Bryant lasted for all of 12 minutes against the Indiana Pacers in his first game back from an ankle sprain. But after hitting the bench early, No. 24 traded in his dribbling for scribbling, spending much of his time on the sideline by shouting advice and even drawing up plays on a clipboard.
According to Mark Heisler of The New York Times, Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni is appreciative of Bryant's efforts, but also a little wary. Heisler quoted D'Antoni as saying:
"It’s O.K. You’ve just got to make sure he tells them the right things because he could be giving them different directions than I am. That’s not good—a little bit of a loose cannon. Obviously, he knows what’s going on, and he sees things, but it’s a little scary sometimes."
Some of D'Antoni's trepidation is understandable; Bryant's a strong-willed guy, and he may see a few things differently than the Lakers coach does. But it's worth noting that this isn't the first time Bryant has assumed pseudo-coaching duties during an injury.
In April 2012, a sore shin held Bryant out of action. His behavior on the sideline then was practically identical to what we're seeing from him now.
Bryant's teammates don't seem to have a problem with his instruction, which is probably all that really matters. It's easy to imagine players, many of whom have suffered public criticism from Bryant, bristling at the idea of taking direction from him:
Don't worry, though; Bryant's cameo appearance as coach doesn't mean he's considering making it a more permanent role in the future.
Last time Coach Kobe emerged, Mark Medina of the Los Angele...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
