Is Kobe Bryant finally losing his patience, or is it a secret motivational technique?
KOBE WALKS OUT OF A LAKERS SCRIMMAGE
A heated scrimmage between the Los Angeles Lakers starters and reserves forced an argument of sorts between team-mates Kobe Braynt and Nick Young.
Via ESPN:
When practice was opened to the media, Bryant and Nick Young were already trading barbs during the scrimmage with Young telling Bryant, “Nobody in the world can guard me one-on-one,” and Bryant telling Young, “You’re going exactly where I want you to go.”
Later Bryant said, “You m—–f—— are soft like Charmin in this m—–f—–. God damn, is this the type of s— that’s going on in these practices? Now I see why we’ve lost 20 f—ing games. We’re soft like Charmin. We’re soft like s—.”
Charmin, a toilet paper brand, got in on the fun later Thursday, tweeting:
You know, in terms of toilet paper, saying you’re as soft as Charmin is a good thing. In basketball? Not so much. #tweetfromtheseat
— Charmin (@Charmin) December 11, 2014
Lakers coach Byron Scott has held Bryant out of most practices and shootarounds this season. Thursday was the veteran star’s first full practice with the team in over two weeks.
Bryant was also getting on Jeremy Lin during the scrimmage, daring him to shoot whenever he had the ball, yelling, “This m—–f—– don’t got s—. He ain’t got s— right now. Shoot! Shoot!” After Lin missed a pull-up jumper, Bryant said, “I talked his ass right into that bulls—. I talked his ass right into that bulls—.”
By the end of the scrimmage, which the starters won, Bryant said, “Practice gets real uncomfortable when I’m in this m—–f—–.”
After the team gathered together at center court to close practice, Bryant passed Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and said, “I’m supposed to practice and get better, Mitch. I’m supposed to practice and get better. These m—–f—— ain’t doing s— for me.”
“No, I was just being myself,” Bryant said. “I don’t know if it helps them, but it obviously raises the intensity level. It was a tough practice for them … It’s really good for Nick, aside from the fun of bantering back and forth and the trash talk, just fundamentally some of the techniques and things that I use. He gets a chance to really see up close those little tricks.”
Bryant said Young got the trash talking started Monday. “I think Nick probably regrets getting me started at practice and saying something,” he said.
And what did Bryant think when Young said no one could guard him one-on-one? “Thank god, I’m not from this world,” Bryant said.
IRVING WAS SCARED ABOUT HIS KNEE INJURY
Kyrie Irving contested a Russell Westbrook jumper and when he landed on the floor and clutched at it, the worried side of the FIBA World Cup MVP came out.
Via NOMG:
“I was really concerned,” Irving said after the game. “Definitely felt something buckle. I was really scared.”
As they reached the hallway leading to the locker room, Irving received a pleasant surprise: a half-dressed LeBron. James was watching the game from the locker room and met his teammate halfway down the corridor. […] “It meant a lot, the fact that he sprinted out there in just his tights and a T-shirt,” Irving said while chuckling. “It’s just great. He’s awesome. He just sincerely cares.”
After the Cavaliers’ medical staff evaluated him, the Thunder’s staff did the same. He was diagnosed with a left knee contusion and was cleared to return for the second half. […] “I was really hoping nothing was torn,” he said. “When it happened, I felt something and we did all the test back here and I was thankful. Truly blessed by God that nothing serious happened.”
ALLEN TO GOLDEN STATE?
They may have the best record in the NBA, but the Golden State Warriors still want to get better.
And like seemingly everyone else in the L, the Warriors want Ray Allen to consider joining them for the Playoff push.
Warriors GM Bob Myers says they’d love to have the future Hall of Famer come aboard, even though playing time would be an issue.
(The Cleveland Cavaliers are still considered the heavy favorites for Allen’s services this season.)
vIA CSN Bay Arena:
Warriors GM Bob Myers told 95.7 FM The Game on Thursday afternoon that the club has in fact reached out to Allen’s representatives but said, “it’s uncertain as to what Ray wants to do.”“Here’s the problem,” Myers explained. “We don’t have enough minutes as it is so it’s just a question of chemistry.”
The 39-year old has made 2,973 3-pointers, the most in NBA history.
