From Daniel Mulitauopele, Lakers Nation: It’s not enough. In the sociology world (yes, it’s awesome), there is a term called social capital: the idea that increased human networks allow for greater productivity among people groups. Alex de Tocqueville noted in the 19th century that Americans often meet in groups to discuss all realms of the public sphere, and that openness allowed for increased efficiency when dealing with social problems. Social capital, in essence, is the stored use of all positive social interactions.Yes, the definition gets kinda fuzzy, but we see its use all the time in our public square, and especially when we’re dealing with professional sports stars. Kobe Bryant had a plethora of social capital (generally good standing under common scrutiny) that he could have used to increase his place as a sports icon. Dealing with rape charges in 2004 depleted it. No Twitter account can replace what could have been. Dwight Howard was generally considered a fun-loving, amiable superstar. That social capital was nearly bankrupted after the “Dwightmare” fiasco that was finally resolved this past summer. One can see the effects that social standing has on a superstar of Bryant or Howard’s caliber; sometimes it’s as real as monetary loss.
From Kevin Ding, OC Register: Kobe Bryant played more than 40 minutes for the 13th time in his past 14 games. Bryant going nonstop the entire second half has somehow become standard protocol. And upon seeing Danilo Gallinari’s 3-pointer drop to boost Denver’s lead back up to six points with 13.8 seconds left, Bryant very uncharacteristically let his shoulders dramatically slump and his head hang low. Steve Nash looked around the Lakers’ locker room when the loss had sunk in Sunday night and summed it up with three words: “Guys are down.” The guy whose injury return and ability to make others better was supposed to save the season saw the depression – and not the first depression – the players would have to overcome, saying later to reporters: “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. … We can’t give up on ourselves.” Mike D’Antoni left his postgame news conference Sunday night and needed a big, deep breath just to get going back to his office … and when you take into account training camp, D’Antoni has coached only half the season. Everything comes so, so hard for the Lakers. It’s not easy; it’s not fun. It’s just too hard. It’s not how teams win championships.
From Drew Garrison, Silver Screen & Roll: The New York Daily News is reporting that a league “source” has told them Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard nearly came to blows after a loss to the 76ers. Lakers sources, however, maintain the claim is “simply not true”. Late last night a report from the New York Daily News began to circulate the internet that Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant nearly came to blows after the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. “Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant just can’t get along, and there’s a team in Brooklyn that might be waiting to pick up the pieces.” A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft. ESPN LA’s Ramona Shelburne immediately shut this story down last night via Twitter.
From Dave McMenamin, ESPN LA: Metta World Peace predicted during the summer that the new-look Los Angeles Lakers would give the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ historic 72-10 record a run for its money. Oh, how things have changed. Following the Lakers’ 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday that dropped their record to 15-18, the Lakers weren’t talking about the 70-win plateau or even championship aspirations.The bar has been lowered so far that several members of the team were focusing on using the final 49 games of the season to simply qualify for the postseason. “I’m concerned,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said after the game. “Everybody’s concerned. You say, ‘Oh well, we’ll turn it around’? Well, we’ve got to do that. Yeah, there’s concern. The hole’s not too big. Mathematically, we can still make the playoffs. We just got to figure out our identity and play better. We’re just not playing well.” The Lakers are in 11th place in the West and three games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot.
From Ben Bolch, LA Times: It was an odd thing for the coach of Team Dysfunction to say.His star players have repeatedly exchanged angry glances and gestures, a 7-footer has griped about being misused, a reserve has openly complained about not being used at all … and somehow none of it explains the Lakers being three games under .500? “I understand it a little bit,” Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni said of his team’s chemistry concerns before things worsened with a 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at Staples Center, “but everybody has a job to do. The only thing we can ask players is to play as hard as they can. Whether you’re happy or not doesn’t really matter if you are playing as hard as you can.” D’Antoni unfortunately had more to say.
“You don’t have to love each other,” he said. “I’ve been on a lot of championship teams in Europe where there’s edges and we don’t go out to dinner every night. That is not why we’re losing. We’re losing right now because we don’t have a consistent 48 minutes of good basketball.”
