The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York 95-99, sending them to a 1-5 start to the NBA season.
Kobe Bryant and Roy Hibbert both top scored with 18 points, the young brigade of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and De Angelo Russell all struggled to make an impact against the Knicks.
Bryant continued to shoot poorly going 6-19 from the field and only 2-10 from outside the arc. The 37-year-old is struggling in what looks to be his last season. Coach Byron Scott told Lakers.com after the game that Kobe has been dropping some hints telling him that he would like to play every game as this could be his last year.
The Lakers came into the half time break with a 49-45 lead and looked to be well on the way to recording their second victory in a row. The Knicks however came out after half time and won the third quarter to take a 71-70 lead into the final break.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks home in the last quarter, finishing with 24 points and 8 rebounds. He was well supported from Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon and Langston Galloway. The Knicks are now 3-4 and face the Toronto Raptors (5-2) on the road on Wednesday at 11.30am (AEST).
Coach Scott said the team seemed to lose focus and got bogged down on scoring. He said he was happy with how the team defended and stopped shots but could have done better with defensive rebounds. He also lamented silly mistakes late in the game that became costly, and on Kobe’s poor shooting he said that they are trying to get Kobe into comfortable areas so he can shoot.
The young Laker brigade will take time to find consistency and bring the effort needed on a nightly basis. What would concern Scott more would be the inconsistent efforts of Nick Young and Lou Williams. Young played 18 minutes for just 10 points and 4-10 from the field and no stats in rebounding, assists and steals, while Lou Williams played 21 minutes scoring just 9 points, 3-12 from the field and had 2 rebounds and 1 steal.
There are plenty of headaches for the Lakers who are just two games into a long road trip. They take on Miami Heat (4-3) Orlando Magic (3-4) Dallas Mavericks (3-3) before a home game against the fired up Detroit Pistons (4-1).
Coach Scott is in the second year of a four-year deal he signed in July 2014 and needs to start producing results to be assured of lasting that contract out.
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