A Harsh Reality - Kobe, the Grinch Who Stole Our Season

(I'm probably going to Laker Fan Hell for the name of this posting.  I'm freaking out about it.)

I just finished watching the Lakers latest debacle--this one a 114-100 loss to an Atlanta teams that wreaks of average--and my blood is boiling in a way it hasn't yet this season..  Was this Laker team supposed to be a bunch of world beaters this year?  Absolutely not.  But the best case scenario was happening.  They were playing hard.  They were fun to watch.  They were overachieving.  And they actually seemed to enjoy each other.  Steve Blake, Swaggy P, Xavier Henry, Jordan Hill...they were all being maximized.  The recipe was actually being executed and D'Antoni was getting the job done.  The Lakers, along with the Suns, were perfect examples of why "tanking" is a crap strategy and playing to win is just better in every way.

But what has transpired in the last 10 days since Kobe's return has me completely shattered.

My love for Kobe and my appreciation for his incredible career has been well-documented, both in this blog and in my daily pontificating that my friends love so much.  He is unquestionably my favorite Laker...and that includes Magic Johnson who is the most likable guy ever.  This pedestal I have Kobe on, however, is what is making the last week-plus so frustrating, conflicting, weird, and, quite honestly, heartbreaking.

The harsh reality is quite simple.  This Laker season went from a Cinderella, consequence-free, fun-loving story to a dark, and unfortunately familiar, nightmare....And this change happened the second #24 laced up his sneakers.  The 10-9 record, 6 of 8 victories and 3 consecutive road wins seem like eons ago.  Now the team is falling quickly below .500, players look unhappy, there is no flow, guys are talking sh-t to the media, and once productive role players like Wesley Johnson, Jodie Meeks, and Shawne Williams haven't played even close to their previous level.

And this all began the moment Kobe came back.  The narrative has completely changed.  All Laker fans hate to admit it, but it is the undeniable reality.  Kobe has sucked the fun out of our season.  Our winter is likely going to be miserable when less than 2 weeks ago it looked like it could be the fun 1994-95 season with Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Cedric Ceballos all over again.

It's not Mike D'Antoni's fault  He had his training camp and actually had this thing rolling a bit doing it HIS way (you know his way being the notorious "D'Antoni's System").  Granted, his ceiling may be 10-9 with an overachieving bunch of cast-offs, but at least he made good on his end of the bargain.  Now with Kobe back, he is literally in an impossible situation.  Kobe is bigger than the team, which alone makes team success practically impossible.  Add the fact that Kobe is nowhere near as good as I and many Laker fans thought he'd be (a fact which can be an article by itself ). Also, add the fact that Kobe doesn't seem to care about winning right now.  The result?  Success is pretty much unattainable.  We are asking D'Antoni to win on the fly while being forced to play a guy who isn't ready to play yet, seems more interested in "measuring" his body than winning, and still thinks a 2-man game with him and Pau can win in this league.  Simply put, D'Antoni is in a tough spot with this state of affairs.

Lastly and maybe MOST IMPORTANTLY, Kobe....please stop giving interviews that seem like you don't care about the game results.  I don't care about how much you have learned about what you can and can't do physically during a 20-pt thumping defeat in which you had 6 turnovers.  You have teammates that have just played their asses off for 20 games waiting for you.  They deserve a better vibe and a different focus from you, at least publicly .

I have no clue what's going to happen from here, but I'm not optimistic.  Last year's mess was a complete disaster, certainly worse than this.  But Kobe was healthy and good enough to single-handedly defeat the negativity and will us to a 28-12 record to close out the season and put us in the playoffs.  It's safe to say he doesn't have that in this year's tank.

Some closing thoughts:

• If I hear one more analyst, coach, player, or fan describe Pau as among the most "skilled" big men in the league, I'm going to freak out.  The dude plays one good game per week at best.  He makes practically no difficult shots and is a mentally fragile as it comes.  This is nothing new either.  He's been this way for awhile and I've killed him about it before.  His defense?  Forget about it.  It's the worst of any front court player of all time.  That includes everyone.
• Wesley Johnson is a joke.  I feel like he'd be a better shooter with a different name. Wesley Johnson just wreaks of rimming out.  In addtion, he loves contested long 2-pt shots off the dribble early in the shot-clock.  He loves fouling jump shooters.  He also loves taking uncalculated risks on defense.  I don't have time for him.
• Shawne Williams?  Can we cut him please?  He is just about the worst shooting "shooter" I've ever seen.  Play Chris Kaman or even Brian Kelly for heaven's sake.  This dude is terrible.
• Dan D'Antoni's body language on the bench is unacceptable yet hilarious.
• Jodie Meeks must have been living a dream the first 20 games.  He is quickly back to his old form.
• Can we sign PG Kevin Anderson?  We obviously need someone.
• Kobe reminds me of Magic Johnson during his 1996 comeback.  Heavy and a shell of himself.  
• What a season for Steve Nash, huh?  

