Fading dreams in Laker land


"When something like this happens, everybody wants to know why and there's not always a reason why. If you look at our season, it's been a nightmare." longtime Lakers' trainer Gary Vitti

Heading into tonight's penultimate game of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are 43-37. There are a lot of teams that would be happy to have that record after 80 games and be on the cusp of the NBA playoffs. The Lakers aren't one of those franchises.

After a couple years of disappointments in the post-season, the Lakers went and traded for point guard Steve Nash and center Dwight Howard. Pairing those two all stars with guard Kobe Bryant, forward Pau Gasol, and forward Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) was supposed to make the Lakers unbeatable on the court.

It hasn't.

In fact, by all accounts, the team has played better when one or more of those five was out injured — which has been frequently. The under performing Lakers survived an Achillies injury by Gasol early in the season, Nash's broken leg and various injuries, a knee injury to World Peace, and a torn labrum for Howard.

Through it all, Bryant has been the rock of the team. Bryant leads the team, averaging 27.3 points per game. He's also modified his game, at times, to be everything the Lakers' needed to try and right the ship. His will and competitiveness has the team holding a tenuous one-game lead over the Utah Jazz for the final playoff slot in the Western Conference with just two games to play.

But now that's over. On Friday night Bryant ruptured his Achillies, requiring surgery that will have him out 6-9 months. That means he's done for this season, whether the Lakers rally or not, and could miss a part of next year. That's daunting for the Lakers and their future.

This is an older core of players. With Howard becoming a free agent once the season ends, it remains to be seen if this team can even be kept intact. And even if all five of the stars remain, and even if Bryant returns to All-Star form, the window to win is slimming.

This was supposed to be a triumphant season for the Lakers. They were supposed to be favorites to win the Western Conference. Instead, they're vying for the last slot in the playoffs, a near certain first round defeat, all while Bryant — the face of the Lakers for a decade and a half — is in a cast.

It's a lost year, and the window might be closing.

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