Lakers Giving Back All Their Goodwill
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Three straight losses have re-exposed all the flaws that have kept the Lakers out of championship talk all season and now threatens to keep them out of the playoffs all together. Just a couple weeks ago it was looking like the Lake Show had finally turned the corner. Come to find out all they did was turn the wrong way down a one-way street.
In each of their three consecutive losses glaring weaknesses have been on display. Falling flat in Phoenix was chalked up to Kobe’s absence but the reality is Mike D’Antoni didn’t have the team ready. Blowing a big lead to the lowly Wizards was pretty par for the course this season. And playing no defense against the Warriors is the calling card of any D’Antoni team.
So I guess the reality is these Lakers just don’t have what it takes to sustain the form necessary to make a real playoff push. Right about now the only hope is that the Jazz and Mavericks will do the same leaving the Lakers uncontested for the 8th seed.
But that type of talk is reserved for the Clippers…not the Lakers.
Since when did moral victories become a source of pride in the purple and gold world? Improved play is not a reason to celebrate but that’s about all we’ve had to hang our hats on.
Sadly all the goodwill built up over the last couple months is being given back by this run of poor play. Even if this is but another speed bump it’s one that has come at the exact wrong time. These setbacks should have been a thing of the past. Instead they’re still part of the present. Presently these flawed Lakers might be better off missing the postseason altogether.