Both the loss in the season opener against the Houston Rockets, and last night’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, are sobering realities of the mountain this Lakers franchise needs to climb to get back on top.
Just one game into the season, and their promising hopeful rookie, Julius Randle, their highest draft pick in years, goes down for what is going to be a season ending injury. This, after the news last week that Steve Nash would be sidelined the entire season, and this coming off three straight years of brutal injuries, free agent acquisition misfires and front office turmoil.
As Randle was helped onto a stretcher by his teammates, his teeth grinding with pain, his eyes welled up, his hand clutched tightly onto Kobe Bryant’s, this much seemed very clear: For the Lakers, this is still not their time.
You could read this on the shocked and devastated faces of the fans on the sidelines. Just one game into the season, and already hope has been replaced by reality.
Not all is lost.
For the game against Houston, let’s give credit where credit is due. The Lakers ran into an unexpectedly strong opponent in the Rockets, who are coming into the season with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove, with veteran leaders in James Harden and Dwight Howard, and the emerging Trevor Ariza, refusing to be denied on opening night. The Lakers, on the other hand, were already missing their theoretical #2 player, Nick Young, sidelined for at least another month with his injury, as well as solid backups, Ryan Kelly, and Wayne Ellington. Thus, the Lakers were forced to play extended minutes for their rookies, learning alongside the veterans a new offense and a new coaching style by Byron Scott. It wasn’t really a fair gauge of the potential of the Lakers, and it’s still just one game in the season.
Phoenix was a more down to earth opponent, a first good matchup for the season. The Lakers showed they were either still emotionally reeling from the loss of Randall, or they simply are not NBA ready. From the looks of things, it appears to be more of the latter.
In spite of the injury to Randle, there are some disturbing trends by the Lakers, and now is a good time to call them out before this thing gets too out of hand.
For all of Byron Scott’s talk of being defensive-minded and tough, the Lakers were anything but that in their first two games. Aside from Kobe Bryant, they wanted no part of matching the intensity, physicality and aggressiveness of either NBA team.
If I was Byron Scott, I would replay the “Inside the NBA” TNT commentary by Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal after the loss to the Rockets in front of the entire team. These three were just absolutely ripping on the Lakers, laughing at them, making fun of them. It was embarrassing. This is the perception the league will have if the Lakers choose not to take a stand.
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I’m the most disappointed by the play of starting center, Jordan Hill. Signed to a massive contract in the off-season, where is Hill exerting his dominance as their only big man on the court? He is nowhere to be found. I don’t expect Hill to go one on one against Dwight Howard, who has a size and strength advantage. It’s more in the attitude, the aggressiveness, the fire, the tenacity, the chip on the shoulder. None of these are present with Hill, now in his 3rd season with the Lakers.
Earning $18 million over two years, dammit, at least harass Howard and foul out.
Bryant took an elbow to the face while guarding Howard himself and still called him “soft.” If I was Bryant, back in the locker room, I’d say to Hill, “And you know something, you’re soft as well.”
Jeremy Lin has been a shocking no-show after two games, especially considering his dismissal by the Rockets in the off-season, the fact that he has now been rewarded with the starting point guard job and an opportunity to prove himself in the league once again. Has the defense against Lin really been that extreme? Aside from a few drives, I don’t see any aggressiveness on his part for scoring nor do I see much of his trademark creativity on offense. Lin needs to step it up big time.
Carlos Boozer reminds us once again of his bark being louder than his bite with two uninspired mediocre performances. He is one of the only veterans on this team with the strength to stand up to a tough opponent. He needs to exert himself way more than he showed last night. Enough with the trademark lazy Boozer fadeaway bricks. Drive to the bucket, get a foul, play with purpose. Show us you can be a solid addition to this squad.
And Wesley Johnson needs to get it together. If he is going to be a starter, he needs to act like it. He needs to get tough. He needs to not simply float through a game. He needs to insert his presence.
That’s a common denominator across the board for these starters. Each one of them needs to feel a need to put their stamp on the game each and every night. Each one of them need to take a stand. For all the talk of Kobe Bryant’s salary, he’s the only one out there earning his paycheck. These players are making way too much money to be lacking drive and determination. They need to get their heads in the game.
I like the play of Ed Davis, and can easily see him move into the starting lineup ahead of Boozer. I also like rookie guard, Jordan Clarkson. He clearly hasn’t prepared for the physicality and fast play of the NBA, but he has the skills, and the chip on the shoulder, so I’m hoping he can earn some good minutes and show the league what he’s all about.
Nice to see Xavier Henry back, but if he’s going to be in there, he needs to finish, not miss multiple layups.
For head coach Byron Scott, welcome to the Lakers. You have your work cut out for you. Get in there and be tough with these guys, call them out when their effort is lackluster. Jordan Hill’s play is a joke. Call him out on it.
For Lakers management, if these players don’t want to be out there fighting in every game, get rid of them. It’s time for you to be the bosses. When an employee isn’t putting forth effort in the work place, you let them know they are on notice.
In the meantime, is there any way we can cryogenically freeze Kobe Bryant until we can surround him with true NBA players? He’s the only one playing his damn heart out. He’s the only one competing and he’s the oldest player out there.
There’s no throwing in the towel after just two games.
But these are tests of pride.
Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin. Are you Lakers, or aren’t you?
To reclaim their identity and earn their respect, it’s time to stop looking for excuses and blaming it all on injuries.
It’s time to take a stand.