In one of the toughest transitions that any NBA team has had to go through this season, the Los Angeles Lakers have changed head coaches, had a blockbuster trade (Chris Paul) vetoed and as a result traded away one of their best players (Lamar Odom) for virtually nothing (trade exception). Those three things alone were enough to derail a franchise this season and beyond, but the Lakers are also dealing with the fact that the majority of their star players are nearing the twilight of their careers in the NBA.
With Kobe Bryant (33), Pau Gasol (31) and Derek Fisher (37) not getting any younger, the Lakers have faced a daunting task this season by trying to compete with younger and more talented teams in a shortened 66-game NBA season. Not only have they had to defy father time, but they are also breaking in new head coach Mike Brown in the process.
Needless to say, the odds are against the Lakers this season and things will only get tougher from here on out. There may be some light at the end of tunnel for the Lakeshow though with trade rumors brewing all season long about the acquisition of big-name players like Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo. With one these players potentially on the verge of being dealt before the NBA trade deadline on March 15, the Lakers come back to life this season as one of the elite teams in the Western Conference.
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In the meantime, Kobe Bryant and company must play with the current roster. Fortunately, the Lakers continue to win more than they have lost with an 18-12 record (13-2 at home) after crushing the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Friday night (111-99). Even though Los Angeles seem to be on track to clinch a middle of the pack playoff spot in the West there are doubts surrounding this team moving forward.
Despite these doubts and all the trade rumors swirling around the City of Angels, Kobe Bryant remains confident that the Lakers will be force to be reckoned with and will continue to move up the standings. Suns head coach Alvin Gentry believes the Lakers will be championship contenders despite their record with Kobe on the floor. Here is what Kobe had to say about Gentry’s comments via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com:
"We're going to move up," Bryant said when informed of Gentry's remarks. "This 18-12 thing is, we're going to be much [better]. We're what, 13-2 at home? We're going to move up. We're going to improve on the road. Our rotations are stabilizing. We'll shoot the ball much better from the 3-point line. We're going to move up. It's not like we're just some underdog team that teams don't want to face. No, we're going to be a force."
The biggest flaws for this team moving forward are without question how well they play on the road, the point guard position and production off the bench. If Mike Brown can figure out a way to improve in those areas, the Lakers will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the coming months and in the playoffs.
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