In a perfect world, an exciting weekend of All-Star basketball would completely wash the memory of how the Lakers bowed out during the three games leading up to the break.
Of course nothing is ever perfect and with the festivities over, it’s time for fans to conjure up the same old excuses for the Lakers.
The Lakers didn’t play well because they were tired. It was their fifth game in seven nights. This was only a regular season game, don’t worry, the Lakers will amp up their game in the playoffs when it matters most. Don’t you remember the last time the Lakers were in a position to three-peat? They struggled during the regular season and still won the championship.
Yes, the Lakers did look fatigued, but so should other teams at around this time. Boredom and fatigue aren’t interchangeable. It is only a regular season game, and February at that. The road game against Boston was a regular season game too, so why does it hold more value over the games against Orlando, Charlotte and Cleveland? It’s true, the 2001-02 Lakers struggled during the regular season and lived to tell about it. They beat a legitimate Sacramento Kings team to meet the New Jersey Nets in the finals. With all due respect to Jason Kidd and the 01-02’ Nets, their line-up wasn’t even close to today’s beasts of the East—Boston, Miami and Chicago.
It’s not that these excuses aren’t valid, but if at the All-Star break the Lakers can’t re-gain a sense of their identity—the style of play that’s garnered them two straight championships—making excuses is just the same as living in denial.
Next: Lakers hit rock bottom with loss to Cleveland
There’s not much you can take away from a loss to a team that’s only won two of their last 29 games. A team the Lakers beat handedly in January by 55 points. It’s merely a reflection of the Lakers’ inconsistency, something that if they don’t remedy soon could lead to their misfortune.
So what can we make of the Lakers’ loss to the Cavaliers?
Not a thing. The game isn’t even worth a second look. For the Lakers, the loss is a tell-tale sign of the challenging road ahead. It only gets harder once they reach the playoffs, seeing as how they’ve completely taken themselves out of the running for the top seed and slowly separate themselves further from the number two and three spots. Don’t even bother to check how the Eastern Conference stacks up; the Lakers will have a tough time just getting it out of the West.
Over the last two seasons, the Lakers have dominated the West, have been able to beat the lowly and top tier teams just the same and made it a point to protect the value of their home court. The offense was cohesive, the communication effective, the defense stifling and the desire apparent to the naked eye. Now all that remains is the memory of what was. That memory plagues us and causes us to hold the Lakers to a higher standard.
That standard can only be met if everyone, from top to bottom can remember what part of their game makes them so great. Their attributes that fit so perfectly in the puzzle that Mitch Kupchak and his team of experts put together.
Next: The Lakers need to play to their respective level of skill
Kobe Bryant is the ultimate closer, the go-to guy, the facilitator and the most valuable player on the team. We saw remnants of the guy he once was during the All-Star game—the player that he still morphs into on occasion and in spurts—vintage Kobe. Where was that in Cleveland? He’s still the number one guy, yet at times his in-game decisions have been questionable.
There’s Pau Gasol whose consistency, impeccable passing ability and offensive arsenal has left many players baffled on defense. If he’s up to it he may command the basketball, but if he lacks aggression, his contributions are minimal and his play an afterthought.
Then there’s Andrew Bynum, the lone representation of youth and potential for the Lakers. He can be the most powerful player on the floor, when he wants to, but there’s been little evidence to support his willingness to be that last line of defense for the Lakers.
Ron Artest has been oblivious for most of the season. His defense, spot-up shooting, muscle and brawn remain to be seen. As important for the Lakers as Derek Fisher has been over the past few years, the little contributions he makes during games are becoming smaller in the eyes of fans who want more from him.
Lamar Odom has perhaps been the only consistent player for the Lakers. He’s the x-factor, the game-changer and when he’s on a tear at both ends of the floor, it usually ends in a Lakers win. As good as Odom has been, even he hasn’t been immune to complacency.
The bench was supposed to be a vast improvement from last year’s and for a time it was, but shooting slumps affecting Shannon Brown and Steve Blake, along with the injury to Matt Barnes has been for fans a constant reminder of the ineffective bench mob.
Next: Be concerned, but don’t panic
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.