PANIC TIME?

We’ve got a new couple of words to describe the Los Angelas Lakers, ones we haven’t been able to bring out in a long time: they suck. Now that’s the glass-half-empty-seismic-over reaction-you’re an idiot take. But that’s what happens in sports media, we overreact. And especially so when contending teams or great players fall off for a period of time. We’re so used to Kobe and the Lake-show’s continued brilliance that three straight double digit defeats has sports columnists spouting out the-end-of-days cliché’s over the Laker’s sudden mediocrity and proclamations that L.A will be overtaken by the streaking Mavericks and Spurs. Three straight defeats have people declaring that the west has been lost by the defending champs, a new order has risen.


The three straight whippings suffered by L.A have been striking. They lost to the offensively stunted Milwaukee Bucks by 19, the upstart Heat by 16, and the equally aged San Antonio Spurs by 15. At one point against the Spurs Bryant missed thirteen shots in a row on his way to an 8-27 shooting night. They haven’t lost three straight by 15+ points since the 2006-2007 season. So what’s going on here?

Three reasons for their drop-off:

1. Getting killed on the fast break

During L.A’s three game losing streak they’ve been outscored 13-28 on the break. This athleticism deficiency was painfully apparent against the Heat (the best fast break team in the league) as they were outscored 8-17 in transition. It’s not hard to believe when you think about it. Kobe Bryant has logged nearly 50,000 minutes in 1,250 games without ever missing a season, Pau Gasol is 30 (and was never particularly fast), Lamar Odom is 31, Derek Fisher is 36, Ron Artest 31, and Andrew Bynum 23 but perennially injured. Those are their best six players, with all but one (did I mention he’s injured all the time) in their thirties. And although Kobe Bryant is only 32 he turned pro directly after High School, putting more wear + tear on his body than usual. Add all that up and it’s pretty obvious how the supremely athletic Heat destroyed them with their legs.



2. Pau Gasol not playing like he was in the beginning of the season…

During L.A’s eight game tear to open the 2010 campaign Pau Gasol averaged a 23-11-5 on 38 minutes per game (mpg)…all of which would be career highs. But during the month of December Gasol has been averaging only a 16-9.5-4 on 37 mpg. He registered a mere nine points and nine boards against the Spurs while only attempting eight field goals. And consider this: when Gasol hits ten or more shots L.A is 7-1.

When the Lakers were once again looking like the best team in basketball through November it seemed that Kobe was allowing Pau to take a much larger role in the offense. No longer was he throwing up 20 to 25 shots a game, he was more content to be a facilitator, play lock down defense, and let the offense come to him-essentially embracing the triangle concept. Now though, Bryant is back to hoisting up tons of shots (59 in the past three games) and Gasol has once again settled for second fiddle.

This has me wondering whether Pau Gasol is capable of carrying the load as Bryant has done for so long. Can he play 40 a game while putting up a 22-11 on a nightly basis? If the Lakers intend to three-peat he’s gonna’ have too.



3. Kobe Bryant’s not playing like the “Black Mamba”

We’re as used to seeing Kobe put up an obscene amount of shots as watching a bad “Saturday Night Live” skit or Rex Ryan embarrassing himself. He’s always had a dizzying array of offensive moves-from fall away jumpers to ferocious slams-that’s what has made him such a devastating force for so long. What added to his greatness was his ability to one possession hit a fade away 16-footer then the next to blow past some hapless guard and slam it home. The man could score from anywhere, and any way. He had the touch of a marksman and the athleticism of a slam dunk champion.

This season he seems to have lost much of his “hops”-that is to say his ability to blow by other players and score based on athleticism. He relies on his veteran savvy, jump shooting skill, and array of post moves to put up points. It’s good enough to play a big part on a team, but not to carry one. Defenders know he can’t blow by them anymore and they’re not falling for his pump fakes any longer. He’s moved past the phase of career when he can put up thirty a game…or so I believe.

That’s what made the beginning of the Laker’s 2010-2011 campaign so special, Kobe was finally taking a back seat and handing the keys of the offense to Pau Gasol. He was accepting the Robin costume and looking to be more of a facilitator. In recent weeks that has stopped, and suddenly L.A has dropped three in a row.



As much as I enjoy the sky falling in Los Angelas, let’s all remember we’re not even half way through the season. Did the story of the 2009-2010 Boston Celtics happen so long ago everyone forgot? Is that where we are in the twenty-first century? The C’s went 27-27 after Christmas, turned it on like Donkey Kong in the playoffs, and were a poop-filled offensive performance and a couple improbable Ron Artest threes away from their second title in three years.

Also keep in mind that the pace changes in the post-season. It turns into a grind-it-out, half-court, defensive type of game—just what the Lakers want. Each possession matters more and efficient offensive play plus solid defense wins playoff games. Teams that are running L.A off the court in January won’t be doing the same in May.

Kobe Bryant may be struggling with his shot now, but I doubt he will come playoff time. The same doubts were creeping up last season as Kobe farted all over their first round series against the Thunder-putting up 23-4-4 on 40% shooting from the field, 72% from the line, and turning the ball over almost four times a game. Then came the sweep of Utah and grinding victory over Phoenix where Bryant averaged a 33-7-6 on 52% shooting from the field and 87% from the line. He scored less than thirty points only once in the two series’-a twelve point win over the Suns.

By far the easiest prediction to make this year was a 48-50 win campaign for the Lakers as they flipped on easy-mode through the regular season. Just coming off two consecutive championships and hundred game seasons for most of the roster, why wouldn’t they coast a little bit? During Phil Jackson’s first three-peat with the Bulls, Chicago had two consecutive 60+ win seasons than slid to 57 in their third title year.

The NBA over the years has taught us that championship caliber teams can turn it on in the playoffs. With one of the all-time greatest coaches in history, and the most competitive player in the league you don’t think the Los Angelas Lakers can do the same? In the immortal words of the “Monday Night Live” countdown crew: Come on Man!