Ahhhh the New Year is rapidly approaching, and with it, hope
springs eternal that our favorite team in purple and gold can change their
losing ways.
I try to be ever-the-optimist when it comes to the Lakers, but I must admit even I’m having a hard time being positive with my blog these days; hence the lack of posts these past few months.
Still, there are some things that give me hope, and I would
like to think that is true for you fans as well. So in this, my year-end wrap
and review of the first third (or something close to that) of the season, I will discuss why I have some hope
for the future. Conversely I will play Devil’s advocate and describe why there
is some room for despair.
Read on…
HOPE!
*The young guys are slowly getting it. I find the notion
that Kobe is impeding the progress of the young fellas as silly. Analysts and
upset misguided fans, who use to hang their hat on every thrilling Kobe Bryant moment, are now
angry that he’s “taking away” from their development.
Somebody please give me rational argument on for this point of view. We all knew we the team wasn't raising a banner at the end of the season. These young guys are lucky they
are receiving the playing time they get. In some coach's systems, rookies and
younger players get hardly any floor time.
And do you not see Kobe imparting his knowledge to the
kiddies while on the floor? Please!
Bryon Scott may or may not be the best
coach to develop new talent, but I for one like the fact that he’s making the
younger guys earn their playing time. He wants them to be better, and that’s
just fine with me.
In a quest for a championship, your players have to continue
to improve their game, and remain hungry.
The kids will be just fine folks.
DESPAIR!
*I’m with everyone else on this one: I hate to see a losing
season, especially one as bad as this. The
only team with a worse record than us, the 76ers, actually got their first win
against us after losing their first 18 games.
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| Jalhil Okafor scoring over an Earthbound Roy Hibbert |
The only positive thing about being the 2nd worst team
in the league is…………..well maybe there isn’t any. Oh wait! We get to have one
of the first three picks in next year’s weak college draft. Of course if we pick up a Kevin Durant or a Russell Westbrook in the summer, that would make me feel a little better.
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| Future Laker Kevin Durant? |
This can’t be easy for the Lakers faithful to have their team as a bottom-feeder for the third year in a row. I know it’s not for me. As in the past, I’m just riding the wave until we ascend back into the Championshipstratoshpere. However my eyebrows are raised Jim and Jeanie Buss, and I’m looking at you for solutions. You're track record speaks for itself.
HOPE!
*I am enjoying Kobe’s last season. It’s a nostalgic thing,
but I’ve always enjoyed seeing a great veteran player in any sport going out
with all the accolades he or she deserves. Some see a slightly broken down Kobe
shooting a sub-par 40% from the floor, and his play below the rim, as a
travesty. But he hasn't quite yet reached the level of a 1973 Willie Mays, or a 1977 Joe Namath.
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| Willie Mays in the 1973 World Series |
But he’s Kobe, and as throngs of crowds at visiting arenas have shown, many want to see him one last time. He still can play with effective hoops on both ends of the court, so let him have his final curtain calls. There’s absolutely nothing he can do on the court that could damage his long career, or the Lakers franchise, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
DESPAIR!
*Analysts have been on point with their criticism of the
team’s lack of direction. I won’t fully place the team’s lousy record on the
players, or the coaching staff. Where most blame can be laid is the team’s management
and executive staff. The organization as a whole is like a speeding train
heading for a cliff. Just when we think it can’t get any worse, it does.
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| Free Agent Reality |
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| Upset Lakers Fans |
HOPE!
*Continuing on with my point earlier, the young guys are
starting to come around.
Some fans were upset with the team picked after they picked D’Angelo Russell as the 2nd pick of the draft. These same fans were
all over his case when he put up low numbers in the summer league, and the
first few games of the season.
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| Coach Scott counseling the young Russell |
Jordan Clarkson is showing progress in his 2nd season, so much so that he may not even be a Laker next year. He’ll no doubt earn some serious offers from other teams during the off-season free agency period. If the money is really good, the Lakers may not match the offers. It'll be see ya later Clarkson.
Larry Nance is receiving more court time, and it’s paying off. He’s banging with the best, dunking in the clouds, and that horrible jump shop is starting to fall. You can see his confidence grow with each passing game. And with each dunk, he’s looking more and more like his father who had a lot of quality “air” time.
Julius Randle may be the most exciting youngster to watch at the moment. I see a lot of potential in him, and he’s the team most consistent rebounder. I’d really like to see him work on his game during the off season with a skilled post player like James Worthy or Hakeem Olajuwon. I do have one special request: please, oh please, learn to finish at the rim with your right hand!
So as we close out the year 2015, my resolutions for the New
Year include:
*To stop throwing things at the cat and the TV during Lakers
games
*Post more to my blog despite the team piling up L’s in the
losses column
*To curb my alcohol consumption after watching Lakers
telecasts
*Work on not using the phrase “TRADE THE BUM!” while
attending games in person.
And finally…
*To hold out against the evil temptation of selling my last
game of the year (April 6th…Kobe’s 2nd to the last game
of his career) for some great monetary offer because.............that just ain’t right.
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