The Los Angeles Lakers no longer appear to be the big bad bullies of the NBA.
With only two weeks remaining before the start of the playoffs, the defending NBA champions are in a slump that could linger into the post season.
In three games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Hornets and Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers have been decimated and played like a young team in search of an identity.
During their 17-point loss against the Hawks, Kobe Bryant carried the Lakers while Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest were listless. Their bench players were also irrelevant. In the losses to the Thunder, Hornets and Hawks, the Lakers’ bench was outscored 90-34.
Besides Bryant and Gasol, the Lakers lack consistent offensive threats. Artest and Odom have disappeared in several meaningful games and injured center Will Bynum often has trouble playing alongside Gasol. In fact, Bryant has saved the team from defeat by making game-winning shots on six different occasions. Bryant loves the pressure, but the defending champions should not be in close games with so many inferior opponents.
Although the Lakers will enter the post season as the top seed in the Western Conference, their one-man show will likely hinder them from repeating as NBA champions. –a.r.
