The problems are mounting for the Lakers and the solutions are nowhere to be found. Things started off well enough for the Lake Show in San Antonio tonight. Kobe Bryant hit his first three shots and there was even an early sighting of the infamous scowl. The intensity was there on both end of the floor as the offense was clicking and the defense was active and dominant.
After scoring 16 points in 6 minutes, the Lakers hit a lull. That would be an ominous sign of things to come as the offense got it going again in a brilliant second quarter before completely disappearing in the second half.
By the time the fourth quarter came around the wheels had fallen off and the Lakers were rolling on rims. Kobe’s quick start faded as he eventually went on an ugly streak. KB24 couldn’t buy a bucket. At one point Mamba missed a miserable 13 in a row. He got on a brief tear in the fourth but eventually that too ended.
There was no rhythm at all. This was like watching a dance competition at the Republican National Convention.
Lamar Odom was nowhere to be found. Pau Gasol continues to cower to the competition. Surprisingly, Ron Artest had one of his best nights in recent memory. But that means little as a once unstoppable force has become an easy target.
This marks three straight games of 80 points or less and to no surprise all three have been losses.
Oh…did I mention Tim Duncan, as in future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, had only 2 points? That’s how pathetic the Laker bigs were tonight. While the Spurs haven’t relied on Timmy much this season, that is still no excuse for a team with the Lakers’ size to be dominated down low in such a manner.
Both Derek Fisher and Kobe were hit with technicals…again. A sure sign that the frustrations are only getting worse. There would appear to be no end in sight to this debacle of a stretch but there is a slight glimmer of hope. Early on the Lakers showed that championship intensity that we haven’t seen since their last road trip. Problem is that intensity lasted about as long as a case of Twinkies in Rosie O’Donnell’s house.
Phil Jackson looks more and more confused every night. This is something we’ve never seen from a Laker team defending its title. Now, the schedule ramps up and unless these guys can snap out of this funk soon we could be looking at more than just a bad stretch. This could become a full-on fail.