Kobe Bryant Not Too Worried About OKC

Following the Lakers’ beatdown at the hands of the Thunder in Game 4, The Oklahoman spotted Bryant leaving the arena while puffing on a cigar, which they took to mean that he wasn’t all that concerned with his team’s performance in the series: “As Kobe Bryant strolled out of the Ford Center following the Thunder’s 110-89 win in Game 4 on Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star lit up, brazenly lifting a cigar to his lips and puffing merrily just before exiting the building. The trail of smoke reeked of every ounce of arrogance the Lakers have carried into this first-round series. The scene, though, belied the bountiful problems Bryant had just finished confessing in his postgame press conference. By his own admission, Bryant has been affected by a knee injury and is now unsure of the mindset of his once mighty team. And those are just the start of L.A.’s issues. The lone edge the Lakers still own over the Thunder is home-court advantage as this series shifts back to Staples Center deadlocked at 2-2. But make no mistake, the Thunder is now in control of this showdown going into Tuesday night’s Game 5.”