Lakers are now 9-14 after losing to the Knicks last night. It was Mike D’Antoni’s first game against the team he coached a season ago, and unfortunately it didn’t end in his favor. A seemingly rhythm-less offense was matched with a painfully slow defense. Need any proof? Check out this GIF. Players just watched Carmelo Anthony score a basket,as if they were on the sidelines as spectators.
The Knicks outplayed the Lakers and essentially won that game in the first half. Kobe eventually heated up and the point margin got less and less. Unfortunately, the Knicks held on too well for L.A. to really catch up, even without Carmelo in the 4th, who sat out after injuring his ankle in the third quarter.
There is a chance tonight; the Lakers play the Wizards. Kobe is confident the Lakers will figure it out. He believes that those who have won a ring with him before can do it again. As he puts it:
“A lot of responsibility is going to fall on me and Pau [Gasol], but we need Metta [World Peace]. Metta has a big presence on this team. I really encourage him to take that role head on – and to be an enforcer with it. But Metta, he’s done it before. We’ve won before together.”
As for D’Antoni? Los Angeles fans are getting restless. Spoiled, maybe, for being supporters of one of the winning-est franchises in NBA history, Lakers fans are shouting at Mike to do something. L.A. lovers demand nothing less than a championship, which is a huge demand. But the Lakers aren’t even close to a decent record. They have become obviously average, with a 9-14 record and a repetitive play style. It is because of this that Mike D’Antoni’s head is in the guillotine. Rey of LN puts it best: “D’Antoni seems to get more and more testy as the Lakers pile up their losses, but it’s the same song and dance for the past two weeks.” Mike Brown must be laughing.
Pau Gasol is out again tonight against the Wizards. The Lakers will be again without Gasol, Nash and Blake. Pau Gasol has been out with tendinitis on both knees and has not played since the Lakers lost against Orlando on December 2nd. This will be the seventh consecutive game Gasol is going to miss.
Washington Wizards (3-16) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (9-14)
4:00 PM PST, December 14, 2012 MCI Center, Washington, DC
CA TV: TWC Sports Network
Wizards Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Jordan Crawford SG: Bradley Beal SF: Martell Webster PF: Chris Singleton C: Emeka Okafor
Key Reserves: F Nene, F Kevin Seraphin, G Shaun Livingston
Lakers Nation News
Kobe Says They’ll Figure It Out, Pau And Metta Need To Help Lead
Report: Pau Gasol Ruled Out Of Friday’s Game Against Washington
L.A. D-Fenders Re-Sign Guard Elijah Millsap
Lakers, Now More Than Ever, Need Their Fans’ Enthusiasm
Lakers vs. Wizards Pre-Game Report: Lakers Look to End Four Game Losing Skid
Mike D’Antoni Getting More Testy As The Lakers Continue To Lose
Knicks Beat Up On Lakers Early, Withstand Late Lakers Run in MSG
Lakers News
New York Knicks Defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 116-107 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Preview & Chat: The Washington Wizards [Forum Blue and Gold]
Nash Making Progress, Might Return by Christmas [OC Register]
Kobe Bryant Wants World Peace to be an Enforcer Again [ProBasketballTalk]
Pau Gasol Could Return Dec. 22 vs. Golden State [Inside the Lakers]
Metta World Peace Wants to Know: What’s Wrong with the Lakers? [Lakers Blog]
Lakers’ Defense Fails Again [SB Nation]
Lakers/Knicks: Too Little, Too Late [Forum Blue and Gold]
A List of Things That Have Made Dwight Howard Cry [The Basketball Jones]
Lakers at Wizards: What to Watch [Lakers Index]
Video: Kobe Bryant Hitting Some Ridiculous Shots vs. Knicks [ProBasketballTalk]
Phil Jackson and Mike Brown are Both Interviewed About the Lakers, and Are No Help At All [Ball Don’t Lie]
Kobe Reaches Out to Magic Johnson [ESPN]
Are the Los Angeles Lakers beyond repair? [Ball Don’t Lie]
Kobe and Dwight on Track to Start All-Star Game [Lakers Blog]
Globetrotters offer to let Kobe, Lakers face Washington Generals [ProBasketballTalk]
Dwight Howard Frustrated with the Lakers’ Poor Defense [Inside the Lakers]
#LOLakers Strikes Again [SB Nation]
Bryant Plays Through Back Spasms in Loss to Knicks [OC Register]
Rapid Reaction: Knicks 116, Lakers 107 [Lakers Blog]
Kobe Bryant Receiving Treatment for Back Spasms [Inside the Lakers]
Meet the Lakers’ Soap Opera [Bullets Forever]
LeBron Edges Kobe in First All-Star Ballot Results [NBA]
As Lakers Spiral, Bright Lights Await [ESPN]
NBA News
Kevin Love of Minnesota Timberwolves Stands by Critical Remarks [ESPN]
Gregg Popovich Jokes That He Held Tim Duncan Back (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Farewell, ESPN [ESPN]
Raptors Waiting to Get Healthy Before Talking Trades [ProBasketballTalk]
The Future of Basketball Analytics [SB Nation]
Harris, Smith Lead Hawks Past Bobcats 113-90 [NBA]
Isaiah Thomas and His Sacramento Kings are Struggling Through Another Season [Ball Don’t Lie]
Russell Westbrook: Best PG in the NBA [SB Nation]
Warriors’ Stephen Curry Finally Has His Step Back [Yahoo Sports]
Red-Hot Hawks Keep Rolling with Rout of Slumping Bobcats [ESPN]
Talking Lakers, Warriors, All-Star voting, and a chat with Kenny Anderson [ProBasketballTalk]
Elijah Millsap Will Help Get The D’s Back On Track [Ridiculous Upside]
The Rockets and Mavericks Battle for Holiday Song Supremacy (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
NBA Weekend Schedule [SB Nation]
Two Chicago Bulls Fans Shot in Philadelphia After Win Over 76ers [ESPN]
Knicks’ Anthony Sprains Left Ankle vs. Lakers [NBA.com]
Timberwolves’ Malcolm Lee Out Indefinitely With Knee Injury [ProBasketballTalk]
