Kobe Bryant Says Lakers Will Play Smashmouth Basketball
By Bryan Rose
Kobe Bryant says the Los Angeles Lakers will play nasty, ‘smashmouth’ basketball this season.
More from Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- Bronny James collapses at practice, taken to ICU with cardiac arrest
- NBA Rumors: Lakers nearing another savvy minimum signing
- Lakers projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
It’s been a rough preseason for the Los Angeles Lakers who are already dealing with injury and being overworked by head coach Byron Scott. But that isn’t an excuse for Kobe Bryant who has been on the attack recently, scoring points in bunches for the Lakers.
Of course Kobe Bryant can’t win the game by himself (much as he may try) and will need the help of his teammates which he believes will play ‘smashmouth’ basketball this season.
It’s been a while since the Los Angeles Lakers were thought of as a good defensive team, let alone one that plays a nasty, physical style of game but that’s what Kobe Bryant insists will take place this year.
Kobe on team's identity: "We're going to be smashmouth basketball. It's going to be nasty, it's going to be physical and it is what is is."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 20, 2014
From a talent standpoint, outside of Bryant (who’s no longer the player he once was), the team overall has very few good defensive players so it seems if they’re going to play ‘smashmouth’ basketball that may be more physical in comparison to using their talent.
The NBA game has matured away from the more physical game and is now more finesse so it’s questionable if Kobe and his Los Angeles Lakers will actually be able to succeed with the ‘smashmouth’ idea, though they appear determined to try.
They certainly have the right head coach atop the organization to play that way as Byron Scott not only played during the most physical period of the NBA but was known to dish out some punishment himself.
We’ll see if his players can hand out their own forms of punishment in the coming weeks and months.
More from FanSided
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return
- LA Galaxy vs. Club Leon Leagues Cup match rescheduled for July 26