      

Can Someone Please Explain This?

Like the construction workers in Major League say:  "These guys ain't so f****n' bad!".

Honestly, through 3 games, it's been better than I expected.  Xavier Henry has a little "it" factor to him. (even though he shoots it every time he touches it).  It's good to have Jordan Farmar back (even though his body language is AWFUL at times).  And, of course, it feels great to not have Dwight out there.  If you would have told me prior to the season that we would win 1 of these first 3 games vs. the Clippers, Warriors, and Spurs with this crackerjack crew of no-names, I would have gladly taken the 1-2 mark.  Also, if you would have told me prior to the season that Xavier Henry would be the first player mentioned in this season's blog, I would have crawled in a hole.  Gosh...I can't believe this season is about to happen.

My low expectations, however, are only temporary and only low by Laker standards.  I'm certainly going to drive myself nuts watching this team fully knowing that they are over-matched.  Despite this obvious truth, I still can't tolerate Jordan Hill inexplicably on the bench for the vast majority of games.  (Seriously, why not play this guy?  He always makes an impact, the crowd loves him, and we've played our best minutes this season with him on the floor.  I don't get it).  I still can't tolerate embarrassing shot selection and lack of defensive focus (I hope you are reading this Wesley Johnson).  And, most of all, I can't tolerate the shenanigans surrounding one Steve Nash--Public Enemy #1 of the 2013-2014 season.

Let's get something straight here.  We traded 2 first round picks for this guy.  The front office stuck their necks out and made the most controversial coaching hire in franchise history to cater to this guys talents.  We invested a ton to have this guy be our answer to Westbrook, CP3, Tony Parker and all the other super guards out there.  In return, he has literally given the Lakers NOTHING and he is undoubtedly the third best PG on the team.  Despite a few timely spot up jumpers during the course of last season, he has been an embarrassment.  He's a total liability on defense to the point that it's practically 4 on 5.  And on offense, he regularly looks like a JV player playing against the Varsity team.  He gets trapped, bullied, out-manchilded and eventually has turnovers that look like what I would do against NBA players.  Oh yeah....make a shot every once in a while!

Also, what's up with this whole health, injury, resting on back-to-backs thing?  All I heard all off-season was how Nash was in peak shape and felt great and was ready for the season and was fully recovered and blah blah blah.  Then, suddenly when training camp rolls around, all I hear about is this nick and that bruise and this ankle and a sore neck and you name it.

Adding insult to injury, the team decided to rest him against G-State after playing only 20 minutes the night before against the Clippers. I sort of get the whole resting on back-to-backs thing...but after only 20 minutes!?  Isn't a benefit of having a productive bench supposed to be that you can then play a guy like Nash efficient minutes every night?  You are paying this guy $9 million, hired a coach for him, and traded 2 first rounders for him and he can't do his job 2 nights in a row even when he hardly worked the first night??  I wish my job was like that.  Oh yeah...AND it's the second game of the season!  The guy hasn't played a meaningful game in 6 months and he already needs to be taking special rests?  It's not like it's game #65 and he's feeling the wear and tear of the season.  It's game 2 of 82!!  Oh yeah...AND Kobe isn't even playing yet.  Wouldn't it make sense to use up some of Nash's miles when Kobe is out and then rest him when Kobe is back in control?  If you are really serious about winning games and making the postseason, wouldn't playing Nash make sense?  I don't get it.  I just don't get it.

So what did we save him for?  We saved him for a 23 minutes of 1-8 shooting vs. San Antonio.  Good thing we did that, huh?  He even missed a FT which he never does.  Clearly, he's out of rhythm....FROM NOT PLAYING!!  We saved him for 23 minutes 3 nights after he played 20!  He's a damn professional athlete making $9 million!  Someone has to explain this to me.  The investment the Lakers made in this guy, what he is capable of doing, and what they are allowing him to do just doesn't add up.  I just don't get it.

Anyway...big week coming up.  Gut-check at home vs. Atlanta then a 3-game roadie at Dallas, Houston, and New Orleans.  I'm calling 1-3 with at least one really embarrassing performance.  It's all about staying around .500 before Kobe comes back.  Let's hope that happens by Thanksgiving!

