Thus far in 2012-13, the Los Angeles Lakers are 15-18. This is the latest the Lakers have been below .500 since they were 15-16 on Jan. 3, 2006.
They finished that season at 45-37 and entered the postseason as the seventh seed.
The Lakers' downward spiral continued on January 6, 2013, as L.A. lost 112-105 to the Denver Nuggets. To make matters worst, both Gasol and Dwight Howard suffered injuries.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles reports both will miss an indefinite amount of time. Howard has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and Gasol is suffering from a concussion.
This is about the worst possible timing for said injuries to occur.
The Lakers' next game comes at the Houston Rockets, who are 13-6 at home. After Houston, they're at the 27-10 San Antonio Spurs and home for the 26-8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
Per ESPN's Lakers depth chart, those teams will face a starting frontcourt pairing of Antawn Jamison and Jordan Hill.
Gasol's injury came after an inadvertent elbow from JaVale McGee. Gasol began to bleed profusely from his seemingly broken nose, thus resulting in his being removed from the game.
We now know that it is a concussion that could keep Gasol out for an extended period of time. The second time this season we've heard such news.
Yet another reason the team is in need of a change of scenery.
The benefit in trading Gasol is the ability to do just that. Even if they do not acquire a superstar in return, there is the chance of landing a better fit.
If the Lakers stand by idly, there is the chance that this team fails to mesh. In other words, Los Angeles MLB fans are getting a taste of something too familiar.
Just as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim failed to do, the Lakers are in danger of m...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
