Rockets forward Trevor Ariza got advice from former teammate Kobe Bryant about how to lead a team.

Houston needs Ariza to be their go-to scorer with both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming both injured.

After Ariza struggled in a preseason game against the Celtics, Bryant sent him a text message.

"He was like, 'I've been through the same situation before. So just slow down, stay focused on your goal and it will come around. You're in a situation where you have an opportunity, so take advantage of it,' " Ariza told Yahoo! Sports of Bryant's message.

Ariza welcomed Bryant's advice.

"It's an adjustment," he said. "It's a different style of basketball that I'm playing now. I'm going from being the fifth option to one of the main guys on the team. It's taken a little while to adjust to it, but I'm happy to be in this situation.

"The best part about it is I can take shots, and if I take a bad shot, I'm not going to be yelled at. But the toughest part is probably having to take it all on my shoulders. It's what people say pressure is."

Via Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers

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