Get Off The Ledge Laker Fans

Charlotte Bobcats 109
Los Angeles Lakers 89

So the Lakers lost to Charlotte...AGAIN.
That's nothing new considering the Lakers have a losing record against the Bobcats at 5-8 all time.

The Lakers don't seem to be interested in games....AGAIN.
We see this every February of every year.
The Lakers get a little bored by the fact that the regular season is just an 82 game warm-up for the real fun...the playoffs.

So, what is different this year?
The players themselves seem to be getting a little testy.
They're not happy about their lack of dominance over inferior teams and they're worried that they are not winning much against other NBA elite teams.

Laker coach Phil Jackson had little more to say after the loss to Charlotte other than that he was "embarassed" by the Lakers' performance.


Phil's embarassed by his team's play.
But he's not embarassed by this haircut?

Kobe Bryant decided to avoid the media altogether and slipped out of the locker room and onto the team bus without a word to reporters.

The Lakers' lack of effort on defense, their wandering attention during games, and the failure to execute game-plans is a mid-season custom for Los Angeles.
The problem is this year's Lakers don't sound as if this is nothing more than mid-season boredom.

In years past, they Lakers were cocky, but sure in their ability to turn on the switch as the playoffs approached.
This year, they seem genuinely concerned by their lack of sharpness on the court.
That tells me there may be some genuine problems that those in the locker room can see; problems not found on the Laker teams of the two previous years....two championship years, mind you.

As the All-Star Game approaches we find that one of the most captivating story lines this NBA season will be a twist on a familiar tale.
Instead of wondering when the Los Angeles Lakers will "turn it on" in preparation for the playoffs, we must wonder if they will turn it on for the playoffs.

The truth is the Lakers won 42 games by the All-Star break in 2008-2009 and won 41 games by the All-Star break last year.
They are at 38 wins now.
Considering they are only a few games behind their normal pace, I think the Laker fans demanding their team make a trade are being a little quick on the trigger.
Worse still is the fact that some members of the team also seem to have their hand on the panic-button.

Since the 2010-2011 NBA season has become one of 6 really good teams and 24 not-good teams, it's nice to find some drama between now and the start of the NBA playoffs.
So come on in off the ledge Laker fans.
Let's all stick around to see how this season plays out.
If you were right to panic, there will be plenty of time for jumping this summer.



BC in the house FOO!