Los Angeles Lakers not singing praise over Kobe Bryant's tweets

Mike D'Antoni, the LA Lakers coach, tried to make light of Kobe Bryant's Twitter inputs while sitting out injured.

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Kobe Bryant cannot help himself, and perhaps he should not be faulted for it; his competitive nature is as much a part of his legacy as five NBA titles.

Bryant is sitting out the play-offs this year because his season ended with a ruptured Achilles tendon 11 days ago. He is not going quietly, of course. He seems intent on being part of the story as his Los Angeles Lakers meet the San Antonio Spurs.

He was 2,000 kilometres from the action as the series opened, on Sunday, but he still managed to make himself heard via Twitter. It was unprecedented and, safe to say, unappreciated by the club's management.

"Matador Defense on [Tony] Parker," Bryant wrote. "His penetration is hurting us."

"What I would say if I was there right now? 'Pau [Gasol] get ur [backside] on the block and don't move till u get it'."

"Post. Post. Post."

The game was televised by the ABC network, which printed Bryant's tweets in a crawl at the bottom of the picture.

Mike D'Antoni, the man paid to coach the Lakers, in a post-game conference after the Spurs' 91-79 victory, tried to make light of Bryant's input.

"It's great to have that commentary," he said with sarcasm. "He's a fan right now. He's a fan. You guys put a little bit more importance on that kind of fan."

Bryant, still watching back in California, was not going to hold back now.

He tweeted: "A fan? Lol."

The Lakers are not laughing.

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