Kobe Encourages Green After Schooling

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Gerald Green got abuse from Kobe Bryant during the game and encouragement from the Los Angeles Lakers star afterward.

Bryant, nine years Green?s basketball senior, took the second-year Celtic aside.

?I told him, I said, the important thing is to keep working,? Bryant said. ?Just have tunnel vision. It?s a tough situation for him here right now because they?re losing so much. But it?s important for him to just stay focused on what he has to do. I told him if he ever needs anything to track me down.

?He?s a hell of a talent. He reminds me a lot of myself when I first came into the league. I came out guarding MJ (Michael Jordan) and (Scottie) Pippen and those guys. It was a challenge, but you?re not going to learn unless you step up to that challenge and meet that challenge.?

Green had 22 points to Bryant?s 43 in the 111-98 Celtics [team stats] loss, while the latter also had eight rebounds and eight assists on his stat line. Bryant also stepped up large when it counted, making 9-of-16 shots in the second half.

?He?s a great player, man,? Green. ?I was playing as best as I could. My teammates helped. I mean, he?s Kobe Bryant. When he hits shots like that, it?s tough.?

Bryant was back playing after his one-game suspension for a hit on San Antonio?s Manu Ginobili. He watched Tuesday night?s game in New York against the Knicks from his hotel room.

?It was terrible,? Bryant said. ?Terrible. I felt like a kid that was grounded, man. I couldn?t go outside and play on the swings.? </div>

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