In the meantime, this team can use Nick Van Exel.
           

...And Down The Stretch They Come!!

Superstition can only last so long (a month and a half to be exact) when my fans are clamoring for another blog entry.  Urging text messages, sarcastic facebook posts, scathing tweets, in-person requests...I've been inundated by all of them.  So ladies and gentlemen...I guess it's time.

The Lakers are finally winning and it literally makes everything in my life better.  Waking up is easier, coffee tastes better, jokes are funnier and, most importantly, Dwight's smile and D'Antoni's accent are no longer piercing my sole.  Even shaving hasn't been that bad!

Truth be told, I've weened myself off of my psychotic regiment and have actually missed a few games recently...much to the delight of my very tolerant wife.  Instead of DVRing what I can't watch or resorting to some drastically crazy measures (i.e. sitting in a parked car before my own basketball game listening to the game on XM radio while simultaneously watching live on my iPhone), I've finally accepted the fact that I have no control over the results of these games.  Consequently, I found myself wearing a weird mask engrossed in "Sleep No More" rather than watching Kobe's virtuoso heroics against Toronto last Friday and watching Pat Sajak and Vanna White at a live filming of Wheel of Fortune during the majority of last night's win at Indiana.

Don't get me wrong....I'm still a complete freak.  The Lakers didn't leave my mind for more than 15 seconds during both of those performances.  And I did watch the final 5 minutes of the Indiana win on my phone while walking through a crowded midtown immediately after a Big East tournament game let out of MSG and the surrounding bars.  My wife even volunteered to dip into a Midtown Old Navy at 10pm so I could finish watching the game on my phone before having to get on the underground subway to go home.  Thank goodness the Lakers wrapped it up before she wanted to start trying things on....

So enough of about me and my evolution to and from normalcy.  Why are the Lakers winning?

The easy ESPN answer is that Dwight (much to my delight but almost unforgivably long overdue) is finally playing like the man-child he was advertised to be.  He looks happier, more engaged, bouncier, more confident and most importantly...healthy and comfortable (in a good way...not in a soft way).  His interviews are even better now.  Even  me...who has emasculated Dwight numerous times in this blog...is starting to come around on the guy.  Starting to at least.  Couple that with Kobe Bryant officially being the biggest freak/non-human on the planet and you have your answer as to why the Lakers are back in the playoff mix.  (On the Kobe front:  I can't say enough about this guy.  Aging and pain don't apply to him.  My last entry "Kobe Bryant - A Robot in Disguise" highlights most of it, but he just keeps writing new chapters.  What happened in the home wins vs. Atlanta and Toronto were just insane....not to mention the ridiculous comeback in New Orleans.  Combine that with his super-human healing powers and now his "Assistant Coach of the Year" antics and this guy is officially my favorite human being of all time.  However, I don't have the energy to write that book right now.  I hope he never retires.  There isn't a person reading this that doesn't sort of wish Kobe played for their franchise.  Enough said.)

In addition to Dwight's emergence and Kobe being a complete alien, another major reason for the Laker success is that D'Antoni has finally figured out an effective rotation that only includes players worthy of NBA playing time.  The bench mob of Meeks, Jamison and Blake has been a godsend.  In other words, I no longer have to endure Darius Morris and Chris Duhon.  Thank the Lord!  In a season that has been and continues to be riddled by injuries to key players, the days of Darius Morris in the starting lineup and Chris Duhon launching 28-ft 3-pointers (while still thinking he's cool by the way) seem to finally be over.  It's bewildering to me that these two jokes got major minutes--for a bulk of the season--while NBA-proven players like Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison were piling up "DNP-Coach's Decison" at certain points.

As for Blake...Let's just say, I've never been a bigger Steve Blake fan in my life  In my pre-blogging days, this guy got destroyed on my twitter in a way that can never be duplicated.  During last year's playoffs, I literally didn't know what to do with my hatred towards him it got so serious.  Now, in addition to relegating the Morris/Duhon tag-team to the bench, Blake has been incredible.  Whether he's playing the point, playing off the ball, guarding bigger, guarding the ball...he's been such a key cog in this run.  Unlike before when his presence would immediately trigger a psychological meltdown, I actually like when he's in the game now.  It is not a coincidence that the Lakers are 16-7 since Blake returned from injury.  The turnaround literally started the exact night Blake came back...I can't believe I just dedicated that much positive internet space to Steve Blake.  You Terps and Killian grads may have been right all along.    

