Lakers Blow Lead, Now 2 Games Under .500

The Lakers expecially Kobe was scorching in the first half, but I guess they thought it was college and didn't show up for the 3rd and 4th. Overall the Lakers shot better, except from free throws, outrebounded and outblocked the young Rockets, held the league's 2nd leader scorer to 3/19 shooting and somehow even when holding a 13 point lead with 10 minutes to go with their starter resting, the Lakers walked off the floor with a second straight loss, this one just by a deuce. While they deffinately looked better than Sunday's embarrasment, it is just baffling this experienced group cannot seem to gel and keep executing the games most basic plays such as rebounding. In a sport of runs no lead is safe if they're is time and the clock keeps stopping. While most haters will blame Howard for his free throw woes and yes that hurt, the problem goes back to the Mike Brown start, turnovers and defense, and poor bench play, you can also add second opportunities for the oppenent, Houston had 21 offensive boards to the Lakers 14, that's not gonna get it done. Still now missing another starter with the ailing Gasol, joing future Hall of Famer Nash, and reserve guard Blake, the Lake Show played well up until the last 10 minutes where they picked up 6 of their 18 turnover in that span and could not even get a shot thanks to Howard costly freebies. But these are the Lakers, they're not measured by morale or almost wins. If they lose they're garbage, embarrasing, or dissapointing, while any other team going through the same is "moving in the right direction", so with now a 3-5 record under D'Antoni, the Lakers are pretty much done with some even counting them out of the playoffs, seriously? Sure it's been disspointing, but have they really been getting their ass kicked? Considering they haven't played their full core once this season and their point man who happens to be one of the best ever has only played what 5 quarters? Blake was playing well and now is out, and Gasol has been playing hurt and yet several of those losses could have gone the other way, are they really this bad? Of the 10 losses, 4 have been by double digits, with 16 being the worst loss vs. the Kings. 3 Have been by 2 points, 2 of those games against quality teams, they could have easily been 11-7, and they have really made runs on all games, they just have come short, mostly to turnovers and missed assignments, both correctable. So haters have your fill, have your laughs, as long as the Lakes stay on the playoff hunt and click at the right time, we'll see who's laughing at the end.

 

The basketball night was not a total loss, as the Wizards surprised the reigning Chumps to double their win total, that was funny.

Player of the Game: Reserve Tony Douglas with Linsanity struggling tallied 22 points on 8/17 shooting 3 dimes, and 2 steals in 28 minutes.

X-Factor: Greg Smith contributed nicely off the bench 21 points 9 rebounds in just 24 minutes.

Should Have Been Benched: They already were, the whole Lakers bench, who got out scored as unit by two reserve Rockets off the bench, Douglas and Smith.

Laker Hater: Greg Smith totaled in this game 1 more rebound and 1 less point than the last 3 games combined. Ha!

Overtime. Mamba is not only 13 points away from scoring 30,000 points, grounded Jamison had a season high 3 blocks.

Lakers Hit the Road With Yet Another No Show

The Lake Show is hated doesn't matter who's wearing the purple and gold. They're even hated more when they're good, and haters fill out numerous posts after a win but especially a loss, even more when they yet fail to show up and embarrass themselves against a lesser opponent. For as much as this particular group is criticized, this is not a new thing for the Lake Show, this frustrating see saw act happens more often than not. I can think only of the 2000 Lakers and the '09-'10 Lakers that actually played consistently trhough out the season. This is a very frustrating to see as a fan, but nothing new to fans who have followed the Lakers the last 15 years. So the season is now 17 games old and the Lakers have yet to go over .500 this season, I can't believe I'm actually writing that. Following their season high 3 game win streak, they stunk up horribly at Sacramento, played decent against league leading Memphis, pummeled Dallas to avoid a 3 game slump to gain face then stunk up it again even worse at home vs. one of this years disappointments Indiana only to look outstanding vs. high expectations Denver, to probably the most disappointing showing today vs. the sub .500 Dwight's former team Orlando. This was just pathetic, I actually only watched in spurts as the zombies in mid season finale of "Walking Dead" showed more life than the Lakers. This could not been the team we saw on Friday, and didn't Orlando played yesterday? My God, this is turning out to be a painful season that only the return of Steve Nash is giving me some hope of at least some consistency. And what about Pau? What's his future? Should the Lakers maybe just give him a break the next couple of games? Or should he get axed? Giving his production I don't think I'd miss him, but who would take him really? NY? Swap him for A'mare? See if he can get back to his All-Star Form with his former Coach and quarterback. What about just keep getting Suns and get struggling Jared Dudley and Channing Frye, of course Frye is out so that doesn't work out too well. It's just been a very disappointing start even without Nash a team featuring Mamba, Pau, and Howard, with former All-Stars Artest and Jamison should be enough to win especially against sub .500 teams. But no, instead of a nice blow out win stating their greatness the Lake Show put up another frustrating clunker in this long early season.

Player of the Game: Aaron Aflalo lit it up with 11/18 shooting for 30 pts and found time to dish out 5 dimes and grab 5 boards.

X-Factor: The Orlando big men combined for 40 pts, 24 boards and 6 blocked shots, the Laker's big? 32 Points, 22 boards, and 1 blk, Big Baby had more blocks than Pau and Howard combined.

Should Have Been Benched: Where do I start? 3 players had decent games, the ever energetic Ron Ron, 6th man Jamison, and of course Mamba, everyone else should have just called in sick.

Laker Hater: No one, everyone that played for the Magic flat out out played the Lakers more energy and bigger effort.

Overtime. You know it's funny that the Lakers big guns continue to play heavy minutes even against what is supposed to be lesser opponents yet last Thursday controversial Spurs/Heat game had the scrubs and baseline bums from the Spurs almost steal one from the title favorite super team Heat. Is it the team system? The Coach? The City? I don't know, but as a fan you sure appreciate effort from the superstar to the water boy, Lakers really need no get their head out of their ass or you can kiss Dwight goodbye next year and send Kobe into a less than deserve send off.