clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Kobe Bryant Clears The Air About Weekend Struggles, Looks For Improvement Against Rockets

After a weekend where he shot just 26.1% from the field (12-for-46), Kobe Bryant let it be known that nothing about his game is going to change, as told to multiple sources including ESPN LA's Dave McMenamin.

"I do what I do. If guys are open, I kick it to them, if they're not, I shoot it," Bryant said. "I play my game."

The season started off like a typical Bryant season with him averaging 27.8 points on 48.1% shooting but he struggled with his shot over the weekend against the Denver Nuggets in two games the Lakers split.

As usual, Bryant doesn't really like speaking about his torn lunotriquetral ligament in his right wrist that he injured during the preseason, but that isn't to say he doesn't recognize the affect it's had on him.

"I don't make excuses," Bryant said. "It's a pain in the ass. It is."

Even through his struggles, Bryant doesn't see any reason to change his approach. He sat down on the plane with coach Mike Brown and reviewed the game tape. To both Bryant and Brown, he took mostly good shots. They just weren't falling.

"When you look at (6-for-28 in the box score), you think ‘Oh my gosh, there's got to be a ton of bad shots," Brown said. "But if you go back and watch the game you see some of the shots he took, there were a lot of shots he took -- (I know) because I coached against him -- he normally makes."

"I had shots. If I have shots, I take them," Bryant said. "If I shoot the ball 40 times with good looks, that's what it is. (If I shoot it) 15 or 20 times, that's what it is."

"What I realized is I got to make some adjustments with this jumper."