown insists he's making the calls after Kobe, Andrew Bynum benchings - Sam Amick - SI.com
- Lakers look nothing like contenders in loss to West-leading Thunder - Lee Jenkins - SI.com
- Report: Michael Jordan Threatens To Sell Charlotte Bobcats | SI Tracking Blog
- Mavericks’ Jason Kidd Wants To Be A General Manager After Playing Career | SI Tracking Blog
Yahoo! Sports
- Lakers beat Hornets 88-85 on Bryant's late 3
- Ramon Sessions enjoys celebrity life as a Laker
- Sacramento Kings’ new arena may be in trouble, despite $200K NBA loan | Ball Don't Lie
Orange County Register
- Kobe's shot takes sting out of Lakers' bad day
- Mike Brown supports Steve Blake, bench - Lakers blog
- Sunday preview: Lakers vs. Warriors (20-30) - Lakers blog
- Kobe takes his poor shooting game in stride - Lakers blog
- Could the NBA Kings again look at Anaheim?
Lakers Nation
- Kobe Bryant’s Minutes Continue to Climb along with Shooting Woes
- Kobe Bryant Hits Game-Winner, Lakers Beat Hornets 88-85
- Kobe Bryant Calls Out Lakers Doubters
SLAMonline/Dime/ProBasketballTalk
- SLAM ONLINE | " Derrick Rose: Kevin Durant is the NBA’s MVP This Season
- SLAM ONLINE | " Hoops 4 Hope To Host A Special Evening On Broadway
- SLAM ONLINE | " Grant Hill Needs Knee Surgery, Could Be Out For Season
- Kobe has day only Kobe could have, caps it with game winner | ProBasketballTalk
- Jeremy Lin out six weeks with knee surgery for meniscus tear | ProBasketballTalk
- Kobe Bryant Is Tim Tebow; New York Loses Jeremy Lin | Dime Magazine
- Danny Ainge Says The Celtics Are Similar To Jurassic Park | Dime Magazine
CBS Sports
- Gasol back on track, even as strong Lakers wallow in disconten
- Friday 5 with KB 3.30.12: Trouble backstage at the Lakeshow
- With Linsanity gone, Melocalypse takes over New York
Other Links
- Forum Blue And Gold " Lakers/Hornets: A Forgettable Game With A Memorable Finish
- Kobe Goes From Goat To G.O.A.T. With Game Winner - Lake Show Life
- Lakers Slumping At The Wrong Time - Lake Show Life
- If Bynum Practiced 3-Pointers, He Could Make Fans Forget Wang Zhizhi - NYTimes.com
- ‘Magic/Bird,’ a Play About Magic Johnson and Larry Bird - NYTimes.com
- Marques: Trouble in L.A.
- Kobe shakes off slow start to hit winner as Lakers down Hornets | NBA | The Score
- Video: Female comedian nails Ricky Rubio impersonation | The Basketball Jones
- Otis Smith explains what it means to be an NBA general manager | The Basketball Jones