Sure, the Lakers have won 14 of their last 17 games. Indeed, they have blown out their sub-.500 opponents like Philadelphia, Indiana, Memphis and New Orleans. Yes, it is a tribute to their coaching staff that they have not slumped against these teams as they did last year. However, what remains on my mind is the spanking they took against the Celtics in which none of the players showed up. Granted, they beat Phoenix Christmas Day which opened my eyes to the potential of this group. But in the biggest game of the year, a game in which they could prove that they are a championship caliber team, they totally flopped.
Just as they have been doing recently--getting out to a quick start--Boston did to them. In what was a statement game, they were never in it. Kobe shot bricks all night and then the team panicked and fell apart. As Kobe leads, so does the team follow. It was as if the team took a collective sigh after the game and said to themselves, "At least we don't have to play them again this year." How about in the playoffs? Don't they envision themselves in the finals?
This team is playing it one game at a time, not looking into the future which is smart. On the other hand, where are their goals? Don't they envision a championship? Don't they see the big picture?
I think the Lakers are one player, maybe two players, away from the championship caliber team the Boston Celtics seem to be. If only Derek Fisher could put together games like he did against Memphis, they could possibly do it. There, on Elvis night, Phil Jackson must have thought he was witnessing a Walt Frazier impersonator from his days with the Knicks as Derek was dishing and swishing all night long. If only he could do that every night it would take the pressure off of Lamar Odom offensively. Or does his mother have to be at all his games? In addition, I think Luke Walton is weak at small forward. He can shoot clutch three pointers every so often, but does not contribute enough to make the rotation formidable.
I did however, like their effort against New Orleans. Unlike against Boston, they came out hungry and dominated. Winning this game on the road proved they are improved and progressing. Like a work-in-progress, let's see if they can sustain it.
