Phil Jackson should partake in some of the blame as well. Whatever is said behind closed doors in practice and video playback isn’t working. The Lakers can’t afford to have Jackson’s coaching fall on deaf ears for much longer. His explanation for what the Lakers experienced against Cleveland was an apparent look ahead at the All-Star break. I’m curious, had they been looking ahead to the break since they played Orlando?
The All-Star break is said and done. Practice resumes first thing Monday morning, but will hitting what Bryant called “rock bottom” be enough to finally get the Lakers on track? The Lakers cannot expect to win anything if every time they hit the hardwood is like a 48-minute statement of how vulnerable the team is when it’s simply out-worked, out-muscled and out-hustled.
Is it time to panic? Certainly not. Not for any other reason other than what ails the Lakers is simply out of our control. The talent is there, the motivation is questionable and the consistency is non-existent. If the Lakers don’t somehow find their identity and drive sometime between now and the 25 games left in the season, it may be a good time to start mentally preparing yourself for a loss in the finals or even an early playoff exit.
The Lakers have been too good for too long, they’ve earned our respect and no one turns their back on proven champions. What the Lakers are experiencing doesn’t take them out of the running or make them any less likely to win a title this year. However, they’ve made themselves susceptible to failure and a lack of execution on the floor exposes their mortality.
But hey, look at it this way: If the Lakers do come out of this as winners, the accomplishment will be that much sweeter.
