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A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

Preview and Chat: Lakers vs. Magic

by


A funny thing happened last night. Not funny “ha ha ha”, but funny like I totally saw it coming but still got a bit perturbed by it. In words I have uttered to others multiple times, “that’s your fault” — but this time I was saying it to myself. Last night, against the Heat, the Lakers blew another double digit lead and lost to the Heat. Immediately after that loss, on social media, fans flooded my mentions telling me how terrible the Lakers are. Here, at my site, commenters did the same thing.

This frustrated me. It frustrated me because I think that’s short sighted. It frustrated me because I think the Lakers aren’t as bad as they come off by losing these games. But guess what, that’s my fault. It’s my fault because, let’s face it, I know how some of ya’ll are. Not how all of you are, but some of you. That vocal minority tends to talk loudest when things go poorly and then get silent when things go well. That’s their prerogative and their right. It also frustrates me. But, again, that’s my fault. I know these people exist. I should just let it slide.

What does this have to do with the game against the Magic? Well, not a lot. The Lakers look like a bad team right now. The Magic, as confusing as they are as a construct, are better than them right now. Their record is better and they just beat beat the same Heat team the Lakers blew that lead against. In other words, if the Lakers’ lose tonight I will not be surprised. After all, they will again be without Julius Randle who traveled back to Los Angeles to be with his fiance for the birth of their child. They will also be without Larry Nance. Tarik Black is doubtful to play. This is three-fourths of the team’s front court rotation and they are facing a Magic team whose strength is their front court.

Getting back to my earlier point, this is the context to the Lakers’ season right now. After a hot start and better than thought possible play, the Lakers have fallen back to earth. Part of that is injuries. Part of it is the league catching up to what the team was doing to be successful and then scheming to take those things away, and part of it is the players who are holdovers from previous seasons falling back on some of the bad habits which made them part of the worst teams in franchise history.

So, are the Lakers bad? I guess. But I don’t look at them like a “bad” team. I look at them as a team that is growing and building and trying to reverse some of those habits. These things take time. The way this team is constructed, where players in their 3rd, 2nd, and 1st seasons are being depended on to not just be key contributors but players who will at some point make the leap to become guys who can carry a franchise — carry them through injuries and poor play by teammates and coaching errors and still have them win games. That too takes time.

I can understand some fans don’t want to give the team this time. After years of losing and a hot start, they feel they’ve given enough time. I get it. I think that’s wrong. In fact, I know it is. But that’s not going to change those people’s minds, so whatever. What I will say, though, is that as time passes and this team gets better and the players develop and the coach improves, the product on the floor will start to produce the outcomes everyone wants.

That may not be tonight against the Magic or Sunday against the Clippers. But it’s coming. This I am pretty sure of. Enjoy the game tonight folks.

Where you can watch: 4pm start time on Spectrum Sportsnet.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LA2NC says

    Thanks for this. I’m in for the long haul. As you say, the team needs time to break bad habits and instill good ones.

  2. _ Robert _ says

    “But it’s coming. This I am pretty sure of.”        Well that makes two of us.    We have been at the bottom of the league for 4 years so to say that things will get better is a pretty safe bet.    Do we have a timeframe?  And how much better?   Without those – well then – I agree.
    “are being depended on to not just be key contributors but players who will at some point make the leap to become guys who can carry a franchise”    So if the Lakers are “depending” on them to be franchise cornerstones – is this a good situation? Are you predicting that more than one of our youngsters will be franchise carrying guys?    If so – do you care to elaborate?    Predicting that one of our guys would be franchise carrying would be bold, but multiple is beyond going out on a limb.   If you don’t think they will be this good, then I guess you share my concern   (and Luke’s by the way) – that the next franchise cornerstone is not on the roster  (he tweeted this recently).
    “I can understand some fans don’t want to give the team this time.”   I think most fans understand that this will take time.   The question is how much time and are we on the right track?   And do we have confidence in the leadership?    Some people do not want to give the new President time.   Does this make them unpatriotic?     So in the same – does questioning the Lakers moves make fans disloyal.   No in both cases.   Leadership needs to be questioned.    The team has had 3 bad years in a row and now we are going on 4.    Yes – there is “context” but that cuts both ways.   At what point do results matter?   5 years?    7 years?    Or will it still be “context”?
    “they feel they’ve given enough time. I get it. I think that’s wrong. In fact, I know it is.”   What exactly is wrong about it?   Because fans who are complaining are not loyal or are those with the optimistic sun glasses on, somehow more intellectual than those who don’t?   This argument has been going on for several years now and those on the pessimistic side have been a little more correct I would say.   So if you think it is “wrong”   then please define when the team will be good and when it will contend and why you think that way.
     If you are simply saying that the team will get better from this abyss.         Well then – we agree   –    We will be better.        In fact we are better  (well a little anyway).