So, here we are at 35-32 with 15 games to go.  The Lakers are clinging to the 8th seed; however, they are still tied with Utah (who owns the tie-breaker) in the loss column.  There is a legitimate chance the Lakers can still move past 7th place Houston (1.5 up) and 6th place free-falling Golden State (2 up).  Dwight is rounding into form.  Kobe is banged up but as cool as ever.  Pau should be coming back soon.  The rotation is established.  No longer do I have to worry about Darius Morris and Chris Duhon ruining my life.  And, perhaps most importantly, the team chemistry is quickly developing.  As the eternal Laker pessimist, I'm still freaked out by Utah.  But if I was a fan of another team, I'd be scared out of my mind of this Laker team and would want NO PART of them come May.  It should fun...and super stressful.        

Kobe Bryant - A Robot in Disguise

For once, I can take a break from anger-fueled ranting now that it looks like the Lakers may be turning a corner in this crazy season.  As the team is about to embark on the 7-game Grammy road trip that will largely decide their playoff fate, it will be nice to change the tone away from the normal negativity and psychosis that has come to define Purple & Gold and Silver.

Instead of continuing to tell my story of the roller coaster 2012-2013 Laker season, I'm going to pay homage to my favorite Laker of all-time--Kobe Bean Bryant.  (Random fact:  my middle name is Bryant and my sisters both called me Bean growing up.  Totally a coincidence.  Kobe wasn't even a known entity when this was going down.  In fact, I was embarrassed by my middle name until Kobe came along.  I wish he knew this random fact/connection between us).

Kobe, as I have written before, is "The Reason Why I Play The Game."  Side note for new readers:  "The Reason Why I Play the Game" is a phrase my brother and I use to typify why we do certain things.  For example, you usually pick an Asian restaurant because you want the appetizers or you play a video game strictly for offense and statistics.  So, in other words, Asian appetizers, stats/offense on video games and Kobe Bryant are "The Reason Why You Play the Game."  Translation;  Kobe is the human Asian Appetizer.  I hope that made sense.

To say someone is my favorite Laker is a pretty big honor considering that list contains the likes of Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Nick Van Exel, Anthony Peeler, Cedric Ceballos, Shaq, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom.  Kobe, however, is the run away winner.  While playing in eras that span the primes of MJ, Iverson and Lebron, Kobe's lengthy and successful resume speaks for itself:  championship rings, gold medals, Finals MVPs, regular season MVP, All-NBA teams, 1st Team All Defense teams, dunk contest winner (shouldn't even include that), 81-point game, 50 points in 4 consecutive games, 40 points in 9 consecutive games, 30 points in 10 consecutive games during his 17th season, 12 3pters in a game, scoring titles, countless all-star games, 4 all-star MVPs, 30,000+ points, game winning shots...the list of accolades can literally go on for pages and pages.

What makes Kobe so absurdly ridiculous, however, is not the milestones.  It is what was happening in between each one.  It is the details of the journey and the transformations he has made that are so sick.  It is the "How" part of his career that is just simply unparalleled.

The scary thing about Kobe is that this is his 17th season and I feel like his game is still evolving and he is still somehow getting better 1426 games into his career.  Nobody--not even Kareem who won NBA Finals MVP in his 16th season and not even Jordan who is the greatest player ever--can claim something like that.  Kobe has gone from high-wire act (1996-1999) to Mr. Clutch/Mr. Defense (2000-2004) to Teen Wolf (2005-2007) to The Player We All Wanted Him to Be (2008-2011) to Teen Wolf Two (2012) to suddenly a Hall of Fame assist man (2013).  The guy is a modern marvel!  As the third best player in a young man's league already playing out of his mind, he is reinventing his game yet AGAIN to be EVEN BETTER......IN HIS 17TH SEASON!!! That is just insane if you ask me.
 
As one loyal Purple & Gold and Silver reader once put it:  "Kobe literally went from being the best at attacking the basket while being very good away from the basket to being the best away from the basket and very good at attacking the basket...all while never missing a beat and winning titles." (Reread that....it makes logical sense, I swear.)  To paraphrase:  the dude pretty much remodeled his game seamlessly while continuing to win at the highest level during the process.  Well, guess what?  It maybe happening yet again...and this version may be able to last another 3-5 years.  Gosh...I'm having one of those "I can't believe how ridiculous Kobe's career has been day in and day out" moments.  I have them all the time.  And he keeps impressing me every game...STILL!

(Note:  The only other people to reinvent their games in year 17 are fat big guys like Kurt Thomas, Sam Perkins, Derrick Coleman and Rasheed Wallace who transformed from dynamic/athletic post-players to face-up, overweight jump shooters.  Not exactly Kobe's transformation.)

