OKC Thunder notebook: Kendrick Perkins is a game-time decision

“I learned from my predecessors, man,” Bryant said. “(Scottie) Pippen had a (messed)-up back taking charges. (Larry) Bird had a (messed)-up back taking charges. I said, 'I'm not taking charges.' I figured that (stuff) out at an early age.”

(NOT) GETTING BETTER

As usual, Fisher stuck around for roughly 45 minutes after practice on Tuesday to take some extra shots.

“He looks at himself as he's just starting in the league,” Brooks said of the 37-year-old Fisher. “He wants to keep getting better. I don't think he realizes he's not going to get much better. He is what he is, but he still comes out every day to improve. It's refreshing.”

ENERGETIC RESPONSE

Bryant broke out into laughter when asked if there was anything the Lakers could do to match the Thunder's energy.

“You can't,” Bryant said. “You just accept that. It's not a big deal. You can't. They have youthful exuberance. We don't worry about matching their energy. You just think about slowing them down and playing your style.”

Asked if he laughed because he remembers what it was like to be young and energetic, the 33-year-old Bryant said: “I don't even remember what it was like.”

CAPTAIN PERK

Brooks resorted to a comic book series to describe the tough-as-nails Perkins.

“One of the things we know about Perk is he is as tough as they come,” Brooks said. “If they would ever do an 'Avengers II' (movie), he'll probably be one of the characters — Perk, or Captain America, or the Incredible Hulk and Perk. He's as tough as they come and he wants to play.”

BAIT AND LURE

Mohammed had seven points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 22 minutes in Game 1.

Asked if he took pleasure in luring 7-foot Lakers center Andrew Bynum away from the basket with his 15-foot jumper, the 34-year-old Mohammed said: “That's my job. Over the years, I've worked on my jump shot and knocking them down because of how the league has changed and having to be able to hit that shot. Because you can't just depend on getting the ball in the post.”

Is there a smile on Mohammed's face when he lures out Bynum? “There's no smile,” Mohammed said. “Because if I miss it ... .”

QUOTABLE

Bryant on Game 1: “They came out, took us out back and whooped us. It's on us to make adjustments, to make changes.”