Portland shows no fear in victory over Kobe Bryant and Lakers
Kobe Bryant takes a shot over Portland’s Damian Lillard in a game in November.
What farewell tour?
Devoted fans of the Portland Trail Blazers, so accustomed to seeing the Lakers lose here during Kobe Bryant’s career but perhaps never quite getting over the 2000 playoffs, booed Bryant when he touched the ball Saturday.
No rocking chairs. No gifts. Just boos when Bryant had possession above the arc, in the post, wherever at Moda Center.
There were chants of his first name by a handful of Lakers fans and some applause when he scored Saturday, but the boos won the day. So did the Trail Blazers, 108-96.
It was another typical Lakers loss, devoid of defense and lacking that certain something that would put Lakers fans at ease.
At one point, Portland guard C.J. McCollum had outscored the Lakers, 14-12.
Later in the first quarter, Metta Word Peace and Nick Young were the guys dribbling the ball up court and setting up the offense. Unsurprisingly, the possession ended in a wild, off-balance shot by World Peace. It went in somehow.
If the Lakers (2-13) lose at home Sunday against Indiana, they will have their worst record ever going into December. Even the pitiful 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers were 3-14 before December rolled around.
It gets only worse.
The Lakers start an eight-game trip Tuesday. They will be away from Staples Center for 13 of their 17 games in December.
The young ones did some good things Saturday. Jordan Clarkson had 19 points. Julius Randle had 16 points. So did D’Angelo Russell, along with five assists.
Whatever gains came on offense were discarded at the other end.
Damian Lillard (29 points) and CJ McCollum (28 points) ran around the Lakers’ backcourt as if they were playing five-on-three.
“If you look at the box score, you look at our two young guards, their two young guards, we got outscored by 20-plus points,” Lakers Coach Byron Scott said. “We lost that battle.”
Meanwhile, Bryant continued to fight the passage of time.
He scored 21 points but it came on seven-for-20 shooting (35%). He took a hard fall after a driving layup late in the second quarter and walked s-l-o-w-l-y to the bench after eventually getting up. The Lakers took a timeout and Bryant didn’t miss any time. He did miss his next shot, a 20-footer.
“It’s tough. Twenty years. Legs aren’t what they used to be,” he said. “You just continue to fight through it and continue to take opportunities when they’re there.”
Neither Bryant nor Scott would commit to Bryant playing Sunday against Indiana, the second game of a back-to-back.
With the Lakers down 11 in the final two minutes, Lillard dribbled atop the key. And dribbled and dribbled. Then he drove, found a surprisingly easy opening and was fouled after making a short runner. He was Clarkson’s responsibility most of the night.
“This league is filled with a lot of young point guards and young [shooting] guards that can really score,” Bryant said. “So the challenge really becomes, ‘How do you slow them down?’”
Bryant would surely consider Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals one of the most memorable of his career.
But that was long ago. These Lakers are clinging for something to cheer. It just isn’t happening.
Twitter: Mike_Bresnahan
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