It’s already been a long season (and decade) in Lakerdom, even if fans knew the team is rebuilding.
They just didn’t think it would last this long.
Ding, ding, ding!
Reality check!
Nothing that’s happened has been a surprise – Kobe Bryant is out, Steve Nash is trying to get his legs under him, Nick Young is Nick Young – but it’s a bad time for Lakers fans, half of whom cheer every win in the hope … well, the team can’t really win a title, can it? … as the other half cheer every loss, in the hope … well, the Lakes aren’t likely to get the No. 1 pick, are they?
Lakerdom under water. And folks out here aren’t used to drowning like this.
This is a team coming off an epic meltdown after Dwight Howard joined with Bryant, Nash and Pau Gasol to produce a heap of smoking rubble with Mike Brown fired in five games, Phil Jackson looking like he was on his way back before they hired Mike D’Antoni, who may as well have stepped off the plane into a vat of boiling oil.
Actually, firing D’Antoni, who is hardly the problem in a three-season decline that started under Jackson and Brown, would really mess the season up for Lakers fans, who would then have nothing achievable to root for.
NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper just got Laker-turned-Clipper Antawn Jamison to acknowledge the Dwight-Kobe standoff poisoned the atmosphere, although he blamed both – perhaps so he doesn’t have to look the other way when he runs into them.
The standoff was Dwight’s fault, as was his inability to run pick-and-rolls with Nash or hint at wanting to stay. Kobe was totally supportive, while noting there was a Laker standard Howard had to meet. To Dwight, who had never been held accountable for his hijinks in Orlando, it was like a public flogging.
Of course, by remaining steadfastly aloof, Dwight was, at least, able to leave without anyone being able to say he broke any promises.
Lakers management suddenly found itself left to follow a salary cap strategy, which was actually fine, if far slower, with a chance to create two and possibly three max salary slots from 2014-2016.
Unfortunately for Lakers fans, that is then and this is now, with management focused first and foremost on keeping its cap space.
Lakerdom is awash in denial, yearning for D’Antoni’s firing or a trade that would Change Everything.
Unfortunately for Lakers fans, no one would win 50 games with this roster, which has no one anyone wants.
Gasol, 33, is averaging 15-10, down from 17-10 the season before Dwight Howard, not enough to be worth a good young player or a No. 1 pick. (Although Sheridan disagrees.)
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with
the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its
a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Wacalaykum assalaam waraxmatullaahi wadaaakaatuh,Ramabarn kariim. Aad iyo aad ayay u-fiican tahay in qof walba qofka kale waxa uu ku-dhaamo inuu gacan ku-siiyo. Qayr iyo guul ayaan kuu rajaynaynaa. Mahadsanid.
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My website is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would truly benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks!
posted in the webmaster help forum, with a screenshot. Competitor has first position, with site links, then 8 other pages listed knocking me down from 2nd to 9th. Very bad update.
bonjour a tous, je part à l’aventure au perou seul avec mon sac du 7 octobre au 20/25 novembre y’aurait-il des gens qui pourrai m’aider au debut ou qui voudrais traverser le perou avec moi!j’aimerais rencontrer du monde! merci de me contacter!
Let us disable query suggestions!. This option has just disappeared. We are not all the same! This is a stupid and annoying feature. Leads to mediocrity. Let us disable it again!!!!
Ya its Dwights fault because so many players have gotten along with Kobe like him pushing out 3 HOFs Shaq, D12, & Bynum (before his injuries) ..Kobe has a mental/personality/Ego disorder he thinks he is the best laughable just look at the greats career FG% Bird,Magic,MJ &Etc. Then look at Kobes its not even close to the real greats..Ohh & News Flash Kobe Shaq won 3 Rings since he went 2 the Finals in Orlando year or two before coming to the Lakers & Kobe was a role player with Eddie Jones the main piece RT
Lol. Obvious click hunting for Laker fans and annoyed fans of the other teams. Speculation about players unavailable for for 2-3 years is ridiculous.
This… The standoff was Dwight’s fault, as was his inability to run pick-and-rolls with Nash or hint at wanting to stay. Kobe was totally supportive, while noting there was a Laker standard Howard had to meet. To Dwight, who had never been held accountable for his hijinks in Orlando, it was like a public flogging.
Of course, by remaining steadfastly aloof, Dwight was, at least, able to leave without anyone being able to say he broke any promises.
…was sarcasm, yes? Kobe was above the fray? A great teammate? Howard may have been a poor fit, but so too is Nash. And most others not openly kissing KB8 er 24’s ring(s).
Laying it on Howard as if he was an island is poor, worse than his back was in November and much of Lakertime. Kobe may remain a transcendent talent (who knows at this point) but the Lakes should really hope this is his last rodeo. They won’t go forward until the walks off into the sunset.