Nothing seems to be getting easier for the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries ravaged a team that was over succeeding early season expectations. The team is still without its “All-Star” backcourt of Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant and lost its second leading scorer, Nick Young, for at least another two games. And the team has only won six, yes six, games in the year of 2014.
For a franchise who has never not won 30 games in a season, winning 25 games this season seems like a stretch.To make matters worse, the team is looking at an incredibly tough upcoming schedule.
With only 26 games left in the season most fans are starting to look toward the upcoming off-season and it is hard not to blame them. The team has seven more back-to-backs on the schedule and over half of its games are against teams who are over .500.
According to ESPN Los Angeles writer Dave McMenamin, Mike D’Antoni is fully aware of the challenges that the team is facing:
“I came into work about two weeks ago and Kurt goes, ‘You know who has the hardest schedule left?’ I go, ‘No. Who would that be?’,” D’Antoni related after shootaround on Tuesday.
“‘The Lakers,'” Rambis told him.
“‘Oh good. That’s good news,'” D’Antoni said sarcastically. “I guess it hasn’t changed any.”
The Lakers cannot be blamed for their effort game in and game out, as they battle and compete in almost every game. Many fans believe the team is tanking, which in essence means they are losing on purpose. However, the injury riddled Lakers do not have the talent to compete against teams like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, or even Minnesota.
A healthy Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant would certainly do wonders for the team, but the chances for either of them, especially Kobe, returning this season look slim.
Lakers fans will have to be understanding as the Lakers will be facing numerous teams containing much better talent. The team will continue to battle for Coach D’Antoni, but in the end their chances of winning are slim.
At this point in the season, every loss, while painful to endure, will help the Lakers in the long run as they look to be in prime position for a top five in the upcoming loaded 2014 NBA Draft.
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