Kobe Bryant Calls Out Lakers Teammates' Heart After Loss To Nuggets In Game 6

Kobe Bryant had a long day and an even longer night on Thursday, battling an intestinal bug as well as the Denver Nuggets. Bryant missed the Lakers' morning shootaround before Game 6 due to his symptoms, later telling reporters that his hotel room resembled a scene from "The Exorcist." Despite whatever projectile vomiting and head-spinning horrors were happening back at the team hotel during the day, Bryant still managed to put up 31 points over a game-high 37 minutes. Unfortunately for him, the rest of the Lakers performed as if they were feeling chills en route to being blown out at the Pepsi Arena 113-96.

Kobe struggled to muster up 31 as he needed two IV bags prior to the game and two more at halftime because of dehydration, per the Los Angeles Times.

Following the Lakers' loss, Bryant was asked about the efforts of his teammates in relation to his own.

@SHowardCooper
Scott Howard-Cooper

Kobe Bryant, asked if teammates matched his heart tonight: "No. Of course they didn't."

May 11, 2012 6:17 am via TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite

Whether he's right or wrong in calling out his teammates, it's hard to argue with the five-time NBA champ. Pau Gasol shot a miserable 1 for 10 from the field and scored just three points. Three. All-Star center Andrew Bynum grabbed 16 rebounds, but his 4-for-11 shooting night overshadowed his double-double. In fact, no one else on the team scored more than 14 points.

Bryant has a day off to rest now before Game 7 will take place on Saturday at the Staples Center. He might feel a little better knowing that his Lakers get Metta World Peace back for the winner-take-all affair, following his seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City's James Harden.

"He's the one guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and no fear," Bryant said. "I'm looking forward to having that by my side again."

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Comments

[iamldh]

12:21 AM on 05/14/2012

Bullshit graph!

[Alois SaintMartin]

10:02 PM on 05/12/2012

7 Games ... Wow ? Waited all through Games 5 and 6 ? Nothing that happened all Season could have prepared for This ? Could It be the Ghost of Chic Hern and KHJ coming back to Haunt Baby Doc ? I. would not be surprised; There are some things not even TimeWarner can buy ? Just ask Frank McCourt

Just cant help thinking somewhere down in the City of Champions, there is this Old School Blue and Gold bleeding Laker Fan, who will not give up his LTV for Big Time Downtown Investor Runny Noses LOL ! Occupy The Staples Center ?

Ron Artest is Free ! Free !

[justwantfairness]

05:55 PM on 05/12/2012

it could'nt be that the nuggets played superb defense that made the 'great' lakers look like high schoolers could it?

[CANTHATBE]

01:50 PM on 05/12/2012

No problem with heart. You will have something better. League office and the crew they send to ref an LA game 7 never fails.

[jpostiga]

10:56 AM on 05/12/2012

Well Kobe..attitude and performance reflect LEADERSHIP...Captain! Don't be the captain and throw your mates under the bus when the TEAM under performs. The title captain comes with responsibilities.

[Cratewasher]

10:04 AM on 05/12/2012

McGhee is gonna own Bynum today...

[LogicalMathMan]

10:30 AM on 05/12/2012

O yeah.. His 3-point outburst in Game 6 should convince us of that

[Capt X]

09:40 AM on 05/12/2012

Yeah, Metta World Peace is REALLY going to help the Lakers....NOT.

He's a big guy, but his game is gone. He can't play at all anymore.

I've never understood why they allowed him back in the league after that brawl in Detroit. If a player going into the stands isn't reason for a lifetime ban, nothing is.

[sdave]

09:16 AM on 05/12/2012

When you are a leader like Kobe, you have earned the right to call out your own........

[LogicalMathMan]

10:31 AM on 05/12/2012

No doubt, and he's backed it up with his performances in every game....#171.

[moreobamafarrakhanluv]

07:29 AM on 05/12/2012

haha ha the fakers mailed it in.....

[teeboi]

03:52 AM on 05/12/2012

kobe is correct on the backing him up part but he also needs to get the ball to bynum and gasol under the rim an not to try an shoot over 3 or 4 defenders, who wants to run up an down the court for nothing especially wen u know somebody is open... pass!! Definitly glad to see metta back "peace" no "heart" yes!!!

[fauxshammity005]

12:52 AM on 05/12/2012

Kobe is correct . Bynum and Gasol need to play like all stars . There's no excuse for those two playing as if they don't know it's the playoffs . Win or go home .

[Tracker of Truth]

11:32 PM on 05/11/2012

Kobe is the heart of the Lakers. While I am not his biggest fan, he should expect his teammates to have his back when he is sick. They did not back him up. I disagreed with Charles Barkley when he predicted the Nuggets could take this series, but I must say Sir Charles may be right. It is a sad day for the Lakers to lose with so much talent.

[CatfishJohn]

11:23 PM on 05/11/2012

The window for trhe magnificent Kobe getting one last title in LA is already shut. this team simply has a true dearth of quality basketball talent aound him. they will be worn our vs. rested, athletic, speedy and talented OKC,

[bmwracer]

11:57 PM on 05/11/2012

But they haven't got past the Nuggets yet.

[Iain Banks]

10:52 PM on 05/11/2012

Gasol and Bynum are pitiful. They're supposed to be the two best bigmen in the game. I can understand having an off night offensively, but being outplayed by a rookie on the other end Kenneth Faried is inexcusable. The Lakers should dump Gasol while he's still worth something.

[iamldh]

10:16 PM on 05/11/2012

Bullshit, graph.