  3. Pbz06 says

    As the great cowherd (slightly sarcastic) said, fan is short for fanatic. Emotional overreaction is what they do best.
    This is really Year 1 of the rebuild. It takes time. I hear friends over analyze every young player’s weaknesses like they are the final product already. It’s called development. Let’s see what they look like after year 3 and how their trajectory is going. Then we can start thinking who to really build around and how to match the timelines of free agent stars.
    Philly is like in year 12 of their rebuild. Minnesota is like year 6, and so on. We are already surpassing those teams and almost on accident.
    Lakers won 17 games last year and were almost unwatchable in most of them. I understand the 10-10 start has skewed expectations and now fans are being more critical of the recent losses. They are showing progress and are still fun to watch.
    Check out seattle/okc their first couple of years. Check out the Warriors too and all the bust labels thrown around. Kyrie only recently turned the corner.
    I think they have something special brewing and already have a couple gems growing in DAR and Ingram who are both untouchable right now.

  4. KevTheBold says

    Darius: “That vocal minority tends to talk loudest when things go poorly and then get silent when things go well.”
    Perfectly succinct, and imo, if a person won’t comment during the good games, then their comments during the bad ones are not to be taken seriously.

  5. Joel_ says

    Meanwhile, in Orlando…

    This Magic team has some serious shot-blocking. Everything is getting sent back. Might need to throw in a pump-fake or two.

  7. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    Can someone please answer what a realistic timeline should be??? 4, 5, 6 years of development? 3.5 years of this rebuild with a 4th year missing the playoffs takes its toll on everyone. Standard high draft evaluation is by their 3rd year you have an idea of individual and team potential. 3 Franchises have made runs to the finals thru the draft in this era: Spurs, Thunder, and Warriors. All had multiple superstars (Duncan, Curry, Durant, Westbrook) and even allstars that exceeded draft expectations (Khawi, Harden, Draymond,Ibaka). How many of our “youngsters” have this potential? Point is, build and wait, is not the Lakers style, and takes a ton of luck. The build through the draft fans are in for a rude awakening when the FO gets their first real trade partner.

  9. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    The spurs, thunder, and even the warriors are all franchise allowed to exercise patience through the draft and then getting lucky in the trade market. Thoroughout LAs history this is not the case and probly never will be. Some of these youngsters will be used to facilitate a trade, which ones, that’s anybody’s guess.

  11. MT87 says

    _ Robert _ I think results vs context is a false dichotomy.  The results always matter and the results must always be placed in context.  I don’t think anybody here has a problem with criticism given that it is rational, evidence-based criticism.  If this team is as bad in five years as it is today I don’t think anybody will argue about success.  On the other hand if someone looks at this team today and says it isn’t a success because it doesn’t have a sure-fire franchise player, I can’t help but think that is unreasonable and short-sighted.  The team is well set up to grow its own assets so that it can make moves in the future.  
    Will the Lakers be a championship contender in three years?  I have no clue and neither does anyone else.  The Clippers became a championship contender overnight when they acquired Chris Paul.  This Lakers team could make the same jump vie internal growth and a savvy trade and be a contender two or three years from now.  It is also possible that they trade all of their assets for a franchise player and flounder for five years like the Knicks did when the acquired Carmelo.  Right now it is enough for me to see development.  I trust Mitch to pull off the move that nobody ever saw coming when the time is right.

  12. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    How so? Clarkson year 3, Randle year 2ish, DAR/Nance year 2, Ingram year 1. Losing seasons 3.5 yrs. You and I know the front office is not walking around saying “it’s only year one of the rebuild we’re doing fine.”

  14. Joel_ says

    KermitWashingtonKilla To be honest the front office can’t afford to think that way, because it’s their fault the rebuild took so long to start.

  15. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    @kevthebold I was born a laker fan in 1985 and attended my first game at 3yr old during the 88 finals. Don’t try to “discredit” my knowledge and fandom. Just because I’m not a keyboard warrior ever post doesn’t mean I’m not a diehard fan. Every single Lakers championship run was facilitated by a key trade, bottom line. Yes I’m enjoying our process but some fans don’t all see through rose colored glasses.

  16. MT87 says

    KermitWashingtonKilla Trades take two partners and nobody is parting with all-stars right now.  Regardless of if we have a franchise player on this team, the best way to acquire more talent is to develop the talent we have now to make the team attractive for free agents and trades for the next handful of seasons until the right deal is available.  In theory we could also go back to tanking but then we are at the mercy of the ping-pong balls which is a mighty risky plan.  I think talking about the timeline without talking about what we want to accomplish is setting ourselves up for failure.  I don’t think there is a timeline for when we get back to championship contention because the reigning superteams are going to have to age or break up before there is room for anyone else.

