The Lakers are once again under the .500 mark after an embarrassing loss at home to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. Following the game, a very frustrated Kobe Bryant talked to reporters about why this team has been struggling so much this season.
“Cause we’re old as s—,” said the 34-year-old Bryant when asked why a lack of energy has been a problem for L.A. all season. “What do you want? We just got to figure out how to play when we don’t have that energy.”
It’s no secret that the Lakers are one of the older teams in the NBA, and that their nucleus is built of guys in their thirties. In fact, other than Darius Morris, every Lakers starter is either over 30, dealing with an injury, or both. That makes it difficult to survive the labors of an NBA season, especially against younger, more athletic teams like Philadelphia.
Forward Pau Gasol said the team may not have the athleticism or energy that other teams do, but that they can make up for it with their experience.
“We are experienced and we should create some energy for ourselves out there, and I think it starts by us talking to each other, by communicating, by letting our team really know that we’re there [on defense], and that will create some energy that we need on that end of the floor.”
Whatever it is the Lakers aren’t doing, they better start doing it. At 15-16, they’re getting closer and closer to possibly missing the postseason, something they haven’t done since 2005.
