Lakers: 5 Takeaways From Brutal Eight-Game Road Trip

Dec 11, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs forward Jonathon Simmons (17) at AT&T Center. San Antonio won 109-87. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kobe is Buying In

While everyone was celebrating Kobe Bryant after he announced his retirement at the end of this season, the fact that was being swept under the rug was that 20-year veteran’s performance was hugely detrimental to everything that the Lakers were trying to do. He was stopping the ball in the offense, he was shooting far too often and far too poorly, and he seemed to be dictating everything that happened for the purple and gold.

For whatever reason, though, that started to dissipate as the road trip wore on. Bryant has noticeably been using more discretion in terms of his shooting and finding good looks rather than forcing up attempts, but has also stepped it up as a facilitator. It’s been refreshing to see the turnaround from the Laker legend.

Even with Kobe being done after this season, his farewell tour can’t come at the detriment of the future of the organization—which was where we were trending with how he was playing early in the season. With how he’s playing now, though, it allows for a lot more optimism for a post-Kobe era in LA. He’s setting up others around him for success and, in doing so, is helping the Lakers be set up for success in the future.

Next: No. 4 The Head Coaching is Something Else