Kobe Bryant attributes Lakers' struggles to old age

Following Tuesday night's 103-99 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was quick- and blunt- in blaming age on the Lakers' struggles during the 2012-2013 season.

Here were Bryant's comments on why the Lakers lost Tuesday, with his quotes coming via ESPNLA.com:

"Cause we're old as s---," said the 34-year-old Bryant when asked why a lack of energy has been a problem for L.A. all season. "What do you want? We just got to figure out how to play when we don't have that energy.

Bryant later added:

"You just saw an old damn team," Bryant said. "I don't know how else to put it to you."

It was a direct assessment from Bryant, who is clearly frustrated with the Lakers slow start in 2013.

Los Angeles was a team which was expected to compete for an NBA Championship with the arrivals of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the off-season, but now sits at just 15-16 overall with Tuesday's loss. It was the Lakers' second defeat in three games, and dropped them to 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

The Lakers will next take the court on Friday, when they face their cross-town rival the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers are one of the NBA's best teams with a 25-7 overall record, and had won 17 straight games prior to Tuesday night's loss in Denver.