  18. _ Robert _ says

    Kermit: The standard answer is 5 years.   It was 5 years when Phil left.  Then it was 5 years when DH left.   5 years when Dwight left.   5 years when Kobe retired.   and it is 5 years now.   Next year it will still be five years off.   It is a rolling 5 years.

  20. _ Robert _ says

    KevTheBold   He held it up yes – fact.   But he was here because 2 people signed their name on a contract extension  (while he was hurt).

    And I am saying that as a guy who followed KB around the country  (and I said so back before it was signed)

  21. MT87 says

    _ Robert _ KevTheBold Would you rather Kobe finished his career elsewhere?  I think I would have rather he leave than give him that massive contract, but the outcry would have been ferocious.  It was bad for the basketball to sign Kobe, but it was still probably best for the business imo.

  22. Pbz06 says

    KermitWashingtonKilla

    There’s multiple ways to build a team, and the good ones use all avenues including the Lakers 😉
    Blanket statements like “Lakers have always done it this way” doesn’t mean anything (not accurate either).

  23. _ Robert _ says

    MT87 _ Robert _ KevTheBold 
    Yes – and we have discussed this many times.   There is merit to what you say – however to give the FO  a full pass for what has happened since the spring of 2013 is not reasonable

  27. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    Regular Trades: Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Horry, LO, Ariza, Gasol, Howard, Nash
    Draft Trades: (also) Bryon scott, Mychael Thompson
    Straight Picks: Cooper, Fisher, Bynum, Walton, current core

  28. new rr says

    Moving this over from the other thread: 

    Like I have said many times: the defenses of the FO are the Veto, selling the stealth tank narrative, and disempowering the Lakers’ decision-makers, which means that five years after it happened, the Veto is still the best defense there is. 
    As to what the FO’s actual issues have been and are, I (and others) have covered that many times as well. Re-litigating is certainly fine if people want to do that, but there is not going to be an agreement. The FO will be an issue again when Jeanie Buss and the other Busses want it to be.

    Looking ahead, the keys are: 
    1. Whether the FO/Walton will try to cash in Williams/Young, thereby giving more reps to Clarkson, Ingram, and Russell and perhaps adding minor assets. With the team at 11-21, that option should be on the table. 
    2. Whether Walton can get the team up into the low 20s or even mid-20s in DRTG. 
    3. Whether the presence of four guys 30 or over in the rotation is in fact helping the young guys develop, and if so, how that can be measured/observed.
    4. Whether trying to win a few extra games with the four guys over 30 is in the organization’s long-term interest. 

    As to the big picture, it hasn’t changed: none of the young guys looks like a franchise cornerstone, but the Lakers are not in a position to trade for a star for many reasons, so the best thing to do is stay the course. The question is what the best way to do that is. If it were me, I would be looking to get something for either Young or Williams and would also be seeing if anyone has any interest in Deng and Mozgov. But the FO and Luke may not see it that way.

  29. KevTheBold says

    _ Robert _ 
    True, but allowing a group of kids to develop under a new coach before we pass judgement, doesn’t take a crystal ball, only patience, to see what will be.
    As of now, we really don’t know.

  30. _ Robert _ says

    MT87 _ Robert _ KevTheBold  they did not have to do the Sessions trade or the Hill trade  (we gave 1st round picks for those guys) we did not have to let Pau leave for nothing, we did not need to sign Mosgov and Deng to 4 year deals  etc etc

  31. MT87 says

    _ Robert _ MT87 KevTheBold I just don’t find it particularly insightful to note that the Lakers don’t need to do anything.

  32. _ Robert _ says

    KevTheBold _ Robert _  As you know – I like Luke. I am not as high on DAR as you – but I like Ingram.  They are not franshise guys though.    We need new leadership.    In the FO.   Luke is goo for the long term – but he needs a roster

  34. _ Robert _ says

    MT: I play poker – so I know about gambling and bad luck.  At some point it is not luck and u need to realize that you are not making the right moves.

    And with regard to insightful  -I thought we were being civilized  :  )  

    But since you brought it up:      Have faith is not insightful.   In Mitch we trust is not.    Patience is not insightful.    And we will be better    (at some point)   is not insightful.     and I reads that all the time here.

  36. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    @pbz06 I hear yeah I hate blanket generalization statements like every other person. I’m racking my brain to think of a finals caliber Laker team of all that didn’t arrive there without facilitating some sort of trade. Only the thunder and spurs have done it recently with all drafted and developed talent.

