The Lakers Demise
With Dwight Howard, Phil Jackson, Brian Shaw, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Metta World Peace (to name a few) all gone, the Lakers may be in rebuilding mode. Kobe Bryant is still out due to an achilles tear and has been doubted by many even returning back to his former superstar self. Kobe’s publicly said if he can’t play at his signature elite status down the stretch in his career, he’ll walk away from the game of basketball. The worst type of injury to come back from now is the rupture of an achilles tendon; but if there’s any player to play at elite status, it’s Kobe. While the Mamba may be looking for a return before 2014 begins, the team is in tremendous trouble.
Although additions of Nick Young, Chris Kaman, Wesley Johnson and the return of Jordan Farmar are respectable for the team, the Lakers are virtually back to square one before their 2008 acquisition of Pau Gasol. With Mike D’Antoni relying on the aging Steve Nash to be the primary facilitator of the Lakers offense for his highly “successful” history of running the 8-second possession; the team will most likely not make the playoffs due to lack of defense, proneness of injury and lack of depth. Last year, after acquiring both Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, we were expecting the Lakers to make it to the NBA Finals before they fired coach Mike Brown. This year however, we’re not expecting the Lakers to make NBA playoffs making it their 6th time in the history of the franchise.
Much like the original Superman’s departure in 2004, the Lakers failed to make the playoffs with a young 26-year-old Kobe Bryant. In comparison to last decade, Kobe’s nearing the end of his career and the Lakers will have draft aspirations (and or free agency) in the coming seasons to rebuild.