Lakers News: Latest on Postgame Row, Kobe Bryant's Comments

For the Los Angeles Lakers, there was reason for optimism heading into the 2015-16 season. 

With a revamped roster thanks to the acquisitions of Brandon Bass, Lou Williams and Roy Hibbert, along with the return of Julius Randle and the drafting of D'Angelo Russell, things were looking up for a Lakers team that won just 21 games last season. 

The improvements on paper, though, haven't translated to the court just yet, as the Lakers have started the season 0-4. And things aren't sounding so good from inside the organization, either. 

Lakers Had Verbal Altercation

According to Lakers head coach Byron Scott, via the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina, things became heated on the bench during their 120-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. According to Scott, "a few guys discussed [the loss] in a very angry way."

While Scott did not disclose any of the players involved, he did not mind what happened either, as he told Medina:

"

That’s good. They tell me that they care. I want to see more fight in our guys. We want to try to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. ... If they just sat on the bench with a smile on their face, I would’ve been much more concerned. I loved it. It tells me that guys care. If they were smiling or laughing, I would’ve been pissed.

"

ESPN's Jason Wojciechowski tried to sum up the Lakers' season so far in one picture:

Power forward Randle, though, spoke with Medina about the altercation, trying to further diffuse the situation. 

"We’re tired and don’t want to lose,” Randle said. “We’re competitive. That’s how it is. We have guys in here that care. It’s going to happen."

But if this is how things are on the Lakers bench after four games, there's a possibility altercations like this could escalate even further if more frustration sets in.  

Bryant Won't Mind If You Lose It

The face of the Lakers franchise has already come up with some gems of quotes early in this season. After a Sunday performance against the Dallas Mavericks in which he shot 3-of-15 from the field, Bryant said that "I freaking suck."

After the team's verbal altercation and loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday, Bryant took to the media to solace the fans, speaking with Janis Carr of the Orange County Register. 

"Freak out. It’s good for the soul." 

Despite holding the fourth-highest offense in the league, the Lakers are still averaging a margin of defeat of 10.0 points this season. Bryant is shooting just 32.3 percent from the field with 15.8 points per game, hardly the kind of play the Lakers want from the 37-year-old veteran. 

But one man doesn't make a team sink or swim, and he had some advice for the younger players, as he told Carr:

"

You just look at the film and see what’s there. Look at film. The answers are right there. Learn the same way I did by watching film, game by game, piece by piece. ... [I'm] frustrated with the game, and we have to try to fix it. Communicate and teach and be better next time. 

"

Luckily for the Lakers and Bryant, there is still plenty more basketball to be played, and their next game might be just what the doctor ordered. On Friday, Los Angeles travels to Brooklyn to take on the 0-5 Nets. 

Something is going to have to give at the Barclays Center, hopefully for Lakers fans, so their trip to New York is much more fruitful than their first four games. 

Stats courtesy of NBA.com