With the Lakers poor showing last night in the team's 98-87 loss to a Dwayne Wade-less Miami Heat, fans are realizing they've seen this type of performance before.
It was the 2011 NBA Playoffs in the second round when L.A. went down 4-0 to the eventual champs, the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite the final score, last night's game was not that close for most of three quarters and the seeming inability to score or defend was maddening.
When the Lakers went off on this quick but important two-game east coast trip (tonight at Orlando) they were tied with the Clippers at the top of the Pacific division standings with a record of 10-5.
Four of those losses were road games, something that the Lakers excelled at last season. The team lost only 14 games away from Staples Center in the 2010-11 regular season.
They were the second best in the league to the same Miami Heat who lost 13 on the road.
Losing on the road happens, even to veteran and eliite teams. It's the way the Lakers lost last night that conjured up memories of the worst of their performances.
The newly installed offense that came along with the arrival of Coach Mike Brown seems to be more than a mere work in progress.
When the Lakers can't pound the ball to the two seven-footers on any consistent basis you know something is wrong.
Paul Gasol is out of the painted area more than inside it and his outside jump shots, including three-point attempts are not as feared as his low post moves.
With Gasol outside being dared to shoot, double teams are killing Andrew Bynum as well as the only other consistent shooter on the club, Kobe Bryant.
The team began its decline last spring in the playoffs and it hasn't gotten better. The attempt to change that failed after the NBA Commissioner, wearing a hat as the head of the New Orleans Hornets organization put an end to the Chris Paul trade.
It should be clear to everyone that without a ball distributing, fast point guard, this new offense will not succeed.
The triangle worked without a traditional point guard because it was not a typical post offense,running pick and rolls and isolation plays.
What about the additions to the team you ask? Too many moving pieces that can function individually don't make a team .
Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy and rookie Darrius Morris aren't consistent offensive contributors and the starting rotation looks ragged.
Tonight's contest in Orlando will bring L.A. face to face with a player they supposedly coveted but weren't able to get because of the Magic's asking price.
Are there any fans out there now who think the team will come around enough not to warrant a huge change in personnel? Would love to hear from you.
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