Kobe Bryant demands more of Los Angeles Lakers teammates – NBA Playoffs Update
The Los Angeles Lakers lost the crucial game-4 of their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Staples Center on Saturday to the dismay of their fans and players alike. The Lakers were ahead for much of the game but let it slip at the death to go
down 3 – 1 in the Western Conference Semi Final series.
Lakers super star Kobe Bryant was livid after the defeat in a game he had scored 38 points in. The shooting guard had a frustrating fourth quarter and let his frustration spill in interviews after the game. Bryant was adamant that the Lakers needed to step
up as a team and not just himself or centre Andrew Bynum.
Kobe was particularly critical of power forward Pau Gasol, who did not take a shot in the last quarter. Bryant made it clear that Gasol and company would have to come up with the goods in the next game against the Oklahoma City Thunder because OKC were doing
a great job on Bynum and Kobe in the last quarters.
"He's just looking to swing the ball too much, he's just got to shoot it," Bryant said of Gasol. "We played pretty much the same way the entire game. The second half what they did was front Andrew, so when they front Andrew and in the fourth quarter they
crowd me, the other guys have to be more aggressive, simple as that."
Gasol had been responsible for a critical turnover at the end of the game that led to a Kevin Durant 3-pointer. That play proved to be the final nail in Los Angeles’ coffin, with the Lakers unable to recover afterwards.
Bryant had not been happy with Pau at that time and said after the game that the Lakers power forward should have taken a shot rather than look to pass.
"Pau's got to be more assertive," Bryant said. "He's the guy out there that we need. When he's getting the ball he's looking to pass. He's got to be aggressive. He's got to shoot the ball. He's got to drive the ball to the basket and he will in the next
game."
Lakers have a must win game against the Thunder now in Oklahoma City.
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