But you can't really blame Russell. His physical talent isn't great to begin with, and he needs the ball in his hands to play. A lot of times, the ball is in Kobe's hands for the Lakers, which makes him always feel quite stifled.
The Lakers' offense.
After Russell dribbled past halfcourt, Kobe called for the ball on the right side of the free throw line.
Russell obediently passed the ball to Kobe.
After Kobe's major injury, coupled with age, his physical talent has declined significantly. His jump shots and fadeaways are often contested, which has somewhat affected his efficiency.
When the core consistently plays in a highly inefficient manner, it's hard for the team's record to be good.
Kobe got the ball outside the three-point line on the right side, while Clarkson and Russell stayed wide on either side.
The Lakers currently don't have a 3-and-D player, and their guards all need the ball.
