LA Lakers caught in balance between Kobe Bryant and young players in loss to Spurs

The night became filled with nostalgia as Kobe Bryant hugged San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and made friendly exchanges with Spurs forward Tim Duncan.

The night provided another reminder of Bryant’s imposing presence. The Lakers’ 119-113 loss to San Antonio at Staples Center featured Bryant posting 25 points on 10-of-25 shooting in 29 minutes marked his final game against a team he met endlessly in the postseason.

Bryant also made a 9-foot shot to slice the Spurs’ lead to 111-107 with 1:23 left. This happened after nursing some pain in a few fingers in his right hand, Bryant received some taping from Lakers trainer Gary Vitti for staying in the game.

In between, the Lakers (11-45) experienced mixed progress in Byron Scott’s stated plan on leaning more on his young players.

“They have to have an opportunity,” Scott said of featuring his younger players with 26 games remaining. “You have to see if they can handle it or not. You have to see if they’re able to take over sort of speak and handle that type of pressure.”

Not everyone experienced that.

Lakers rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell sat out for the final three minutes after posting eight points on 2-of-5 shooting and three assists in 26 minutes, while Lou Williams had 21 points in 35 minutes.

Despite Scott contending that he will sit “sometimes” late in games, Bryant played even through his hand injury before checking out with 36.2 seconds left. Only Lakers second-year guard Jordan Clarkson (20 points in 35 minutes) and second-year forward Julius Randle (11 points) marked the young players that closed the game out.

“We want to get a good look at those guys out there on the floor together a little bit more,” Scott said. “They have to know each other better than they do right now.”

But that day will have to wait. Instead, San Antonio (46-9) thrived despite missing Manu Ginobili (groin) and Kawhi Leonard (left calf). The Spurs still sliced through the Lakers’ defense with 64 points in the paint and seven players cracking double figures, including Tony Parker (25 points), LaMarcus Aldridge (16), Patty Mills (15), Kyle Anderson (14), Duncan (12), Boris Diaw (10) and Rasual Butler (10).

But Friday’s game marked a shift in which Scott signaled the importance of giving his younger players more opportunities. Scott stressed that shift had nothing to do with any recent conversations with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and more to do with his young players’ readiness, a stage he likened to “raising your kids.”

“You will have those times they give you a big smile on your face. There are times you have to get the belt out,” Scott said. “But I enjoy the process.”

As the Lakers saw on Friday, that process has not ended.

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