Byron Scott is in the business of giving the people what they want, so when asked the burning question regarding Bryant’s playing time in his final game Wednesday at home against the Jazz, the Lakers coach said he plans to milk the 37-year-old for every last minute of his career before Bryant can ride off into retirement.
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“He’ll play more than he has all season long,” Scott declared, surely to the delight of those doling out $1,000 for admission to Staples Center.
Bryant maxed out at 37 minutes this season in a November game against the Clippers.
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Scott already has gone on record about his desire to let the Lakers star run wild — “I almost just want to play him 48 minutes,” he said Friday — but that seems a tad unrealistic. Bryant averaged just 27 minutes per game this season, and at some point there’s only so much the old man can handle, as evidenced by his sideline Michelin Man impressions.
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“No, stop that,” Bryant scoffed in response to Scott’s 48 minutes remark. “Unless you’re playing on ‘2K.’ That’s about it.”
A healthy estimation probably falls somewhere in the middle, just enough to give everyone their fill.
