Los Angeles Lakers Are Pushing Kobe Bryant Toward the Boiling Point

After a 107-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers now stand at 15-17 and are the  11th seed in the Western Conference.

This loss is just another twist on a tumultuous season for the Los Angeles Lakers that is taking a serious emotional hit on Kobe Bryant.

Dwight Howard and Steve Nash were the superstar players who were supposed to help Kobe Bryant rekindle the fire in the Lakers, instantly placing them in championship contention.

But things have not been that pretty for the Lakers, beginning with a winless preseason and an injury to Steve Nash in the season's second game. Panic in Los Angeles ensued, leading to the dismissal of well-respected coach Mike Brown.

Although things have been hectic in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant is playing at an extremely high level, leading the league in scoring.  He has carried the Lakers' offense for most of the season. In the last five games, in which the Lakers are 2-3, Kobe is averaging 35 points per game. 

After a long summer of playoffs, Olympic play and a full preseason, Kobe is playing some of his best basketball in years, averaging 30 points per game on 48-percent shooting.

Despite that, the Lakers have fallen off the mat in the Western Conference and the 34-year-old Bryant is not taking too kindly to the team's recent decline.

First, Bryant did not support the decision to fire Brown so early in the season. He also spoke out in favor of Phil Jackson, speaking to his championship pedigree and serene presence as being needed by the Lakers.



On December 4th, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported that Kobe called out the effort of Pau Gasol after a string of poor performances. He has strong ties with Gasol, after winning two championships together, but the Spaniard has become an afterthought in the Lakers' offense under coach Mike D'Antoni.

Superstar center Dwight H...

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