Dodgers clubhouse uses Kobe Bryant's famous words to instill winning mentality ahead of Padres showdown in NLDS Game 5

The Los Angeles Dodgers and fierce rivals the San Diego Padres will clash in a winner-takes-all NLDS Game 5 on Friday. Los Angeles shut down San Diego in Game 4 to push the series to a decider at Dodger Stadium.

Despite a blowout win in the last game, the Dodgers are not taking things lightly, highlighted by a message in their clubhouse. Ahead of Game 5, a monitor displayed Los Angeles legend and NBA icon Kobe Bryant's famous "Job's not finished" quote.

The five-time NBA champion's famous words came after the Lakers went 2-0 up in the 2009 NBA Finals. Bryant displayed his "Mamba Mentality" with the quote, and the LA Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in five games, earning Kobe his first NBA Finals MVP.

Bryant, who spent almost two decades with the Lakers during his illustrious career, was a big Dodgers fan and often attended games at Dodger Stadium.

Kobe Bryant's quote is supposed to instill a winning mentality in the Dodgers players ahead of their showdown against the Padres that could define their postseason.

Dodgers put Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Yu Darvish for Game 5 showdown

While the Dodgers bullpen came out with flying colors after a shoutout in Game 4, manager Dave Roberts has turned to Japanese rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Game 5.

Yamamoto, the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history after his $325-million deal in the offseason, will be up against his compatriot Yu Darvish in the NLDS finale.

Yamamoto's Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani, who has long admired Darvish's skills, had mentioned his wish to see the two Japanese pitchers go head-to-head ahead of the NLDS. And now, as the two are going to face off in a high-stakes game, Ohtani praised the Padres starter on Thursday.

"Obviously he's a really good pitcher and pitched well against us," Ohtani said. "I think he's also very crafty, as well, so there isn't exactly one specific thing that really stands out. But personally, I'm really excited that he's going to perhaps be facing Yoshinobu."

The Dodgers starter lasted just three innings in Game 1 of the series after conceding five runs over five hits. Meanwhile, the senior pro was more composed from the mound as Darvish conceded just one run in seven innings in the Padres' Game 2 win. It will be exciting to see who comes on top in the battle of Japanese pitchers on Friday.