Kobe walks out on press conference

Monday night’s blowout in Oklahoma City simply confirmed what we all already knew: The Lakers are going to have their hands full with the Thunder. The Thunder are the most talented team in the West. L.A. has experience, but Oklahoma City is probably too athletic for the Lakers to keep up over the course of a seven-game series.

Kobe Bryant knows that. But is he ready to pack it in after one bad loss? Of course not. After Game 1, a reporter asked Kobe if the Lakers are capable of guarding the Thunder. In case you couldn’t tell by the expressions on his face, Kobe was being completely sarcastic when he answered “No” and walked away from the podium.

While he has a tendency to be short with the media and act like a jerk after losses, I can’t say I blame Kobe for this one. There are more effective ways to ask that same question. Instead of talking about match-up problems and athleticism, the reporter basically asked Kobe if he thinks the Lakers stand a chance in the series. I would have got up and walked away too.

H/T Ball Don’t Lie