Kobe is unbelievable.  The guy hardly sleeps.  He lands in cities during road trips at 3AM and immediately goes to the gym to get up jump shots.  He has been the focus of opponents and the prey of supremely athletic NBA double teams for more than half of his life.  He plays every night.  He hit 3s in an NBA game lefty when he separated his right shoulder.  He won championships with a mangled index finger.  And, most recently, he pretty much won a scoring title with a broken shooting hand in his 16th NBA season.  His passion and dedication towards his craft is what EVERY SINGLE fan would want from their best player.

He may not be the greatest player of all time but he holds some superlative.  Toughest?  Most durable?  Best transformer?  Most absurd career?  I don't know what to label it other than he is the human Asian Appetizer.  I am just so psyched he is on my team and has been since the great Nick Van Exel left.  Now, I just need my unborn children to see him play.
   
  

TERRIBLE TWO

Anyone who has known me for longer than 5 minutes knows that patience is certainly not a strength of mine.  Therefore, waiting until this G-d awful road trip is over to vent was just not an option.  I'm flat out angry right now.  Rock bottom seems to reinvent itself every week with this team and I have just about had it.

So, as a result, I'm going after--with venom and vigor--2 of my least favorite people in the NBA right now.  Behind Joey Crawford, these 2 are public enemy #1 and #1A--it really doesn't matter which one is which..  My hatred for them right now could not be overestimated.  Ladies and gentlemen....my least favorite human beings in the world at this very moment....Mike D'Antoni and Dwight Howard.

Forget being 17-24 at the halfway mark.  Forget being 4 games out of the 8 spot.  Forget the revealing reality that 27 players have had season highs in scoring vs the Lakers.  Forget the fact that Jose Calderon and Kirk Hinrich had virtuoso/Hall-of-Fame worthy performances against the Lakers on back-to-back days (yup...you read that right).  Forget the fact that a $19 million/2-time champion and perennial All-Star apparently isn't good enough to crack the lineup (actually hold onto that thought).  Forget the scary truth that Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison are literally incapable of playing any defense (I'm talking my Jewish/out-of-shape/well under 6 feet friends can EASILY play the caliber of defense those 2 do).  Forget about the nightly love affair Chris Duhon has with surrendering momentum by fouling guys 20 feet from the hoop with seconds remaining in a quarter when the Lakers are over the foul limit.  Forget Metta World Peace's keen ability to take awful shots at momentum-swinging moments EVERY NIGHT.  Forget about how every Laker opponent somehow executes every out of bounds play when there is 4 or less on the shot clock.  Forget that one of the few bright spots this season has been a dude named Earl Clark.  And you can even forget about the fact that the 76ers have the same exact record as the Lakers and Bynum hasn't played a single second...even in practice!  Forget all that because my frustration right now is only being channeled in 2 directions.

In one corner you have Dwight Howard...who for all intents and purposes is just about the worst person in sports at this very moment...(by the way, writer Kevin Ding totally nailed what I'm getting at in case you want to read a professional's take).  This "NBA's best center" gets outplayed every single night yet NEVER takes responsibility.  It's either he didn't get his touches or nobody helped him on defense or the referees didn't let him do his thing.  In what world does a winning player alibi his failures night in and night out?  (By the way Dwight...you would get more touches and field goal attempts if you can make a free throw or make a move without getting stripped.  In case you didn't know, teammates are probably hesitant to throw you the ball when there is a pretty good chance no points will come out of it and there will be a run out at the other end).

In the process of redefining the term primadonna, he is bringing it to new heights of patheticism (just made up that word...that's how bad Howard has been).  He seems disinterested, uninspired and actually annoyed when his opponents play hard!  It's a sick form of entitlement this guy has. It's as if he feels everyone is around to make sure his life is good instead of going out and making it happen himself.

I feel like a broken record, but you would think a player worthy of holding multiple franchises hostage at once would be good enough to help his team win SOME games!  Instead, this bum racks up goaltending violations, 3-second calls, turnovers, offensive fouls, technicals and ejections.  Not too mention his lethargic energy sucks enthusiasm out of the team.  It's gotten to the point that every time he touches it I freak out and expect the worst. (some franchise player huh?)

