LOS ANGELES — The Lakers were abject failures in their Western Conference semifinal opener against the Rockets. It was hard to tell, though, by Kobe Bryant’s downright cheerful attitude Tuesday.
“We played really bad,” he said of the 100-92 loss in which the Lakers shot 44 percent from the floor, went 2-of-18 from 3-point range and made just 12-of-19 from the line.
Sensing panic in the streets among Lakers fans, Bryant offered up some calming words.
“It’s not like it’s the end of the world,” he said. “We’re not the first team ever to lose a Game 1 at home, it’s just here in Los Angeles, people get pretty nervous.”
Bryant isn’t among them.
“Last year we kind of had a cakewalk to the NBA Finals. It feels good to be tested a little bit,” he said. “To be champions, you got to go through some stuff. You got to have the resolve to be able to fight through a little adversity and respond, so here it is.”
The Lakers fell behind in the first quarter Monday night and never got into a rhythm. They had been off for six days after dispatching Utah in the first round.
Game 2 against the Rockets is tonight at the Staples Center.
“The next game is extremely critical,” Bryant said. “Everybody is a little edgy, pretty energetic and excited about it.”
Andrew Bynum returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the last two games against Utah. But he picked up two quick fouls, and finished with 10 points and just three rebounds in 15 minutes.
“It is hurting the team,” Bynum said, adding that he’s no more than 90 percent physically as he continues recovering from a torn MCL in his right knee.
Bynum’s ability to pivot and jump explosively is missing, and he needs those skills to defend Houston’s Yao Ming, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1.
“He’s got to be much more active as a defender, not letting Yao catch the ball where he wants to,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “Yao will catch it and throw it back out and reposition in a better position. Drew has a tendency to just stand behind and play defense because of his size. That doesn’t work against Yao. Defense and rebounding are the focus we really want to have.”
