It's How You Play the Game

I suppose I shouldn't get too upset at the lack of success on the latest Laker road trip. After all, Shaq never gave an ounce of effort during the regular season, and his teams (for the most part) were able to "turn on the switch" when the playoffs came around.

Here is what I don't like - I don't like the WAY they are playing. I don't like wasting 2 1/2 hours of a nice evening watching bad basketball - win or lose. It was a complaint I had (and still have) with UCLA basketball - even when they are winning, if you can't play the game right, you lose my interest. I began the year saying this was one of my favorite Laker teams. because of the way they were playing. I take it all back.

What concerns me is that there are a lot of excuses and complaintes about the Lakers' play - the can't turn on the switch, there is no sense of urgency, Kobe hogs the ball too much, the rest of the players defer too much, Pau is too soft, Bynum doesn't "go after" rebounds, Jackson needs to get in their face more, they need to get the ball inside more - on and on ad nauseum.

What about this possibility? The Lakers just aren't that good this year. Many teams have improved the quality of their play, and the Lakers have digressed. Kobe is not the player he was last year (maybe it's the injuries, maybe the mileage). Fisher only plays because Jackson loves his heart - but Fisher can't guard a desk. Who, tell me who on this team, is a better player this year than last? Sasha? Morrison?

And when times are hard, Kobe blames everyone except himself. I know, and agree - Lebron is a punk. But the difference between Lebron and Kobe is how their teammates feel about them. With Lebron, his teammates don't want to let him down. With Kobe, they don't want to piss him off. Which teammate would rather have, or play harder for?

Once thought of as a very deep team, they have proven otherwise - they are really quite shallow. The bench is deplorable. Lamar is still Lamar, and with Khloe (sp? - whatever), reality shows and Samsung commercials, this problem is worse this year. Did I say the bench is deplorable? Did I say that this Laker team this year is simply not that good?

I hope they can turn on the switch come playoff time. But I am having serious doubts. This is a team that could lose in the first round. It's also a team that could win it all.

For now, I will not waste my evenings watching a team that will not (or maybe cannot) play quality, team basketball. So call me an alarmist then. I'll be back when the playoffs start.