MIAMI  The line between empathy and sympathy is subtle but significant, and for about a half hour on Wednesday the Los Angeles Lakers lived in the hazy space between the two.

No other N.B.A. team could relate so well to the plight of the Miami Heat. The Lakers know the burden of stratospheric expectations and the powerful consequences of failure, even short-term failure. They have lived this drama themselves many times.

But after five minutes of questions about the Heat’s hardships  the blown leads, the five-game losing streak, the merciless scrutiny  Kobe Bryant was done playing sideline psychiatrist.

“It takes a little adjusting, I guess,” Bryant said of the bull’s-eye on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. “I don’t know, I’m still trying to kill people.”