What Might Have Been


Heading into this NBA season, people were skeptical of the chances of the Los Angeles Lakers being good. There were questions about the health of Steve Nash, and no one knew when Kobe Bryant would be back in the lineup. In fact, the pre-season pundits guessed the Lakers would finish no better than 12th in the Western Conference.

Bryant publicly questioned that prediction. He said he was making great progress, would be back early in the season, and believed in the roster. Kobe didn't take long to come back, and he wasn't back long before he got injured again. On Wednesday they declared him out for the rest of the season.

Nash, too, hasn't been a factor. He's never really recovered from the injuries that plagued him last year, and he's struggled to string together a half dozen games at any stretch in his two years with the Lakers. In fact, the picture above — of Kobe, Nash and Pau Gasol playing together for the Lakers — feels more like a pipe dream than a reality. Kobe won't be back until next season, Nash may never really come back, and Gasol is set for free agency.

Gasol has played this year under duress. He's played with a lack of talent, and received a lack of respect from coach Mike D'Antoni. In fact, it's clear D'Antoni is the wrong coach for the Lakers, and he'll likely be gone at the end of the season, too.

The Lakers are 22-42 right now, and that 12th place prediction seems too optimistic. In fact, it's the worst season the Lakers have had in Los Angeles, and it's a true crater of a season that most Lakers fans never expected to see. But it's here, and the question is how to move forward.

The Lakers will get a high pick during a draft that will be full of good young talent. With the contracts coming off the board, the team can make a play for a big star to play alongside Kobe and/or Nash next season, providing either of them can make a go of it. In short, the future could still be bright for the Lakers.

But you can't help but feel that this has been a lost two seasons for Los Angeles. Looking at that picture, you can't help but wonder what might have been.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more