Podcasts

LeBron and Russ did their level best but with so many key players MIA every game is an exercise in seeking perfection in order to attain a win. Perfection proved elusive, again, and the Lakers fell to the Kings although the game was a hard fought and close affair. Nobody will care, though, at the end of the season how hard the Lakers play because the column will simply have one more ‘L’ in it.

1. The Walking Wounded and no quarter given. The Lakers are down 3 key players (AD, Reaves and LW4) with PatBev making regular trips to the injured list and LeBron often not too far behind. Be it sore hamstrings, balky ankles or a stress reaction in the foot all of Los Angeles is waiting for good news on the Lakers struggle to field a complete line up most nights. While an obvious reason it is still just an excuse for the losses piling up of late. We had a nice stretch against the eastern conference (whom we have more wins against than the west) but have failed to gain ground on the most important teams: or conference and division rivals. We’re 9-16 against the western conference and 1-8 against the Pacific Division. We need to change that tune and fast.
2. 284. That’s the number of points LeBron needs to pass Kareem. ESPN estimates that’ll be in 11 games, I think a game or two sooner. It will be a shame if it comes in a loss, which feels likely at this point, but the Lakers need LeBron to average 30+ every night without AD for us to have even a puncher’s chance. If that’s the case the record could be broken sooner than planned.
3. Russ and LeBron can’t do it all. They need another Laker to score 15-20 points and they need to score them pretty efficiently. Last night no Laker other than Westbrook and James scored more than 14 points (Nunn had 14 in 16 minutes…might be he needs to play a little more coach?). Worse no starter scored in double-figures besides LeBron as Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schroder have fallen from their lofty pedestals they attained on the road trip. Not sure what some of the guys need to do to bring that sharper game to the western conference games but it needs to get figured out ASAP.
4. Why is PatBev playing at all? -16 in +/- and he only took 4 shots while tying Mac Christie in minutes behind Russ and LeBron. For $13 million you need to bring more than a rah-rah attitude and the occasional defensive play. While still topping my list of players that need to be traded to salvage the season it’s worth noting that no team will bring him on for his production, which is anemic at best. I doubt he takes a buyout seeing as this is certain to be his last deal above the veteran minimum so the Lakers may need to swallow some pride and deal him along with a (hopefully) protected FRP. If it takes Nunn or LW4 or even Reaves to get a deal done it should be done. I like all those guys, none of them are keys to the season improving if a better overall player can be had.
5. Bring in some size. Play Damien Jones. Sign Boogie muthafawking Cousins who can at least bang and score as well as Bryant can and will be fresh and motivated. We’re getting killed on the glass and it’s losing us games. Somebody, anybody, in the front office wake up and do some work, man…

Anyhow, some more togh games coming up with no news on when we’ll get Reaves or Lonnie back. AD will likely arrive too late at this point and that will just further coerce the Laker front office to continue their dithering and doing of nothing. Sure hope there is a really good plan for the summer folks or this could be a really long couple of seasons to close out LeBron’s career.