The Bobcats seemed to be the defending champions, and the Lakers the expansion team, as Charlotte blew Los Angeles out of Time-Warner Arena in a game that wasn't as close as the final 15 point margin would suggest.
Faced with the prospects of a Sunday afternoon game in Orlando, and the very real chance that they will lose three consecutive games for the first time this season, a gut-check may be in order for the Lakers.
Issues abound: Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol were once again dominated by a smaller front line, the combination of D.J. Augustin and Raymond Felton constantly abused Laker defenders, and Kobe Bryant had no offensive help whatsoever.
The trio of Gasol, Ron Artest, and Bynum shot a combined 8-32 from the field and the shorter Charlotte team equaled the rebound numbers of the Lakers with 41.
Los Angeles was listless, un-inspired, and looked as if they would rather be anywhere else than a basketball court, which raises some serious concerns about the future of the team going forward.
We have seen these Lakers before, and common perception says the indifferent attitude will disappear once the postseason starts, but by then it may be too late.
The Cleveland Cavalier faithful have been telling the world their team is different this year, and the Los Angeles faithful should take a long, hard look at their team and realize the same is true.
The NBA is much improved this year. The Lakers are behind their pace of 2009, and are not nearly as good on the road as they were a season ago. My 70 win prediction for the team seems extremely silly in hindsight.
Los Angeles will do well to reach the 60 win mark, and they would be crazy to think the...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
