[Lefty Noob]

L.A. got their 4th in in 5 games yesterday by beating the Spurs 100-92. Kobe scores 29, Luke Walton grabs 10 boards off the bench, and all of a sudden this team is 33-30. Is it all starting to come together for the Lakers, or is this all just smoke and mirrors?

[wvuauthor]

Good question. Maybe Phil figured something out over the all-star break, or like you said maybe its just luck. Let's take a look at them over the next five. That will tell us a bit more.

[Wizard of Os]

O Lefty,

It's so hard to tell. When i saw the result -- Lakers 100, San Antonio 92 in Texas, no less -- i was pumped. But you always have to think with this infruriating club. One night, they look like quarterfinalists, the rest of the time they resemble, as one writer put it, "Kobe and four guys from the Y." This assessment is a tad harsh, as it seems a Laker win doesn't happen without Odom's classic near-triple double (in this game, it was 13-8-9).

Good to see Luke W. get ten boards. I have high hopes for the young 'un...

It's hilarious: ESPN led the story with the Spurs arriving at the airport at 3:30am, and essentially attributed the win to travel woes.

The Spurs, however, have got to be worried about their standing at No. 2 in the West. Finishing behind Dallas means not only the no. 2 berth, but the No. 5 berth in the Conference.

Yikes. Gotta beat L.A., San Antonio...

[wvuauthor]

...But if San Antonio finishes at #5 in the West I feel bad for the team that has to match up with them in the first and second rounds.

They are always solid come play off time.

[desertrat]

The Lakers are the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde of the NBA. You never know what team is going to show up.

[Lefty Noob]

The Lakers are the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde of the NBA.

Beat San Antonio and lose to Seattle? Yep, Jeckyl-Hyde pretty much sums it up.

[wvuauthor]

This perplexes me to no end. How is this possible? Is there a chance that Phil is having a hard time motivating these guys? It seems like they just don't show up some nights.

[pete_b]

I think the Lakers are kind of going through what the Bulls went through when Jordan retired. How do we win a title without Shaq on the team. Yes Phil and Kobe have excellent playoff and championship experience but without Shaq its too much for them to bear the burden themselves. In the NBA you need two franchise players these days.

[Wizard of Os]

Cheers all!

You know, Pete B, i've thought this recently:

Originally Posted by pete_b

In the NBA you need two franchise players these days.

Now isn't "two franchise players" a contradiction? Clearly, "franchise player" is a misnomer most of the time. Except, of course, in Kobe's case.

You're probably dead on about what will be heretofore known as the Reinsdorf Phenomenon, but it's so brutally painful to watch the dissolution of a great squad. Particularly if you're a fan.

[Wizard of Os]

See, everyone? You see how frustrating it is to be a Laker guy this year?

On Thursday, it's San Antonio cruising to a 96-85 win after a 35-point third quarter, Bowen & Co. shutting down Kobe, the team in general looking flat, and more calm acceptance in Tinseltown that LA can't play with the big boys.

On Friday, Kobe puts up 43, Kwame gets thirteen boards, both he and Odom bag triple doubles and the purple-and-gold demolish Seattle with a 54-37 second half and a final score of 106-93. Hope resprings eternal.

Argh, this team...