Remember that team that was supposed to finish the 2012-13 regular season with 73 wins?
What about the team that was so talented it would have no problem winning the Western Conference?
Well people, the Los Angeles Lakers are nowhere close to championship form and the team that was supposed to dominate the league is in the same class as constant lottery bound squads like the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns.
In fact the Lakers have relinquished their title as the best team in the state of California. Actually, they’re not even the best team in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Clippers are head and shoulders ahead of the Lakers in terms of playoff preparation and the Golden State Warriors have had a much better season than the putrid 15-21 Lakers.
The Lakers are six games under .500 and the threat of missing the playoffs is real— there is a good chance the Lakers end up watching the post-season from home.
Before all you fans use the “16 championship banners” argument to knock down the notion that the Clippers and Warriors are better than the Lakers, keep this in mind, records don’t lie. No one is neglecting the incredible history behind the Lakers franchise and all they have accomplished over the years. However, just because the Lakers were dominant in years prior doesn’t make them better than two teams that are well ahead of them in the Pacific Division.
At this point of the season, the Lakers cannot use their championship pedigree to instill fear into opponents or demand respect whenever they hit the court. Truth is, the Lakers are not a good team and it is very disappointing seeing a roster with so much talent struggle to win games.
After the Lakers’ Wednesday night loss to the San Antonio Spurs, people were praising the Lakers for their valiant effort and all passion they played the game with. Fans and analysts were happy with hustle and grit the Lakers showed against the Spurs, but at this time of the year, the Lakers cannot afford any more “moral victories.”
Perhaps early on in the process the coaching staff would have been happy with great intensity in a losing effort, but not anymore. The Lakers are falling behind the other Western Conference teams and before you know it, pandemonium will ensue in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles shouldn’t be proud that it played with heart and energy in a game it ends up losing. Whether the Lakers lose by 45 points or four, a loss is a loss and playing with intensity will not change the record. Even if the Lakers pull together an amazing second half comeback, if the surge falls short, the team will still drop another precious game in the competitive Western Conference.
Time is running out for the Los Angeles Lakers and they cannot settle for “moral victories.” Although those types of losses can indeed help a team with its confidence, at the end of the day, the record will be the same no matter if the margin of defeat is in the high twenties or in the single digits.
Next Page: No More Excuses for This Team
There is no valid excuse as to why the Lakers are still trying to find an identity this late into the season. The Lakers should have “figured it out” by now and the onus for failing to do that should fall on the players and the coaching staff. The players need to create cohesion on the court and they must find a way to build their chemistry. A team cannot develop into a championship contender if the players aren’t willing to sacrifice for the betterment of teammate or the team in general. Injuries have hurt the Lakers mightily this season, but they have had enough time with at least three of their four stars to build a solid foundation for success.
The blame should also fall on the coaching staff for its failure to bring about change in Los Angeles. Mike D’Antoni does have a tough job coaching the Lakers, but he must realize that his system may not entirely work with the players on this team. No one is telling D’Antoni to throw his playbook, but he should stop being stubborn and tweak his system so he can fully utilize the skills of all of his stars.
Meaning, the Lakers will have to go at least 29-17 in order to make the last spot in the Western Conference, but they will likely face the superior Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. And if the Thunder’s Friday night dismantling of the Lakers showed us anything, it’s that the Lakers stand no chance against Oklahoma City if they meet in the post-season.
After all the trades and risks the front-office took this off-season, not making the post-season will be both shameful for the management and also a lethal blow to the future of the Lakers as the team will not have a lottery pick. Yes, the Lakers’ 2013 first round pick will go the Phoenix Suns, meaning the Lakers can’t tank games in hopes of landing a top draft pick in 2013.
The odds are certainly not in favor of the Lakers making the playoffs and a lot must change for them to make a strong push here in the latter part of the regular season. It is clear that the Lakers will have a hefty hill to climb if they want to reach the post-season, so there is no time for “moral victories.”
The Lakers cannot continue to play hard against the elite teams in the NBA if they always end up losing. At this stage of the season and at this point of the stars’ careers, coming close is not good enough. The Lakers have a roster full of proven winners and they are not willing to accept mediocrity. The only way to improve their position in the standings and attain a 29-17 record the rest of the way is to win games, not to “come close” or play with toughness in a losing effort.
Fans are getting tired of the Lakers slacking in the first three quarters and hoping their fourth quarter surge can help them win. No, that’s not how it works Los Angeles. In order to be an elite team, you have to be willing to play smart, energetic basketball for a full 48 minutes.
Time is running out for the Los Angeles Lakers. You can take pleasure in all the moral victories you want, and if you enjoy the feeling of losing but still giving a fearless effort, so be it. But remember this, only teams that know they are lottery bound celebrate after such losses, not teams that have the talent to set league records.