After Monday’s loss to the Suns, I’m not sure many are feeling very good about where the Lakers stand right now. Two consecutive blowout losses will do that. As will a slip of the tongue from the head coach talking about fans and which team they should root for. Combine it all with the injuries and the reality that the team simply isn’t very good right now and what you have is a sour taste in the mouths of many fans.
While I fully understand that feeling (I’m not immune from feeling about down about the position of this team today), I also take a step back and realize that not all is awful with this team nor with their prospects. The context to Mike D’Antoni’s quote to the press was whether or he is discouraged about this team. His comment to the fans aside, he noted that he has a group of players who are good guys, who play hard, and have played well this year. He expects them to play well again, so why would he be discouraged? While some of this is coach speak, it’s also pretty much true.
The Lakers are filled with good guys. They do play hard and put in the necessary work to be their best. The fact that they’re not the most talented (and that they’ve had some injury bad luck) hasn’t discouraged them from going out and competing as best they can. Sometimes the results aren’t good and that can lead to frustrations by anyone and everyone who is associated with or roots for this team. Sometimes, though, the results are surprisingly great and it inspires some positive thoughts about the state of the team and their prospects for the future.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) December 19, 2013
Kobe tweeted that referencing the broken bone in his knee, but it might as well have been about the state of his team right now. No, they don’t look good; they do look broken. But my guess is that they’re going to continue to go out and play their hardest and try to win games; they are not yet beaten. What results will come we don’t yet know, but I do know we’ll all be there watching and hoping for the best.
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On a somewhat similar note, as we told you earlier, our friends at Draftstreet have another fantasy game they’re making available to you. This game isn’t free — it’s $11 to enter — but will pay out $100K in prize money, including $25K to the winner. You can learn more about the game and enter right here. So while the Lakers are taking on the Heat, you can keep tabs on the team you create is doing. If you’re the top performer, you may get a some extra cash in your stocking.
Happy Holidays, everyone. Hope you all enjoy your day.
KenOak says
Just a side note to a select few on this forum. If Kobe Bryant had said what D’Antoni did about Lakers fans…WHEW! A handful of us here would be calling for his ungrateful head on a platter. To be clear- I don’t really think that it was that bad of a comment and I am certainly not a big fan of MDA.
*edit* Farmar has been cleared to play!!
Jame Wilson says
First I have been a BIG Lakers fan since I was a kid. I hate to hear that the Lakers lost to the Suns, with the talent the Lakers have on their squad. Its also very disappointing to hear that Kobe Bryant is out of the lineup for the second time this season. But on a good note, I am happy that Farmer is back on the court for the Lakers.
Warren Wee Lim says
Happy Holidays to one and all!