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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Lakers Players Meeting Imminent?

You know a team has hit rock bottom when they have a players-only meeting. Not just the captains and stars discussing what is wrong with the team, but an entire roster meeting that takes place behind close doors with no coaches or management whatsoever; also it would be well-documented on ESPN. I'm surprised that the Lakers haven't called a players-only meeting, especially with insightful leaders like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Pau Gasol. They cannot get worse, at 17-24, and some already think they are going to miss they playoffs. Though they still can sneak in with struggling Rockets and Jazz teams, their remaining schedule is tougher than the first half of the season has been for them and they haven't show signs of much improvement on the court. Dwight Howard seems ready for free agency and his personality clash with Kobe Bryant significantly hurts the Lakers chances of resigning him. Bryant, on the other hand, is arguably doing too much on the offensive side but having a career year nonetheless. He tries to force his will on every game and his confidence does not shake when his shots aren't falling. Steve Nash and Pau Gasol are recently back from injury, haven't built that chemistry Nash needs, and Gasol has recently been coming off the bench. Maybe bring Mike D'Antoni into the meeting and tell him to start preaching defense and work Gasol back into the starting line up. Or better yet just fire him too and let Kobe coach so we can watch him throw up eighty field goal attempts. Nash needs to get this team together - he knows the offensive style better than anyone, Gasol/Dwight pick-and-rolls would be unstoppable with Nash - and as the point guard of a fast-paced team it's kind of his job. I think the Lakers will will themselves into the playoffs, but they don't have time to keep changing rotations every game and on top of everything have to woo Howard to stay in Los Angeles. Doesn't something about the Lakers struggling just make you smile?

Update: Lakers had a team meeting before shootaround today including mike D'Antoni, who addressed the players unnecessary comments to the media about the offense and told them to focus more on defense. Kobe asked Howard if he likes playing with him, and a few other players expressed their frustrations as well. Did I call it or did I call it? Almost to a tee.

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