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I wouldn't be freaking out as much if we were losing games by 5 points or something like that. To lose 3 of your last 4 home games by 15+ points each is ridiculous not to mention these are mediocre teams we're playing.

So why are we losing so bad?

Shannon Brown sucks. He can't do anything but shoot.

Ron Artest is either (Please Use More Appropriate Word) or not listening to Phil. He hasn't learned a damn thing about the triangle offense.

Pau can't play Center on both ends effectively.

Kobe's trying WAAAAAAAAAAY too hard and has forgotten a major reason he won his 07-08 MVP: passing. He also needs to stop roaming on defense. YOU CAN'T DO THAT WHEN YOUR PG IS DEREK FISHER.

Lack of motivation.

Lack of effort.

Lack of Phil tearing new buttholes.

Those are my observations anyways.

Because Kobe is loosing confidence in all the players named Artest and Brown> So, he is trying to take over and guess what. Every team in the NBA is starting to figure that very fact out.

Kobe needs to stop being such a ballhog and try harder to get the teammates more involved or you guys will continue to keep losing games like this

Why don't you ask your homie.

1) The team is declining as a whole. Fisher (especially), Kobe, Artest, Odom, and Pau are all past their primes. They have no where to go but down, and that's what we're seeing as the season progresses. They all look gassed at times and the truth is that teams don't fear us the way they used to.

2) Bynum was barely added back to the rotation, so that messes with chemistry somewhat as Odom's role also changes.

3) Steve Blake and Shannon Brown have cooled off considerably on the offensive end. After getting off to a very hot start, they have both stunk since the 1st week of December. Matt Barnes has struggled as well, but his struggles haven't been nearly as bad. Remember how we'd break games open the first month of the season when the "Killer B's" came in? When is the last time you saw that?

4) We're not really motivated. While I never really thought we were as good as our early record indicated, we're not as bad as our recent play either. That's comes from a lack of motivation/effort and is very hard to fix. Guys just don't have the same hunger this year, and #5 has something to do with it.

5) Kobe, as I've stated numerous times since the beginning of the season, is trying to do too much. There is no justification for his high shooting volume. He's playing a selfish brand of basketball (more so than in recent years), and guys are probably getting fed up with it. Last night was a fantastic example. Fine, we started off slow and Kobe needed to pick it up a little. That's to be expected. However, when we got ourselves back in the game he wouldn't let up and killed whatever momentum he helped the team get. He's just not playing smart right now, and until he does, we're going to struggle.

I've read in Kevin Ding's columns that KObe barely practices now a days. I wonder how much of a factor that is to executing with him in games.

Ron Artest our supposedly 20+ point scorer is just garbage. I know he's our defensive stopper and all but lets face it Laker fam there are plenty of other defensive minded players that play just as good or even better defense than Ron Artest. We have to stop living in the past about his DPOY award. Just because he won a DPOY award doesn't mean he'll have a year like that with us. If we got Ben Wallace up in here would he play like his DPOY days?....NO.

He's our 20+ ppg scorer? No one even thought that when he first came here.

G=K wrote:He's our 20+ ppg scorer? No one even thought that when he first came here.

He's certainly capable of scoring that much. Game 7 NBA finals.

SlavaMedvedenko wrote:I've read in Kevin Ding's columns that KObe barely practices now a days. I wonder how much of a factor that is to executing with him in games.

Hmmm, wasn't aware of that. If he's barely practicing, then I think that probably explains why we look so out of sync on offense.

Why is he barely practicing?

Been calling for Artest and Fisher to hit the bench since last year. We now have 2 very reasonable alternatives in Blake and Barnes and they're still starting. Why, I have no idea, but that is a HUGE part of it. Blake is clearly a much better option at point (can actually penetrate, make plays, and even get his own shot every once in a while) and Barnes is just a better role player than Ron.

Phil's refusal to make a lineup change is a big reason. Kobe and Pau under-performing only exacerbate our problems.

semi-sentient wrote:

SlavaMedvedenko wrote:I've read in Kevin Ding's columns that KObe barely practices now a days. I wonder how much of a factor that is to executing with him in games.

Hmmm, wasn't aware of that. If he's barely practicing, then I think that probably explains why we look so out of sync on offense.

Why is he barely practicing?

The knee. He didn't do much in training camp either.

Health related reasons I am sure...

D Nice wrote:Been calling for Artest and Fisher to hit the bench since last year. We now have 2 very reasonable alternatives in Blake and Barnes and they're still starting. Why, I have no idea, but that is a HUGE part of it. Blake is clearly a much better option at point (can actually penetrate, make plays, and even get his own shot every once in a while) and Barnes is just a better role player than Ron.

Yeah, I've suggested that as well. I doubt it will happen, but I think we'd see a nice improvement if that were the case.

Ron off the bench becomes more of a scorer (against lesser competition) and maybe plays a little better with his buddy Odom. Fisher can provide, well, who the hell knows? Maybe he can flop his way to some free throws from time to time and project some of his pretend leadership on the reserves. Blake makes a lot more sense in the starting lineup and I can't believe we haven't done it yet. I mean, we toyed around with the idea of Farmar starting at times (Rambis discussed this topic last year when he stated Fisher was unwilling to accept a lesser role), and now we have someone way the hell better.

The knee. He didn't do much in training camp either.

Understandable, but I figured his knee would be on par by now. We're creeping up on the midway point of the season, so hopefully he gets back at it soon.

No its not just the knee. Phil likes to conserve Kobe's energy exclusively for the games. Its pretty much going to be like that from now on and it was pretty much the case for most of last season too.

the team as a whole looks out of sync. it has more to do with being winded though. people can complain about this player or that player,but there is a reason that no team in the modern day nba has been to four consecutive finals. it takes alot out of you to win. people are glossing over this like it is a minor thing. i still believe we are the best team in the league in a series,but if anyone thinks we are going to have a dominant regular season they are kidding themselves. to be honest i don't want one. i would rather save our energy for when it counts. we have proven in the past we can win on the road. all we have to do is keep kobe,pau,bynum and odom healthy,and we will be fine.

magic1fan wrote:the team as a whole looks out of sync. it has more to do with being winded though. people can complain about this player or that player,but there is a reason that no team in the modern day nba has been to four consecutive finals. it takes alot out of you to win. people are glossing over this like it is a minor thing. i still believe we are the best team in the league in a series,but if anyone thinks we are going to have a dominant regular season they are kidding themselves. to be honest i don't want one. i would rather save our energy for when it counts. we have proven in the past we can win on the road. all we have to do is keep kobe,pau,bynum and odom healthy,and we will be fine.

How the heck r u a Lakers fan with a name like that? Decide to jump the wagon one day? Haha

apparently you forgot about #32 mr. johnson?

On the Lakers board we all understand perfectly well what, or whom rather, "magic" refers to.