Lou Williams (centre) in action for Atlanta Hawks. (TNS)

By Mark Medina/Daily News, Los Angeles (TNS)

Father Time punched Kobe Bryant hard enough to end his season prematurely for three consecutive years. That made the Lakers determined to find antibiotics for their star player.
The prescription entailed a full recovery, an upgraded roster and reduced playing time.
Though they expect Bryant to fully heal his surgically repaired right shoulder once training camp starts in late September, the Lakers whiffed in free agency on LaMarcus Aldridge, and DeAndre Jordan. Still, the Lakers collected a decent consolation prize in Lou Williams, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year who could ease Bryant’s workload because they both share the same position and love for scoring.
“When he goes out, I’m sure I’ll be coming in,” Williams said of Bryant in an interview with Los Angeles News Group. “We’ll be able to keep the scoring level going and give him an opportunity to get a breather.”
Lakers coach Byron Scott has said he hopes to play Bryant in the  and rest him on back-to-back games, a contrast to last season when he averaged 22.3 points on a career-low 37.3 percent shooting in 36.4 minutes. Despite also pledging last season to minimise Bryant’s workload, Scott played him between 30 and 40 minutes through 27 games and even exceeded that 40-minute threshold three times. Bryant then rested eight of the next 16 contests before his injury in late January.
Scott contended he after overlapping injuries to his left Achilles tendon and left knee sidelined him in the 2013-14 season for all but six games. But Scott also viewed Bryant’s supporting cast as lacking.
“It’s well documented how competitive Kobe is and how tough Byron can be on his players,” said Williams, who agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with the Lakers over Toronto partly because of Bryant. “That comes from guys wanting to win at a high level. That’s something I want to do as well. I think it can elevate me.”
The Lakers had hoped Nick Young could ease Bryant’s burden when they awarded Young’s breakout season in 2013-14 with a four-year, $21.5 million contract last summer. But nothing went according to plan. Young missed the first 10 games because of a surgically repaired thumb. Young averaged 13.4 points on a career-low 36.6-percent shooting, numbers that mirrored his production even before Bryant’s season-ending injury. Through it all, Scott became increasingly irritated with Young’s inconsistency, attitude and work ethic.
Hence, the Lakers have become intent on trading Young. But as of now, Young remains on the Lakers’ roster, raising questions on how Bryant, Young and Williams will co-exist as scorers.
“We’ll have to build the chemistry,” Williams said. “Kobe Bryant is a walking stat himself. He doesn’t have to explain what he brings to the table. Both Nick and myself have been successful scoring guards over the years. I’m sure we’ll work it all out.”
Williams argued that will involve more than just him making baskets.
“It’s not about me scoring the ball. I’ve always said to my teammates that ‘two points is two points, whether it’s yours or mine,’” Williams said. “Even though I’ve been tagged as a scorer and a guy who shoots a lot, I’m a guy that makes the best plays that I possibly can.”
Williams has done that mostly as a reserve in stints with Philadelphia (2005-12), Atlanta (2012-14) and Toronto (2014-15). He maintained, “I would love to start if a coach considered me as a starter.” But he also added, “I would love to defend my (Sixth Man) title.”
Doing so could depend on whether Williams plays well enough to leave the Lakers comfortable resting Bryant.
“I love to be in the game in the fourth quarter when it matters,” said Williams, who plans to arrive in Los Angeles either Wednesday or Thursday before training the rest of the offseason near his Atlanta residence. “Based on Kobe’s identity and the way Coach Scott is, I feel like I can fit that mould.”