The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a disappointing start this season after losing in their first two games, but superstar guard Kobe Bryant wants their fans to stay patient.
The Lakers started their season with a 108-90 loss to the Houston Rockets, which was followed by a 119-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. But despite losing two straight in a blowout, Bryant said in an interview with ESPN that they are a much better team than what they looked in their first two games this season.
"We're not as bad as these two games. We're not," said Bryant, who averaged 25 points to go along with 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in their first two assignments this season.
Bryant was seen losing his cool several times during their first two games, but he reiterated that he is remaining patient with his teammates, particularly with Jeremy Lin, who struggled to find his rhythm in their first two games.
The 16-time All-Star said that he told Lin to get into his rhythm and orchestrate their offense. He downplayed speculation that he was mad with the point guard, comparing the situation to his relationship with Derek Fisher before.
"Me and D-Fish used to bicker and snipe at each other all the time, and I couldn't love a teammate more," Bryant said. "These guys are young, man. It takes a little time to understand that -- that teams become really great by challenging each other."
Bryant admitted, though, that he knows the adjustment won't be easy for Lin, but he is optimistic that the 26-year-old point guard will eventually settle down and get comfortable orchestrating their offensive attack moving forward.
"I want it to be [Lin's] role to orchestrate the offense, call the right things, get guys in the right spots," Bryant said of Lin. "It's going to take a little getting used to for him, because it's different in the past. But that's what I want from him."
Lin, who was named as the Lakers starting point guard after veteran playmaker Steve Nash was ruled out for the rest of the season, averaged just 6.5 points to go along with 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He shot just 30.0 percent from the field with 3.0 turnovers per game.
