The Lakers record; 17-24. The fans; unhappy. The players; scattered. Playoff expectations; low. Now it is off to Memphis to face the Grizzlies amongst a whirlwind of trade rumors, shoulder shrugs and “he said, he did”. Geez.
Despite all the talent on this roster, the Lakers are not able to string together consecutive wins and there seems to be no cohesion on the court. The defensive issues on the team have been discussed over and over again. But if you watch the offense, it is just as bad.
When D’Antoni was hired, everyone was excited for the new and improved offense, but the readability of the scheme leaves the Lakers scrambling and giving up too many turnovers. Mike D’Antoni said it himself:
Admitting you have a problem is the first step, am I right? I hope Mike changes up his offensive game this week because things need to change. Now.
Kobe and Nash need to play off one another more. Nash is an excellent shooter and is not given the opportunity for good shots enough. On top of that, Kobe needs to remain dominant offensively because the new defensive role he has taken on wears him out. Rather than relying on supplemental players to bring the baskets, I much prefer keeping Kobe in that role to be the powerhouse he is, while resting the majority of the defensive game on Dwight and Metta.
Speaking of Howard, he needs to stop being such a baby in the paint, and he also needs to hustle. Watching him straggle back on defense is just painful. The Lakers are fighting for an 8th seed spot in the playoffs at this point and every lost game is a step farther and farther from that goal. Shouldn’t that be lighting a fire under anyone’s ass?
Ramneet Singh of LN said it best; “D’Antoni cannot expect the Lakers to score 105 points a game in order to win, especially with this old and aging roster.” What this means is a better plan and some structure. Heck, any sort of workable guidance from D’Antoni. What you can get away with when it comes to young, healthy players, like the option to “let them play” and sort of take on a street ball mentality, you cannot do with this Lakers roster. They are too old.
Kobe said it best: “Obviously, this isn’t working.”
Lakers Nation News
Jarrod Rudolph Interview: Any Truth to Dwight Howard Trade Rumors?
Report: Dwight Howard Mocking Kobe Bryant’s Shooting Woes
Can Kobe Bryant’s Leadership Save Struggling Lakers This Season?
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Says Team ‘Obviously Isn’t Working’
Laker Rumors: Brooklyn Nets May Try To Acquire Dwight Howard
Lakers Are Stuck In A Catch-22 And Have To Mentally Get Out
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni: “Our Offense is Just Ugly”
Lakers News: Dwight Howard Upset With Shot Opportunities
NBA Rumors: Phil Jackson Could Be “Face” Of Seattle Franchise
Lakers News: Pau Gasol Thinks Trade is a Possibility Now
Lakers News
Who Does LA Have to Beat to Make the Playoffs? [Silver Screen and Roll]
The Lakers Are as Bad as Their Record Indicates [Silver Screen and Roll]
Pau Gasol Out as Starter Forever [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers’ Issues Go Beyond a Benched Pau Gasol [Forum Blue and Gold]
Pau Gasol to be Reserve for Lakers? [ESPN]
Kobe ‘Trying to Keep My Cool’ After Another Lakers Loss [USA Today]
Dwight Howard’s Perplexing Season Hits the Halfway Point [Lakers Index]
Lakers 83, Bulls 95 [ESPN LA]
Metta World Peace is Content to Stay with Lakers for Rest of Career [L.A. Times]
Lakers’ Big Men Irked by New Twist [The Orange County Register]
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls [SI.com]
Lakers/Bulls Recap: These Are Our Lakers [Forum Blue and Gold]
Time to Consider Options, Or is it? [ESPN]
Lakers 83, Bulls 95: Jan. 21 Running Diary [Lakers Blog]
Kobe Bryant’s Frustration with Lakers’ Struggles Grows: ‘This isn’t working’ [Yahoo! Sports]
NBA Rescinds Dwight Howard’s Second Technical Foul From Sunday’s Game [L.A. Times]
Kobe Bryant Live-Tweeted an NBATV Replay of His 81-point Game … It’s Epic [USA Today]
Winners and Losers of Howard Trade [ESPN Insider]
Lakers to Head to China [ESPN]
LA Lakers Move Gasol to Reserve Role, Start Clark [Yahoo! Sports]
Lakers Keep Falling on Court and in Standings [L.A. Times]
NBA News
Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks – Recap [ESPN]
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors – Recap [ESPN]
San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers – Recap [ESPN]
Houston Rockets vs. Charlotte Bobcats – Recap [ESPN]
J.J. Barea Fined $5K for Second Anti-Flopping Violation [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA’s Top Three Point Shooters [USA Today]
How L.A. Clippers Won the Offseason [ESPN]
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Anderson Varejao Out Rest of Season with Blood Clot [ESPN]
Sacramento Kings are Sold; Next Stop Seattle? [ L.A. Times]
Bulls Rising [SB Nation]
Seattle Owners Could Target R.C. Buford or Larry Bird to Run Franchise [Yahoo! Sports]
Miami Heat — Can Anyone in Eastern Conference Keep Them Out of NBA Finals? [The Point Forward]
Doc Rivers Threatens Big Changes to Celtics, One Week After Danny Ainge Predicts No Trades [Ball Don’t Lie]
Duncan’s Double-Double Lifts Spurs Past 76ers [Yahoo! Sports]
Stan Van Gundy Opens Up in Interview [SB Nation]
Report: Cavaliers, Grizzlies Trade Speights and Selby for Leuer [ProBasketballTalk]
LeBron James Butchers Michael Jackson Song at Karaoke [USA Today]
