The regular season began less than one week ago, but what isn't quite so new is that Kobe Bryant's shooting in the past year has been horrible. He shot 37.3% FG in the 35 games he played last season, and in three games this season is at 31.4%. The good news is, in the big picture, what matters most for the Lakers is how the youth develops. This could be Kobe's last NBA season. And it will be a miserable, sad day when he retires. But as for the team, when the Lakers succeed again it'll be due to new young talent, not Bryant. Anyway, as for the right now, here's ESPN Los Angeles reporting:

Kobe Bryant harshly criticized himself after his third straight poor performance to open the regular season, his 20th with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I'm the 200th-best player in the league right now," Bryant said after the Lakers' 103-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on Sunday, during which Bryant scored 15 points on 3-of-15 shooting from the floor. "I freaking suck."

Bryant is shooting 31 percent (16-of-51) from the floor in three games, including 20 percent (6-of-29) from 3-point range. He shot 2-of-8 from 3-point range against Dallas.

"I just can't make a shot," said Bryant, who was ranked No. 93 in ESPN's #NBArank project, which counts down the NBA's top players for this upcoming season.