Last night's defeat at the hands of the 11-33 Sacramento Kings would make anyone take notice. I mean, this is still the team that won the NBA championship last year, isn't it? Don't they have their entire starting lineup healthy now that center Andrew Bynum has returned? Shouldn't they be steamrolling everyone in their path?
One would think, but the results have been hard to come by. Recent losses to the Memphis Grizzlies (23-24), Los Angeles Clippers (17-28) and now the Kings have a lot of observers scratching their heads as just what kind of team the Lakers really have.
Looking at the numbers, one wouldn't think anything was wrong in "Lakerland." The Lakers are in the top 10 in all relevant team statistics: sixth in scoring (103.8), third in differential (plus-7.5), third in field goal percentage (.472) and field goal percentage allowed (.437), seventh in three-point percentage allowed (.340), seventh in turnovers (13.7).
They fall slightly to the middle of the pack in their own three-point percentage, ranking 11th at .367 and are lackluster at forcing opponents' turnovers averaging 13.7 per game and 20th ranking.
So what could be the problem? Let's look at those last three losses specifically.
Last night against the Kings, Kobe Bryant took 27 shots. Forward Pau Gasol and reserve guard Shannon Brown were next with 11. This would lead one to believe that Kobe is going into "Jordan Mode" again and trying to win games by himself.
Perhaps, but one could argue that he had no choice. Bryant shot 48.1 percent from the field. The rest of the team a paltry 37.7 percent, including a wondrous 0-for-7 performance by the usually reliable Lamar Odom. Bryant also had 7 assists, which is o...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
