This isn't the '07 Heat defending their title with the same passion as Brook Lopez hitting the boards. We're talking about the most storied franchise in professional basketball, with the most storied coach and the game's best player.
Yes, they've been doing 55 mph on cruise control in the passing lane all season. Yes, they just got thumped by the Celtics with only one player showing up.
And yes, they just barely beat the undermanned Rockets at home in overtime after blowing a late six-point lead in regulation.
Amidst the struggling play, Mitch Kupchak says he'll be exploring trade possibilities, with Ron Artest allegedly volunteering for the role, then un-volunteering.
Kobe Bryant says he told Pau Gasol he wants more Black Swan than White Swan from the Spaniard.
Jerry West says they can't play defense anymore and Lamar Odom has an upcoming reality show with his wife Khloe Kardashian! It's chaos!
Which is exactly when the Lakers tend to turn it on. No other team in sports thrives under madness and uncertainty quite like the Purple and Gold.
When the vultures were circling their carcass a couple times earlier this season, they responded by winning eight of nine and a couple weeks later, nine of 10. Of course, each time the Lakers turned it around and people started trusting them again, they trotted out average basketball again.
The Lakers will probably continue their uneven play for the rest of the regular season and maybe a round or two of the playoffs. But right now, with the Spurs coming into town and a brutal road trip on the horizon, the team seems on pace for an uptick in play.
A couple weeks of uninspired play is destined to follow, with more controversy after that, followed by...well, you get the picture.
Here's to hoping they bring back Smush ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