And to close the Dwight rant, his last 2 games speak volumes about what kind of competitor he is.  He gets unjustifiably ejected in Toronto.  The team loses a game it really needed to have and must head to Chicago for a back-to-back.  You would think that anyone worthy of being a star--let alone on the cusp of being a superstar--would come out the next night in Chicago and put a dominant stamp on the game...or at least try to make some sort of statement.  Not this soft, egomaniac!  He put up 8 points and 9 rebounds in 30 minutes and got himself in foul trouble just in time for crunch time.  That's what Malik Rose should do....not Dwight Howard (seriously can we trade him before my head explodes).

In the other corner, a man that was hired instead of 11-time champion Phil Jackson...Head Coach Mike D'Antoni.  I must say I waited longer than most to judge this moron mainly because my contempt for Mike Brown was so strong and I was so angry with the players that I didn't have time or energy to destroy Mike D.  However, 2+ months into his reign I pretty much think he is the biggest joke of a coach in any professional sport.

Bad chemistry, the team not playing hard, the inability to seize pivotal moments in the game, not playing a lick of defense, poor late-game execution....of course those are all indicators of a poorly coached team.  However, I'm not going to waste my brain or your time on that. I'm going to focus on his frustrating, almost childish, stubbornness   Simply put, he is too inflexible with his damn "system" (as I've said before, "D'Antoni's System" is about as annoying of a term as there is right now.  It should be the name of a bad bar somewhere far from Staples Center and far from MSG).

It has gotten to the point that he refuses to play a $19 million dollar, 2-time champion that has proven he can still do it in the post when given the opportunity.  He doesn't play this tremendous asset because he NEEDS to run his system? What kind of coaching maneuver is that?  What kind of coach can't adapt to his players...especially his good ones?  Answer:  A very bad coach.  D'Antoni is pretty much admitting publicly that he is not smart enough, creative enough or resourceful enough to incorporate a unselfish, super-skilled, elite 7 footer that is being paid $19 million by the same people that pay him.  And to make matters even worse, he decided to bench Pau 24 hours after Pau had by far his best game of the season.  At least bench Pau after a sh-tty game so it is somewhat justifiable.

It's amazing how much D'Antoni's personal agenda is getting in the way of winning.  It's sickening, unacceptable and worthy of a firing.  Unfortunatley though, D'Antoni can rest comfortably knowing the Lakers are also paying Mike Brown...who also stunk.

So as I wrap up this anger-filled post, I just want to recognize that the ultimate victim (besides me) of all of this Dwight/D'Antoni nonsense and failure is going to end up being Pau Gasol.  It's so sad that a solid guy, who has done amazing work for this franchise and who wants to remain a Laker for life, will most likely be shipped out because of Dwight's underachieving season and Mike D's stubbornness.

Unfortunately, if this train wreck of a season needs a shake up, I have trouble seeing it being any other way.  Meanwhile, Pau is the one--not D'Antoni--who has made an effort to change in the midst of this terrible start.  Pau is the one--not Dwight--that has held himself accountable.  Pau is the one--not Dwight--you can see playing with effort every night.  Pau is the one--not D'Antoni--who has proven he can win championships.  Pau is the one--not Dwight--who is fully committed to the Laker organization.

Ugh....I hope our next game isn't officiated by Joey Crawford.      



   
      

It's Been A Bad Haircut

You know when you get a bad haircut and it seems like the sky is falling.  The reality seems so awful yet it is actually happening to you and there is no way out.  There has been irreversible damage.  The awfulness, permanence, and salience of it is going to haunt you in just about every aspect of your life.  Every now and again when you forget about it, you are once again reminded of it and it completely destroys you mentally all over again.  Well...that's what this Laker season has been.

It has been a dark cloud that has been traveling with me almost everywhere I go.  It permeates my thoughts, my mood, my motivation, etc.  Every time during a typical day when I remember what is happening, I get anxious.  These Laker failures just can't escape me.  It's pretty pathetic.  And like a bad haircut, there is no quick fix to be had, and the worse it gets the longer I have to wait for it to get better.  One week of good ball won't do it.  A signature win won't do it.  Heck...even a successful road trip won't get this season where it needs to be.  I guess that's what you deserve when your bad haircut is manifested in the form of underachieving losses, missed opportunities and lack of seizing the moment night after night for almost 3 months.

However, contrary to what is communicated in 90% of my blog and 95% of my fury-filled in-game tweets (check out @DS_Lakers if you want a window into my psychosis), I actually think this thing will get turned around.  While the Lakers are piling up moral victory after moral victory, I really believe a corner is being turned.  In my previous entry, I ranted (for about 300 words too long) about how the injuries and reaching rock bottom were going to somehow galvanize this team, wake them up and backhandedly alleviate much of the pressure that has done them in thus far.  Anyone that has watched the the last 6 games would probably agree that all of these things are happening....Too bad it's been to the tune of a 2-4 record (re: bad haircut continues), but there are some tangible, recurring signs that this season may be salvaged in some form with a playoff berth (can't believe I just wrote that...I still blame you Mike Brown).

