LOS ANGELES, May 11 (Reuters) - Fatigue had been the biggest reason for the premature exit from the playoffs by the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, All-Star guard Kobe Bryant said on Wednesday.
In pursuit of a third consecutive championship and a record-equalling 17th title, the Lakers
were swept out of the second round by the Dallas Mavericks after being routed 122-86 in Sunday's Game Four.
Seventy-seven playoff games over the last four years had left the Lakers mentally and physically exhausted, Bryant said, but he was confident the team could return to winning ways with the same lineup next season.
"It's been a long run ... a great run but a long run," Bryant told reporters before checking out of the Lakers' training base in El Segundo on Wednesday.
"The biggest thing was the fatigue factor. Guys were tired. A lot of times when you get tired, you get burdened by things that you're normally not burdened by."
Asked how the Lakers would recover for next season, Bryant replied: "Just re-focus.
"This summer, some guys will rest, some guys will train and some guys will get healthy. Just re-focus, come back next year with a good sense of purpose and be ready to go."
While the Lakers face an uncertain future over the coming months with a new head coach being sought along with possible changes in personnel, Bryant had no doubt the Lakers could get back to the top next season.
WINNING BELIEF
"If you're asking me if I believe that we can come back and win it again, I absolutely believe that," the MVP of the last two NBA finals said. "If this team came back as is, I believe we could win."
Wednesday's exit interview was a poignant one for Bryant as his long-time coach Phil Jackson prepared to leave the training base for a final time.
Jackson, an 11-times NBA champion head coach, had to be persuaded to return to the Lakers for one more season and he now plans to retire to his summer home in Montana.
"A lot of people probably don't expect us to continue winning without Phil as head coach," said Bryant, who won NBA championship rings with the Lakers under Jackson in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
"That's a challenge right there in of itself."
Bryant was bitterly disappointed Jackson's final campaign in charge had finished prematurely but he preferred to reflect on those many successful seasons.
"I had a chance to spend some time with him before coming down here, and it's sad because of the way it ended," Bryant said. "But still we gotta remember the good old times, last year and how that ended, and the year before that even."
Asked what he had learned most from 'Zen Master' Jackson over the years, Bryant replied: "A lot of things. His philosophy on life is something that I have adopted and that I carry with me.
"He has affected me and impacted my basketball game, how I think about the game and me as a person. I'll miss just talking to him. We always sat next to each other on the plane."
In pursuit of a third consecutive championship and a record-equalling 17th title, the Lakers
were swept out of the second round by the Dallas Mavericks after being routed 122-86 in Sunday's Game Four.
Seventy-seven playoff games over the last four years had left the Lakers mentally and physically exhausted, Bryant said, but he was confident the team could return to winning ways with the same lineup next season.
"It's been a long run ... a great run but a long run," Bryant told reporters before checking out of the Lakers' training base in El Segundo on Wednesday.
"The biggest thing was the fatigue factor. Guys were tired. A lot of times when you get tired, you get burdened by things that you're normally not burdened by."
Asked how the Lakers would recover for next season, Bryant replied: "Just re-focus.
"This summer, some guys will rest, some guys will train and some guys will get healthy. Just re-focus, come back next year with a good sense of purpose and be ready to go."
While the Lakers face an uncertain future over the coming months with a new head coach being sought along with possible changes in personnel, Bryant had no doubt the Lakers could get back to the top next season.
WINNING BELIEF
"If you're asking me if I believe that we can come back and win it again, I absolutely believe that," the MVP of the last two NBA finals said. "If this team came back as is, I believe we could win."
Wednesday's exit interview was a poignant one for Bryant as his long-time coach Phil Jackson prepared to leave the training base for a final time.
Jackson, an 11-times NBA champion head coach, had to be persuaded to return to the Lakers for one more season and he now plans to retire to his summer home in Montana.
"A lot of people probably don't expect us to continue winning without Phil as head coach," said Bryant, who won NBA championship rings with the Lakers under Jackson in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
"That's a challenge right there in of itself."
Bryant was bitterly disappointed Jackson's final campaign in charge had finished prematurely but he preferred to reflect on those many successful seasons.
"I had a chance to spend some time with him before coming down here, and it's sad because of the way it ended," Bryant said. "But still we gotta remember the good old times, last year and how that ended, and the year before that even."
Asked what he had learned most from 'Zen Master' Jackson over the years, Bryant replied: "A lot of things. His philosophy on life is something that I have adopted and that I carry with me.
"He has affected me and impacted my basketball game, how I think about the game and me as a person. I'll miss just talking to him. We always sat next to each other on the plane."
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