Memphis was the team playing on zero days rest, but the Lakers were the ones who looked like they had played the night before.
The purple and gold trailed by as many as 25 points in a wire-to-wire 112-96 loss to the league’s second-lowest scoring team.
“It seems like we’re a step or two slow reacting at everything right now,” head coach Byron Scott said. “I don’t think it’s physical, to be honest with you, because tonight the effort was there. I think from a mental standpoint we just look like we’re fried.”
Though the Lakers (5-26) fell behind by nine after one quarter, Kobe Bryant singlehandedly kept the game somewhat in reach. He poured in 14 points that frame — his most in any quarter this season — while shooting 5-of-9.
But after sitting out the entire second quarter, Bryant hit just 1-of-6 in the third. He finished with a game-high 19 points in only 24 minutes — his second-fewest of the year — due in part to a sore right knee.
“Honestly, I wasn’t going to play,” Bryant said. “But I got on the bus and (saw) all the fans. I felt really, really awful and thought I could muster up enough to go out there and play.”
While Bryant faded away in the third, Larry Nance Jr. heated up, tallying 13 points and four rebounds while hitting all six of his shots.
The rookie finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds — both career-highs — for his first-ever double-double. Much of this had to do with him taking his coaches’ advice and firing open mid-range looks, where he went 4-of-5.
“I’m starting to learn where my shots are coming to me in the offense and when to (or) not to shoot,” said Nance, who shot 8-of-12 overall. “I’d say it’s getting easier.”
Nance’s tenacity on the boards powered the Lakers’ 18-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. However, the Grizzlies (17-16) simply played better in most every other category.
Memphis shot 18.2 percent better than the Lakers’ 38.1 percent clip, while six Grizzlies scored in double figures, including Mike Conley (19 points, four steals) and Marc Gasol (16 points, six assists).
Memphis also had dominated in assists (30-16) and points in the paint (44-28).
Mamba Mentoring Asked what he would tell his younger self if he could, Bryant responded “to understand compassion and empathy,” saying that those two components are bigger parts of being a leader and winning a championship than individual skills.
“Bringing out the best in people isn’t passing them the ball and giving them open shots,” Bryant said. “It’s about how to connect and communicate with them so they can navigate through whatever issues they may be facing. That’s a very, very hard thing to do.”
To illustrate his point, Bryant recalled a team meeting at Los Angeles Southwest College when Rick Fox told him the other Lakers “just want to feel like you need us.”
The budding superstar was taken back by the request.
“I was like, ‘What the f–? What the hell is this grown-a– man (saying)?'” Bryant said. “Then it kind of caught me, because it was a very vulnerable for him to say and it helped me have perspective on what he may be going through and what he’s feeling. And from that point it really changed my mentality.”
A photo posted by Lakers Scene (@lakersscene) on Dec 27, 2015 at 3:38pm PST
Notes Bryant said he will “definitely be ready to go” in Charlotte on Monday. … Julius Randle shot just 3-of-8, recording nine points and 13 rebounds. … Jeff Green (17 points, 6-of-10) and Zach Randolph (16 points, 7-of-8) also provided for Memphis offensively. … An 18,119 sellout attended at FedExForum.
Inside the pregame huddle
A photo posted by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) on Dec 27, 2015 at 2:50pm PST