This upcoming 3-game road trip at Toronto, Chicago and Memphis is yet another "Now or Never" moment in this train wreck of a season.  However, this is the real thing now.  I think these are three very beatable yet quality opponents that would give the Lakers something to hang their hats on moving forward.  With 10 of the next 13 being on the road, a successful trip here would go so far.  Before now, I would enter a critical moment like this with false optimism.  Now, I think there are real reasons to be excited beyond the fact that Kobe is The Reason Why I Play The Game.  Dwight, who I have been ultra-down on, has been much better recently and has at least least shown glimpses of why 30 moronic franchises care so much about where he ends up playing.  His air-balling of a clutch FT is beyond pathetic, but progress is being made in that I do not viciously hate him right now.  Pau--the other half of the tag team chumps (aka the most overrated front court duo that is largely responsible for this mockery of a season)--looked rather solid last night vs. Miami.  In fact, offensively he looked as comfortable as he has all season in his limited minutes.  Not to mention, Pau is also entering a slate of games that will in large part dictate what kind of player he will be and where he will be playing the rest of his career.  So it's safe to say he has a lot to play for.

Will we go 3-0?  Probably not, but we kind of have to.  These days of losing close games, giving up 30+ pt quarters, poor late game execution and not seizing critical moments in games has to stop now or else this bad haircut will turn into...well...an epically bad haircut.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

• Watching Kobe and Lebron--two champions, two legends, two all-time greats--match each other shot for shot down the stretch last night was pretty damn cool.  No match-up in the league (even Durant-Lebron) has that special of a feel.  No joke, Kobe-Lebron was very WRESTLEMANIA 6-ish when Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior--two "Good Guys", two champions, two favorites--matched up in a battle for the ages.  Kobe always reminds me of Hogan when he plays Lebron.  Sure, it may be Lebron's (Ultimiate Warrior) time, but Kobe--like the Hulkster--is not going to be shown up by anyone....ever.  I love Kobe.  He's the Human Asian Appetizer.
• I read something today that the home team wins only 44% of the time when Joey Crawford is refereeing this season.  I don't know a ton about advanced metrics, but the difference between this percentage and the rest of the league has to be a statistically significant difference.  I blame David Stern.  How do you let this guy have such an impact in your league after knowing that he is a loose cannon.  The guy was suspended for the end of a season and an entire post-season because he couldn't control himself with Tim Duncan.  He thinks it's about him and that he is bigger than the game. Simply put, THE GUY ENJOYS MAKING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES WORSE!  And what does David Stern do???  He gives this guy all the big gigs.  I don't get it.  He should be out of the league.  He is my least favorite human being in sports.
• Coach D'Antoni....please please please abandon this 2 PG lineup of Darius Morris and Chris Duhon.  Sure they both have had some good moments, but neither is worthy of being an NBA rotation player.  Yet YOU PLAY BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!  With Jodie Meeks available and ready, you MUST put him in over one of these bums.  You can choose which one, but it has to be one of them.  I can't take that D-League backcourt for a minute longer.
• Coach D'Antoni...I know you feel obligated to have both Pau and Dwight in the game together during crunch time.  And I know you feel obligated to involve Dwight in the offense.  However, when he touches the ball late in close games all Laker fans freak out because the guy can't make free throws and the guy has no post-game.  It's not that you can't throw him the ball...just not when he is stationary on the block.  Here is a solution...if you must throw it inside, throw it to Pau.  Unlike Howard, he will command a double, he can make a move without getting stripped, heck...he may even make free throws.  Then, Dwight can be away from the hoop and become a cutter or slashing offensive rebounder alla Tyson Chandler.  Doesn't this make more sense?  Doesn't this fit their skill sets a little bit more?  Isn't that better than throwing it to a dude who has no moves and can't make a FT?  I'm just saying.    

Alright....once again, this rant has gone on too long.  I will check back in after the road trip.

By the way...I didn't mention Earl Clark until now.




     

Rock Bottom?...Gimme Sacre!

