The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to use Kobe Bryant as the starting point guard as the team struggles with incorporating the All-Star guard into its multi-optional offense.
After racing out to a surprising 10-10 start, the Lakers have dropped back-to-back home games since Bryant's return and critics point out the offense hasn't looked quite as fluid.
Yet, with Steve Blake sidelined with elbow injury, ESPN's Dave McMenamin tweeted on Thursday "Kobe Bryant, who had played some SF against PHX, will be the Lakers starting guard against OKC and for the interim future. The Lakers don't have any immediate plans to add a PG. [Coach Mike] D'Antoni wants to see what Kobe, Meeks, Henry, Young can do."
Meanwhile, despite playing in just those two games games this season and with almost half as many turnovers as points, Bryant leads all guards in All-Star votes, according to early returns released by ESPN on Thursday.
According to ESPN, Bryant has 501, 215 vote, third overall in total numbers behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant, and ahead of the likes of Paul George and Chris Paul.
After OKC, the Lakers play five of their next games on the road before Christmas Day's nationally televised showdown against the NBA champion Miami Heat. Over that stretch, at least four of the teams they face as of Dec. 12 (Atlanta, Minnesota, Golden State and Phoenix) have records of .500 or better.
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