Fans can spin it any way they want, but this team has flaws, and it starts on the defensive end of the floor. If the Lakers make the playoffs, they are arguably going to back in, and whoever they face is going to be a daunting challenge.
Should fans stay positive? Absolutely. There are reasons for optimism. This team battled back. They currently hold the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference. Kobe Bryant will come back at some point. Pau Gasol may provide some scoring punch off the bench.
Then again, Kobe’s ankle may hamper him the rest of the year. Given that Pau struggled to find his role before he got hurt, why would he seamlessly transition back into the lineup now?
The embarrassing 99-76 loss (via ESPN) to the Phoenix Suns on March 18 emphasizes that this team has some work to do before the postseason begins. In the Lakers' defense, they were without Kobe Bryant, and they shot a dreadful 33 percent from the floor and 23 percent from behind the arc.
However, the reality is that in the fourth quarter the Lakers simply got run off the floor by a now 23-45 Suns team that was 15-17 at home prior to the game. The Lakers are now 13-22 on the road.
Having an off night is one thing—getting crushed is another. This game was the latter.
Prior to the game, Kobe tweeted this:
#countonthew #nomamba #noswan #noproblem. Great opportunity tonight
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 18, 2013 Yes, it was a great opportunity. Unfortunately, the result was less than ideal.
Again, this is not to hate on the Lakers, but if they are going to win in the playoffs they must figure out how to play more effective defense. At this point, that may not be possible. Los Angeles is still giving up an average of 101.1 points per game, while scoring 102.1 for the season. They have a points-...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
