Mr. Competitive himself Kobe Bryant is having none of it, but even his legs have shown serious signs of wear and tear so far this season.
It's not as if the Lakers are the worst team in the league or anything, but when you lose games to teams like the Sacramento Kings and are completely outclassed and outplayed by your biggest rival on national television, everyone begins to panic a bit.
Not to mention your GM is coming out with the proverbial, "I'll trade someone to shake this roster up because they're under-performing," talk to light a fire under your rear end.
The Lakers looked bored and uninterested in recent losses to two of the NBA's best teams, the Heat and Celtics by double digits.
Ron Artest has completely bottomed-out, Pau Gasol hasn't given them his best and Andrew Bynum isn't the factor the team needs him to be if they are to raise the banner for a third straight title.
Phil Jackson seems ready to retire along with the aged legs of Derek Fisher.
The consensus seems to be that every championship caliber team gets lethargic in the regular season but will turn it on in the playoffs, but do the Lakers have enough left in the tank?
Additions of Matt Barnes and Steve Blake were supposed to solidify the bench and give more rest to Fisher and Bryant, but Barnes is injured and Blake's numbers are down.
L.A has the second best record in the Western conference behind the San Antonio Spurs, but look extremely vulnerable and is putting little to no fear in opponents hearts when facing them.
In other words, any of the top four seeds would have a legitimate shot against them.
Why were the Lakers beaten so thoroughly in two of their biggest games of the season? Are they that infer...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
