L.A. Lakers: Should Kobe Bryant Throw Stones at Pau Gasol from a Glass House?

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has no problem calling out teammates, as he recently did to Pau Gasol after the Lakers gifted Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 103-100.

From CBS Sports' Ken Berger:

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"Pau's got to be more assertive," Bryant said. "He's the guy they're leaving. When he catches the ball, he's looking to pass. He's got to be aggressive. He's got to shoot the ball. He's got to drive the ball to the basket, and he will be the next game."

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Bryant was referring to what may have been the game's deciding sequence of events. Bryant passed the ball to a wide open Gasol out of a double-team, who then opted to throw a cross-court pass rather than attempt a 10-foot jump shot.

Gasol's pass was subsequently intercepted by Thunder forward Kevin Durant whose ensuing three-point shot ended the game, and quite possibly, the series for the Lakers.

Bryant's words certainly have some merit since Gasol's 4-of-10 shooting performance for 10 points and five rebounds was nothing to get excited about.

Gasol played with no passion, aggression or focus, continuing a postseason trend that began last year in which he averaged career-low numbers.

This year, Gasol's postseason scoring average has dropped even further. In a series where Gasol is clearly bigger and more talented than his counterparts, he is still managing to play down to his size and ability.

Gasol's subpar play, as Bryant correctly notes, is killing the Lakers. But it's not like Bryant is just an innocent bystander in the Lakers' series suicide.

Bryant is just as guilty as Gasol, if not more, but you will never hear him say it.

Kobe will talk about how the Lakers let a seven-point lead collapse against the Thunder in the final two minutes of Game 2, but Kobe will not really discuss his role in it.

Bryant can toss Gasol under the bus like he did after Game 4, but what about his own 2-of-10 shooting performance in the fourth quarter?

The Lakers offense became lethargic after Thunder coach Scott Brooks decided to front Lakers center Andrew Bynum instead of playing behind him, but it's not like Brooks' tactic was genius.

The Lakers could have easily beat the Thunder's adjustment by throwing the ball over the top, or killing them on the weak side when their players came to double on Bynum.

Instead Bryant took the Thunder's strategic move as a personal challenge, and he proceeded to promptly shoot the Lakers out of another game they should have clearly won.

If you're keeping count, the Lakers have arguably outplayed the Thunder in three of the four games, yet they face a 3-1 deficit and elimination on Monday night.

The losses in Games 2 and 4 have negatively featured Kobe in the contest's final moments.

Of course, Kobe deserves plenty of credit because the Lakers would not have been in a position to win Game 4 if not for his spectacular performance for three quarters.

In fact, Kobe's 37-point average in the Lakers' two home games was very impressive, but that was also Bryant missing a potential tying three after Kevin Durant had broken a 98-98 tie with a three of his own.

As a matter of fact, why exactly did Bryant choose that exact time to pass the ball to Gasol instead of working for his own shot anyway?

I agree that Gasol was wide open, but since when has Bryant deferred to a teammate in that type of situation?

I applaud Bryant for finally showing a little trust in his teammates, but I question the timing, especially considering the moment.

Everyone in the arena expected Kobe to take that shot, probably most of all Gasol.

Instead, Gasol became the scapegoat and the target of some well-intentioned, but misplaced blame from Bryant.

Every Laker who sees any court time has played a part in the team's slow, gut-wrenching dismissal from the 2012 NBA playoffs. You can throw in coach Mike Brown's poor excuse for game management as well.

But Kobe is also included in that formula. While he's castigating a player who helped him win two championships, maybe Bryant should take a look in the mirror.