maldonresearchgroup: Kobe Bryant talks of 'tough shots' in Lakers' loss to Thunder

Kobe Bryant says the shots 'didn't fall for me' and calls into question teammates' aggressiveness in a 103-100 Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is forced to pass after driving the baseline against the Thunder in Game 4 on Saturday night at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / May 19, 2012)

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By Mark Medina

May 20, 2012, 1:25 p.m.

Kobe Bryant's stoic expression spoke volumes.

For the second consecutive game the Lakers' All-Star guard had another chance to carry the team to victory. Instead, Bryant's potential game-tying three-pointer hit off the front of the rim.

Once the Lakers' 103-100 loss Saturday to the Oklahoma City Thunder became official, the public address system played "Closing Time." For the second time in three games, that song hardly fit Bryant's performance. During the postgame news conference, his solemn countenance said it all.

His team-leading 38 points came on 12-of-28 shooting, including a two-of-10 clip in the fourth quarter. Bryant hit his last shot as time expired after the Thunder already overcame a 13-point deficit to clinch the Game 4 victory, good for a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven semifinals series.

The only shot of significance that Bryant made in the fourth quarter looked spectacular. Despite Thunder guard James Harden giving him little room to operate, Bryant made a 17-foot fadeway on the baseline to give the Lakers a 96-90 lead with 4:28 remaining. His two free throws also tied the score at 98-98 with the 1:04 left. But after largely lifting the Lakers in a Game 3 win by scoring 14 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, Bryant largely came up empty in Game 4.

"They were tough looks," said Bryant, who scored seven points in the final quarter. "Either we have to free myself up to get better looks in the fourth quarter or other guys have to be more aggressive. One or the other."

Bryant suggested the latter approach would've sufficed. He questioned Pau Gasol's aggressiveness after committing a costly turnover by trying to pass to Metta World Peace instead of taking an open shot from 8 feet. Kevin Durant's interception of the pass set up his game-winning three-pointer, giving the Thunder a 101-98 lead with 13.7 seconds remaining. Bryant also argued that the Thunder's relentless effort in fronting Andrew Bynum with Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka left Bryant no other choice than to take over.

The Lakers' frontline disagreed.

"We want the ball in Kobe's hands, but it doesn't necessarily need to be so early in the shot clock," Gasol said. "We can get there later in the shot clock when the ball has moved and change sides to the floor instead of being there from the beginning. That's when they collapse [in the post] and everybody's sitting. It makes it hard for us at times."

Added center Andrew Bynum, who scored 15 points yet took only two shots in the fourth quarter: "He worked so hard to get buckets. If we're not in balance, we're not good in transition. That's how they caught up."

Lakers Coach Mike Brown punted on his assessment, insisting, "I need to go back and watch the tape."

Should he do that, Brown will see these plays unfold.

Only 15 seconds after checking back into the game, Bryant launched a contested 9-foot turnaround jumper that Jordan Hill converted on a put-back to give the Lakers a 91-78 lead with 8:02 remaining. Just over a minute later, Bryant hit iron on a one-legged fadeaway jumper over a double team, while Bynum struggled establishing post position. Bryant then tried scoring on an isolation play over Durant, but his 21-footer fell short as the Lakers nursed a 94-87 lead with 5:09 left. Bryant took a similar shot two minutes later.

With his outside shot not falling, Bryant then attacked the basket. But his 6-foot attempt fell short and he showed frustration to the officials.

"I felt I got fouled on a couple and didn't get the whistle," said Bryant, who went 14 of 17 from the free-throw line.

Finally, with the score tied at 96-96 with 1:36 left, Gasol set Bryant with a screen at the top of the key. That open space wasn't enough, as Bryant's three-point attempt hit the back iron.

Despite all of these failed plays, World Peace wouldn't question Bryant after he made plenty of difficult shots in the first three quarters.

"He knows what's going on out there," World Peace said of Bryant. "He has five championship rings and he helped me get one."

But Bryant couldn't help the Lakers in Game 4.

"The shots that I took are tough shots," he said. "I was forced to take tough shots. They didn't fall for me tonight."