For most people, a good night's rest can help ease any troubles they may have. But since Kobe Bryant is not most people, the Los Angeles Lakers guard was unable to sleep away his troubles after he shot 3-for-15 from the field against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.
Immediately after the game, Bryant was quite critical of his own performance but apparently he was still thinking about it all night and into Monday morning because he showed up to Lakers practice in a sour mood. Bryant's general demeanor at practice forced Lakers head coach Byron Scott to give him a day off. According to Scott, Bryant was still "really angry" with himself.
Kobe was given the day off because he was "really angry" with himself, Byron said. Byron told him to return to Laker facility Tues morning.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) November 2, 2015
Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times provides some more context on Bryant's day off:
Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant was given the day off to rest.
"I knew how frustrated he was last night," Coach Byron Scott said of Bryant. "I said, 'I just want to see you Tuesday morning.'"
"I want him to just take a day off, just to get away from it a little bit," Scott continued. "He'll be ready tomorrow."
Scott said he doesn't expect to sit Bryant for games yet, just practices, although at some point the former is inevitable.
"I think if we can get to the sixties, that would be great," Scott said, referring to the Lakers' 82-game season.
The Lakers play 18 games on back-to-back nights, but Scott noted he hasn't decided on a plan for resting Bryant.
At 37 years old and coming back from his third season-ending injury, Bryant will definitely need some rest throughout the year to remain healthy. This is the practical thing for the Lakers and Scott to do. But let's hope they actually give him days off because his body needs it and not because his "angry" attitude demands it.
