The two-time defending World Champion Los Angeles Lakers haven't played as such the past few weeks. Dropping an embarrassing loss to the Memphis Grizzliers at home Sunday night 104-85. Boos rang down and down loudly on the club in the Staples Center. Kobe had to revert to the old Kobe for a bit in the game last night. You remember the old Kobe. Taking the majority of the shots. Going one on five. In the 3rd quarter, the Lakers had a total of 22 shots. Kobe had 12 of them by himself. That didn't sit well with head coach Phil Jackson. Jackson said:
"Kobe had to screw up the game and start energizing the team by going one-on-one. That takes the rest of the guys out and as a consequence, that didn't bring us back in."
Well damn. Shots fired, no safety. Get low. Well, I can't blame Kobe totally. He found that his team was struggling and he tried to kick start a rally. It just never came. But I've noticed that the Lakers are being outplayed by younger talent in their losses the past few weeks. Memphis with Gay, Mayo, and Conley last night. San Antonio with a few of their young stars last week. Can't forget the Superfriends of Miami on Christmas Day. I honestly don't think there's cause for concern. I rememeber LeBron & Shaq as Cavaliers smacked L.A. by 20 on Christmas last year. Who ended up hoisting the championship trophy in June? Oh, okay. Yes, the landscape has changed dramatically this season. The emergence of Dallas, San Antonio, and even Utah in the West. Can't forget Oklahoma City as well. I say that to say that even with the Lakers stuggling right now, wouldn't you want it to happen now than let's say April? It's not even the All Star break and people want to hit the panic button. Relax. The Zen Master himself will meditate and get his ball club back on track. If the Lakers bomb and lose 17 out of their last 18 games like another team I know, *cough cough* the Cavaliers, *cough cough*, then please by all means grab a hammer and bang the crap out of the panic button for the Lake Show.
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