Alright...FINALLY the rest of the world has caught up to what I've been saying all along....and by all along I mean since Phil's last season in Los Angeles:

• This team isn't that good regardless of the glitz of the individual pieces  
• Other teams ooze of confidence when playing against this team (especially at Staples)  
• This Laker team is built to win in a different--although recent--era that is no longer today's NBA (re-read that...it's so right on).
• Dwight is overrated (at least help us win SOME games)  
• Time is running out and has been for awhile  
• Earlier moments in the season/preseason were far from meaningless and are going a long way now (F-you Mike Brown)
• Lack of energy and urgency as a recurring problem will eventually burn you...badly

Seriously though, I have been either hinting, saying, writing or screaming about all of these things for quite some time now (just ask the my loyal wife and my disinterested Knick-fan friends that routinely witness my meltdowns).  It's about time the media has come close to fully recognizing what's happening here and been happening.  The same problems of not containing PGs, opponents' bench guys looking like all-stars and low-contract guys making the Laker gazillionaires look like morons as they punk them out has been going on far too long.  All of this negative press--as much as it pains me and puts me in perma-bad mood--is so warranted and justified that its only appropriate.  Every NBA fan that has been victimized by Laker magic has to be smiling from ear to ear.

Now...as the media, fans and rest of the basketball world has caught on, it looks like ROCK BOTTOM is finally here....It's not that the Denver loss was as bad as the Orlando home loss (see Epic and Incriminating Loss blog post) or the Philly home loss which were both embarrassing displays against inferior opponents at critical turning point moments in the season.  But something about this Denver loss has turned this story into a different depth of hell.  Whether it be the injuries, the record, the upcoming schedule or a combination of all, there is a different taste this time around.  Even my brother, the eternal optimist, has lost hope.  That is exactly why I think--well hope--that things may turn around.  This hope, however, has some sound logic behind it.  Here it goes:

The Laker backs are undoubtedly against the wall, but much of the reason for that should now be gone...at least for a few games.  Lofty expectations, balancing the talents of multiple stars, having a personnel-system disconnect and having the fear of failure has obviously weighed on this team and its players (especially the stars) to the tune of an underachieving 15-18 record.  Those factors, however, should be gone.

In the short term at least, these expectations have been drastically reduced.  "Experts" are picking them to bow out, lose these next 3 at Houston, at San Antonio and at home vs. OKC and eventually fold up the tent. This should allow these guys, or what's left of them, to finally play without the weight of championship medal on their backs and have some fun.  The SAME kind of underdog fun all of these other teams have had against the Lakers much of the past 2 seasons.

Secondly, this undersized/undermanned group will finally fit D'Antoni's system (by the way...the actual term "D'Antoni's System" is so annoying at this point) and take away the pressure of balancing so many stars.  Our extreme size and super-stardom will not be getting in the way for once.  (Side note:  Ever notice that?  The Lakers plethora of size and super-stardom has done far more harm than good) Instead of trying to match his talents with established "stars" like Dwight and Pau, Nash will be able to do his Steven Nash thing of dominating the ball and making lesser players like Sacre and Meeks better (see: Gortat, Diaw, Raja Bell, Barbosa, etc).  Kobe will be able to go into full TEEN WOLF mode and feel comfortable with it because there won't be the unspoken/awkward pressure of trying to allow Dwight and Pau  to do their thing.  There will be no ambiguity as to where the bread should be buttered and the pecking order will absolutely not be up for discussion.  Translation:  more fun, more clarity, better ball.

Thirdly, the unspoken fear of failure should no longer be weighing them down.  The elephant in the room is now a complete public topic in the basketball world.  This team has underachieved.  What they have been fearing and hiding from throughout this slow and painful train wreck of a season has now pretty much been realized and noticed by all.  There is no reason to fear it anymore.  We all know...it's no longer a secret...this team stinks.  So now that that is established, go out and play ball.

So...I know it's wishful thinking but it is logical....Right?  This combination of factors bringing on success is a bit of a long shot and absolutely impossible in the long term.  But who knows...maybe it will be good enough to steal this one in Houston tonight or maybe even two of the next three.  Then, when healthy, maybe it will finally click as rock bottom will be behind them.  Other teams seem to galvanize when things get weird and the deck is stacked against them.  Heck...the Lakers have been victimized by teams like that many of times.  Aaron Brooks almost beat a Laker team by himself in a 7 game series when T-Mac and Yao were out (That is Aaron Brooks' third or fourth mention in this blog's history).  Orlando--Dwight's old team--and Philly playing without Bynum--the guy Dwight replaced--beat the Lakers at Staples this year.  Dallas beat them too at Staples without Dirk.  

Why can't the Lakers turn the script for a few nights?

In Sacre We Trust,

Grabbing For Straws

P.S.  I'm afraid to go back and read this in a few days