“As a result, the Lakers are facing their most significant problem: Math.
Over the past three full NBA seasons, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference has averaged 48 wins. The Lakers, now 9-14 following Thursday’s 116-107 fraternity-style paddling at the hands of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, would have to go 39-20 to get there. That’s a .661 winning percentage, the equivalent of a 54-win pace over a full season. Doable — at least in theory — for the roster assembled in the offseason, except nobody has any real idea of when that team will actually take the court, and the current group has shown nothing but the ability to lose to any team on any night. Sure, the Lakers made a late push against the Knicks, just as they did last week in Oklahoma City. But spotting teams huge leads and hoping they get bored (or that the star player turns an ankle) before staging a comeback isn’t exactly sound strategy. ”
That’s from ESPN LA’s Rapid Reaction.
I would imagine that Gasol and Nash’s respective returns would help greatly in that process, but we literally have no idea when Steve Nash is getting back. We do know that they no viable option to run the point without Nash and this problem becomes exacerbated when Steve “$4m/year” Blake is injured. Darius Morris, as much as it pains me to say of a fellow Wolverine, is not the solution. Then again they could go get Bibby, he apparently is working out and on the look out for a job…
