Kobe Bryant: “Our margin for error isn’t that big”
The writing is on the wall and every one of the Lakers has read it. This team just can’t compete for a championship. At least not right now. Their struggles on the road more than illustrate all of the team’s shortcomings and last night’s loss in Philly punctuated all of those.
These are not the Showtime Lakers. This team couldn’t outrun Kevin Duckworth on a nightly basis.
This team looks nothing like that last two dynasties we saw built in Los Angeles.
This team’s recipe for success is simple. Play stifling defense and grind out wins.
There is no production from the bench. The point guard position is a black hole. Outside of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum there is absolutely no offense to speak of.
This team is fatally flawed and unless they’re playing perfect hoops every night then the Lakers’ odds of winning significantly decreases.
Mike Brown is already going to the desperation move of getting tossed in hopes of firing up his squad. That failed miserably. So, what’s next?
The only thing left to do is shakeup the roster and not in the manner in which Lamar Odom was dealt for a deck of cards and a bag of spicy peanuts. In order for this team to have any chance of being a contender they’ll need Mitch Kupchak to make a major move. An upgrade is in the cards and any man not named Kobe should keep their bags packed.
After another late letdown last night Bryant said what we all know.
"“We’re just not playing good basketball right now. Our margin for error is just not as big as some of the other teams. We have to play really, really good basketball in stretches of the game, minimize mistakes. It was a game we should have won, but our margin for error isn’t that big.”"
No matter the circumstances every NBA team has to play exceptional hoops in order to consistently win. But we’re not talking about androids here these are still human beings on that court. Therefore mistakes will happen. However when you’re the Lakers and your margin for error keeps shrinking like LeBron in the 4th then your chances of winning lessen with each passing game.
Coach Brown gets credit for being able to improve this team’s defense almost overnight. However his formula for success needs to be refined. Currently the Lakers have no chance unless they play perfect. While that might be ideal it is absolutely impossible especially given this hectic schedule.
The real problem is Brown just doesn’t have the tools to make the magic happen. Kupchak, the ball is in your court. Time to either retool or rebuild. This in-between team we’ve been watching is being led to slaughter.