Lakers Shmakers

I think yesterday's game, which culminated in a Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Phoenix Suns in overtime with a final score of 126-118, highlighted every Laker problem imaginable.

First, the players: Kobe as usual was his own one man team at times though he did pass a lot and had quite a few assists, but the fact that 50 points was not enough just goes to prove that the entire rest of the team is slacking off. Old legs. With Odom, for example, he does have some good plays but he failed to convert some important points. And as for everyone else, they come in spurts - flare up for a moment and die down for two.

Second, the strategy: I have come to the conclusion that every Laker is stupid. During the last play of regulation, the Lakers were up by three and the Suns had one chance to convert, and to prevent that the Lakers simply had to cover the arc or foul a Sun. But in their stupidity they left the arc wide open, and this cost them the game - that one case of stupidity. And it was all due to the fact that a Sun was able to rebound Nash's missed three-pointer and hand the ball off to Thomas, who scored the shot that tied the teams into overtime. THE LAKERS CANNOT REBOUND!

Usually, I would expect that when a Laker is shooting free throws, some other Laker would try to rebound a missed second attempt. I did not see that at all last night. And whenever a Laker attempted a field goal, rarely did a teammate try to get the rebound. Three went backcourt immediately while two waited for the ball to come to their immediate area. If I were Coach Jackson I would have ended my contract with the Lakers right there. Old legs, and no brains.