ATLANTA >> Kobe Bryant will soon feel something unpleasant that does not involve his health. When the Lakers (3-16) play the Detroit Pistons (11-9) on Sunday at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Bryant will feel frustration regarding the Lakers losing to the Pistons in five games of the 2004 NBA Finals.
“It still eats at me. Absolutely does,” Bryant said. “I’m upset that I gave Richard Hamilton something to brag about. Up until that point, he never beat me. That just kills me.”
Bryant has contended he should have won seven NBA championships instead of five amid the Lakers’ NBA Finals losses to Detroit (2004) and Boston (2008).