It seems like those years and times for the purple and gold are eons away. They (the Lakers), now, seem firmly rooted in TEAM TANK
Many jokes have been made and many different memes of either Mike D'Antoni, Byron Scott, Mitch or Jim (Buss) driving an actual tank over the past several seasons.
I am not so sure the Lakers are losing "deliberately" or not but they have definitely lacked effort AND have failed badly (see huge OKC losses).
Here are the Western Conference Standings currently:
This makes me want to vomit. Not because "my team" is last in the Western Conference and en route to yet another record setting type of season in the worst way, but because I believed this:
"I don't see why we don't contend for a playoff spot," Kupchak said, "but our young players have to grow beyond their years, and we have to stay healthy."
_Mitch Kupchak July 2015
I don't see WHY either Mitch.
Personally, I see an easy five games that SHOULD be in the win column which puts the Lakers currently in the hunt for the 8 seed:
Game One v Minnesota: The Lakers had control for three quarters and then watched the T'Wolves comeback and win during the fourth
They were in Games 3 and 4 Versus the Mavs and Nuggets and then got a dub vs the Nets.
They had the game against the Knicks but lost by 4
Remember game 8 against the Magic? Yeh, I want to forget THAT one too. A buzzer beater by Nikola Vucevic sealed the Lakers fate that day..
You can go through the schedule yourself and see that since THEN they have been IN, and have had chances to win games. But, they have not, including another 1-point loss to the Wolves and close games recently versus the Kings and OKC.
THEY ARE BETTER THAN WHAT THEIR RECORD INDICATES
So...What gives?
The Lakers get Lucky with a win against the Pelicans on January 12, 2016 but did so WITHOUT Pels star forward Anothony Davis. Davis played the NEXT night and had 24 points and 10 rebounds in a WIN against Sacramento (109-97).
Hmmmmm....
BUT... when I see the Lakers FIRMLY planted at the bottom of the Western Conference and FIRMLY believe they are better than that; I have to then conclude that they ARE tanking with purpose.
This NBA game has QUICKLY passed Roy Hibbert by and Roy has NO BUSINESS starting and playing 25 mins per contest on a TEAM that can go SMALL(er) with the likes of NANCE, BASS, and even Metta or Tarik Black. YET, "WE" continue to see Roy Hibbert run out there on a daily basis.
It sucks.
It sucks to feel like the Lakers resolved themselves to the fact that they WOULD NOT be vying for spot 8 or even higher in this year's Western Conference and are steadfastly working their record the opposite direction in hope to land themselves some Simmons.
Good LUCK with THAT!
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| FIRE (in the hole) Mitches |
This game is in "the tank," The pin is pulled, the grenade is warming and the lid is closed.
BOOM
