The Lakers are a puzzle, alright. They are struggling to get back to .500 and every loss has playoff chances sinking towards impossible. The Lakers are in the bottom half of the Western Conference after their fourth consecutive loss Wednesday night against the Grizzlies.
What is really ironic is the player that is Dwight Howard. Howard was named to his seventh All-Star game this year along with his teammate Kobe Bryant, but many are asking the question, does he deserve it? With a less than impressive performance displayed during the first half of the season, I would argue that it is rather disheartening that Dwight is considered an All-Star. As far as I can see, very little of how he has played is All-Star material. His injuries, which have been an excuse for his poor play this Lakers season, should also be a factor come the All-Star game, right? Maybe voters played into the hype, again. The same hype that surrounded the Lakers this summer.
This All-Star game will be the first Western selection for Dwight. However, this may not be for long. Howard will be a free agent at the end of the season. He will have the opportunity to leave L.A. for another squad, and sign wherever he desires. It has also been rumored that Gasol has told those close to him that he expects to be moved before next month’s trade deadline. If I had to choose, I would rather see Howard out, and Gasol placed back at the true Center position. Part of Gasol’s struggle this year has been adjusting to having Dwight in the line-up, but these issues could be avoided is Pau was allowed to play the game the way he wanted to.
Some good news; the Los Angeles Lakers are the second most valuable NBA team. They are worth $1 billion, up 11 percent from last year. The Lakers’ revenue increased this season, and will continue to increase with the $3.6 billion television deal they booked with Time Warner Cable. Despite a disappointing season, this L.A. is still known around the world and continues to remain popular.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers Rumors: Team Reporter Suspects Dwight Howard Leaves Lakers
Triple Threat: Ex-Laker Josh Powell Talks Kobe, Coaching & Dwight
Lakers Rumors: Pau Gasol Privately Expecting to be Traded?
Based on Performance, Does Dwight Howard Deserve to Be an All-Star?
How To “Fix” Lakers’ Inability To Close Games, By Using Pau Gasol
NBA News: Lakers Ranked as Second Most Valuable NBA Franchise
Lakers News: Steve Nash Calls Past Three Weeks a “Nightmare”
These Lakers Can’t Afford to Fire Mike D’Antoni & Hire Phil Jackson
Lakers News
Two All-Star Starters Ain’t What They Used to Be [Silver Screen and Roll]
Final Score: Grizzlies Destroy Lakers 106-93 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Who Does LA Have to Beat to Make the Playoffs? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers at Grizzlies: Meltdown [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers ‘went at each other a little bit’ in Morning Meeting [LA Times]
Forget Kobe vs. Dwight, the Lakers Will Pay for Doubling Down on Failed D’Antoni-Nash Reunion [Yahoo Sports]
Dwight Howard Apologizes, Says He Needs to Stop Complaining [LA Times]
Lakers Road Woes Continue in Loss [OC Register]
Gasol And Howard A Bad Mix Under D’Antoni … Sound Familiar? ” [Hang Time Blog]
Forget Kobe vs. Dwight, the Lakers Will Pay for Doubling Down on Failed D’Antoni-Nash Reunion [Yahoo! Sports]
Forbes Reports New York Knicks Most Valuable NBA Team Over Los Angeles Lakers [ESPN New York]
The Return Of The Dwightmare? ” [Hang Time Blog]
The Inbounds: D’Antoni has Struggled, but not with Gasol [CBSSports.com]
With a Good Team, Individual Players Can Overcome [LA Times]
Kobe, Howard at Center of Meeting [ESPN LA]
Lakers’ Dwight Howard Talks About the Present, not the Future -[LA Times]
Dwight Howard says he was Immature, Promises to “Bring It” [ProBasketballTalk]
Dwight Howard of Los Angeles Lakers Aggravates Shoulder Against Memphis Grizzlies [ESPN Los Angeles]
Dwight Howard Aggravates Shoulder Injury, Sits Out Second Half [LA Times]
NBA News
Report — New Orleans Hornets to Change Name to Pelicans on Thursday [ESPN]
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson: Don’t Celebrate Too Early, Seattle [SI.com]
Wednesday Marks Kings’ First Home Game Since Sale Announced [ProBasketballTalk]
All-Star Game Sneakers for LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant Unveiled [The Point Forward]
Bucks GM Hammond Gets Contract Extension [NBA.com]
Jermaine O’Neal Reportedly Argues with Phoenix Suns GM [The Point Forward]
Two Top Assistants Leave Suns After Hunter’s Hiring [SI.com]
Are Nuggets Just Starting To Take Off? ” [Hang Time Blog]
George Karl on JaVale McGee: ‘Lazy and crazy isn’t going to make it work’ [Ball Don’t Lie]
Champion Heat Scheduled to Visit Obama [NBA.com]
Phil Jackson in Line to Become Face of Seattle SuperSonics? [The Point Forward]
Despite Losing James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder Just Keep Getting Better [SI.com]
Days of NBA Lives: Wherein the Suns Go Hard at Starbucks [Ball Don’t Lie]
Midseason Report: Picking West All-Star Reserves Not an Easy Task [CBSSports.com]