  37. new rr says

    Pbz06

    The Lakers are, at present, ahead of Philadelphia and Minnesota in the standings, although if the team keeps playing like this, that will change. But Minnesota has Towns. LaVine, and Wiggins, Philadelphia has Embiid and Simmons, and as Kupchak himself said, Lou Williams has been the Lakers MVP, and that is before you get to the cap space issue with Deng and Mozgov. So whether the Lakers are actually ahead of these teams in terms of building a contending roster is debatable.

  38. _ Robert _ says

    new rr   “would be looking to get something for either Young or Williams and would also be seeing if anyone has any interest in Deng and Mozgov”

    Yea – over the summer I said that about Young and Williams all summer. And with regard to Deng and Mosgov:   So did signing them up for 4 years make them more valuable assets?   Oh yea rr – I forgot u correctly panned these deals when they were made so I guess what u mean is that these deals were horrible so let’s salvage them on Ebay.

  39. MT87 says

    _ Robert _ I don’t think any of those things were meant to be insightful.
    As far as gambling is concerned, surely we can agree that sometimes you make all the wrong moves and still win, and sometimes you make all the right moves and still lose.  I’m not particularly interested in FO drama, I have no particular attachment to Jim Buss, I just want to have an honest, evidence-based discussion about if a given move was the right move.  I want to talk about opportunity cost and complicated market dynamics because I think there is more depth in that discussion.

  40. _ Robert _ says

    Sorry everyone – Ken’s return to the board has reminded me that the Lakers were once a proud,  dominant franchise. I will try to forget that fact and appreciate the small nuances like how the team keeps their heads up (sometimes) no matter what is happening on the floor.

    Ken – I missed you but I miss the old Lakers more.    And man do I miss Kobe.    I knew he was the only thing holding it together for me.

  41. KevTheBold says

    KermitWashingtonKilla 
    Arm chair warrior? Rose colored glasses? 
    You think you know me? 
    Ok

    I’m not trying to discredit your knowledge, your posts speak for themselves. As for your fandom, I never saw you before, so I can’t speak to that either.

    As to your statements.

    Neither Jerry West’s lakers, nor the Showtime lakers were facilitated by a key trade. 
    For example: The lakers already had Kareem for 3 years and he was 32 when they drafted Magic, then later Worthy. So the facilitation was a Draft, not a trade. 
    The only trades worthy of your assertions were Shaq and Gasol.
    Which is only a short part of Laker history, so please don’t push that false narrative about the Lakers always pursuing and landing stars, because the vast majority of our stars were home grown.

  42. KermitWashingtonKilla says

    If we stay with this OKC thunder draft and develop approach, are we paying everyone Jordan Clarkson money when their rookie deal expires? Randall, Russell, Nance Junior, and later Ingram will all need to be paid. Someone has to get James HardenEd right? Like the Lakers have done in the past, trade some assets via the loaded 2017 NBA draft, Since we keep striking out in the summer and it’s worked before.

  44. KevTheBold says

    KermitWashingtonKilla 
    I will give you Wilt, I seem to forget him, as he was on Jerry West’s team, was usually injured and had a low 13 to 14ppg during seasons. Yes they one one ring however.
    As for the role players,.. that’s for another thread. 
    As for Nash and Howard,.. please,..

  46. KenNewport says

    That in a nutshell Robert is and was a precise example of basketball suicide that set this team back 7 years. Changing coaches 4 times won’t change reality. Lakers front office has become Sac Kings. Blind leading the stupid.

  47. KenNewport says

    Wow showing progress. Are you Laker media. 1-12 Dec. Expect max 2-15. Now 3-17 last 20. Most loss in NBA now. 28th defense. 29th points in paint, 27th block shots. Only team 1-9. They were 10 and 10. Since 1 and 12. That is clearly known as regression. Every player on team worse but Young and Randle. This was a exciting fun team that is now terrible on defense and playground ball on offense. Sorry that is not progress.

  48. A Horse With No Name says

    Dude, really? You were mute during the pre-injury success, and now with the team missing key contributors and Russell struggling with his knee as the losses mount, you come out of hiding and lift your leg to pee with the other jackals. Sweet.

  49. LordMo says

    KevTheBold

    The kid is going to be a player. Just needs time and reps. He will prolly be back in the D League but who knows “Big Z” might seize the opportunity and force his way onto the roster sooner rather later.

  50. LordMo says

    Correct Philadelphia has Simmons on ice and might walk away with 2 more picks in the draft. Heck with Noel wanting out they might get 3. I’m sure they will get a real coach after this draft. Boston has 2 picks also and they are already better than us. We have got to get younger and better through the Draft. There will be no trades @MT87 is right I doubt anyone will. Teams have been envious of the Lakers for years. And we know the troubles we are having luring FA’s with Jimbo around…. Sooooo it’s the Draft thats all we got period!