Whenever there is a problem in life, it is not uncommon to troubleshoot and look for the source of the difficulty. When this involves people, scrutinizers will ask a very basic question.
Who messed up?
A legitimate question, to be sure. However, the problem is that sometimes people hope to find a singular problem. Or, to overuse an overused cliche, fans hope to identify a smoking gun so that it can be fixed and all can return to normal.
If only it were that simple. When it comes to the Lakers, there are plenty of fingers being pointed. Take your pick.
Jim Buss messed up the team by hiring the wrong coach, then panicking and hiring a second wrong coach. Along the way he couldn’t bring himself to call the Zen Master.
It is Mike D’Antoni’s fault for trying to run with old men while not teaching defense.
Dwight Howard is to blame because he can’t shoot free throws and he never wanted to be here in the first place.
Kobe Bryant shoots too much and won’t adapt to other players.
Somewhere along the way, Pau Gasol lost his way.
Steve Nash is old, fragile and can’t play any defense.
A team meeting happened about 37 games too late.
The bench is, well, the bench.
Or, maybe it is just about effort. Work harder. Work faster. That's what GM Mitch Kupchak implied in a recent conversation with Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles.
Blame, blame, blame.
All of these aspects have impacted this team. Then again, could there be something else?
How about the reality that sports are a cruel combination of chemistry and circumstance? What about the fact that teams in all sports go through a life cycle?
Many teams start out young, and when they mature the fortunate squads are able to put everything together and compete f...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