Rusty Shackleford says
This team gives up more easy buckets than (insert punchline)…
I believe I heard Stu Lantz say the Lakers shot over 60% in the first quarter last night and still found themselves down 8 points. The scoring is there. Play some D.
Glove says
YIKES
Howard out a week with a torn labrum right shoulder, Gasol out with a concussion/broken nose and will not travel with the team on the road trip, Hill (hip) also out for the road trip.
Pinch says
Going into Houston & San Antonio without Gasol, Hill & Howard.
YIKES, that’s another 2 losses with OKC at Staples after that.
P. Ami says
I thought you can only tear a labrum from horse-back riding or baby-making.
namotuman says
Until Kobe recognizes that team success trumps his own stubborn ego to prove that he can carry the team, the Lakers will continue to struggle. Sure, his star is burning brightly, but he is burning time on his legs that could be burnt in a more efficient manner (i.e. in winning games as a unit). The Lakers will go nowhere with him shooting over 20 shots a game at a 45% clip. Is there nobody in the locker room that can reason with him? Hell, contract Dfish to do just that in a consultant role. This season is on the brink of going down in flames started by Kobe’s bright star…….
MannyP says
I always preach patience… but I think in this case all of your criticisms are well-founded. This team is pathetic to watch. It really saddens me. However, we also have to be realistic. Too many new pieces, a coaching change, player injuries, etc. Realistically, we are where we should be at this junction in the season and we are having the growing pains that should have been expected from the aforementioned moves – even if it hurts all of us to admit it.
The real “surprise” to me, has been the play of a certain Spaniard. I don’t know what is going on with him physically or mentally. Part of me wants to believe that he is injured and tired, but then I also think that there must be more to what is going on inside Pau than just injury and fatigue. I don’t know if his relationship with the Lakers has run its course or not, but what I do know is that it is very sad to watch him deteriorate on the court game after game. I hope he gets some well-deserved days off to nurse his current injuries and comes back only when he is capable of giving this team his 100% effort.
Chris J says
Counting down the days until Dwight checks out, officially or unofficially.
Not that he’s shown up at all this season, aside from preening in the endless self-promo ads Time Warner Cable has to air because it can’t sell any ads. And no wonder, there — this season is nearing the unwatchable status, like the latter part of 2004-05 when the games were just not enjoyable to witness.
Pat says
Now MDA has his dream team to play small ball. He never did quite like the big men anyway.
R says
I’d be fine with Howard “taking his talents” to Crooklyn next year.
It’s been an interesting experiment and the FO has a great opprotunity to send him packing after this year and clear cap space for somebody else (presumably).
Miranda says
@Rusty: It’s as easy as the players at the trade deadline getting a shiny new present, it’s called an axe.
rr says
Howard and Pau are both out “indefinitely” according to ESPN. Tomorrow night’s starting frontline will probably be MWP, Jamison, and Sacre.
Kobe Tweeted this pic today:
https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/288389228960829442
Oskar says
Just saw this poster on kobe’s twitter.
https://mobile.twitter.com/kobebryant/status/288389228960829442/photo/1
I actually think the pic is very good news. If kobe and dwight can pose like that for a picture when everything is doom and gloom then I think they have a chance to get some real chemistry going. Maybe the whole team can bond from all the hopelessness and negative media reporting. Hoping!
Albert says
The events of this season has been such a roller coaster and the team play so terrible, it’s really all laughable.
On the bright side, I did find the Kobe/Dwight picture funny. Whether this season or the next one(s), Lakeshow will figure it out and win the championship. And this rough stretch will be so, so worth it. I can promise any fan that.
Formalhault says
Odom-Johnson WAIVED!
Archon says
The twitter pic is bad news IMO. The fact they had to go public with such a fabricated photo (D’Antoni smiling like they are in 1st place???) means that the locker room problems are legit.
BigCitySid says
Howard & Kobe beef is probably very legit, have you guys forgotten how everyone tried to downplay the Shaq-Kobe feud?