Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni frustrated with Kobe Bryant's one-on-one play
Mike D'Antoni was critical of the Lakers playing "too much one-on-one" in Thursday's loss to the Bucks. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Before Kobe Bryant left Milwaukee's Bradley Center on crutches with a bone spur in his left foot, coach Mike D'Antoni was visibly frustrated with his play during the Lakers' 113-103 loss to the Bucks Thursday night.
According to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register:
With Steve Nash and Bryant both moving gingerly after halftime, the Bucks took the lead in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth. D'Antoni was visibly frustrated with Bryant — who despite not moving his feet well was not moving the ball late in the third quarter. D'Antoni responded by calling a pick play with Pau Gasol to encourage Bryant to pass the ball.
D'Antoni conducted his entire postgame news gathering with his arms crossed, dropping more hints about Bryant being a ball-stopper.
Referring to the Lakers having a 13-point lead and then squandering it, D'Antoni said: "Just play the game. We try to go a little bit too much one-on-one."
Bryant scored 30 points in the game on 6-of-17 field-goal shooting and made 18-of-20 free throws to climb within four points of Wilt Chamberlain for No. 4 on the all-time NBA scoring chart.
