A tale of two Lakers

Have you ever seen someone start to trip with so much momentum, the poor person couldn't help but continue taking steps, falling and stumbling forward until finally face-planting on the ground?

I think that's what's happening to the Los Angeles Lakers right now.

I mean, come on. Kobe's on a fare-well tour of the country, smiling, waving and tossing out signed sneakers like Tootsie Rolls at a parade; meanwhile, the Lakers are having a slightly horrendous season. The team just matched their worst loss in franchise history and the players are running around all willy-nilly, wreaking havoc on the city. Some acquired "sexual assault" accusations while others are busy breaking up teammates' relationships and to cap it all off, the entire team has begun shunning a very certain rookie.

So... yeah. I'd say things have certainly been on a downward spiral the past few years and there's only a chance this is rock bottom.

Now, I grew up very much not a Lakers fan. I never liked Kobe's cockiness and I still don't understand how people can grow to be Shaq's size - but I respect talent. Seeing such a powerful dynasty dominate the league for so many years was selfishly frustrating but nonetheless inspiring. With the direction of coaches like Phil Jackson and the aid of key players like Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Magic and Kobe, the Lakers built a dynasty with an undeniable legacy of playing top-notch basketball.

What do you say when throwing a crumpled paper in the trash from 15 ft. out? "Kobe!"

And you say it for a reason.

The Lakers didn't just have a few good players, they've got packs of them. The Lakers didn't just win games, they've got more rings than needed to fill two hands and a foot. It almost makes you forget there's another basketball team in LA.

All that said, to see an organization go through struggles is expected regardless of who it is. Retirements, injuries, drafts and trades are all part of what shuffle up the NBA cards every now and then, but to see this empire go from mediocre, to bad, to WTF - it's just doesn't seem right.

This Lakers team now has a very different texture than those in past and it's slightly painful. Kobe has instigated more than his fair share of shenanigans over the decades, but his priorities always rested in dominating his craft, winning championships and stockpiling awards.

If these current struggles were just on the court then I could make my peace with the situation and chalk it up to just a team chemistry dry-spell, but it's so much more than that and it's becoming disrespectful to the reputation the Lakers have built. They've gone from champs to chumps and with the one shocking exception of recently beating the Warriors (lol), this team has been almost laughably dysfunctional. Not as bad as the 76ers... but with 59 losses so far, being second to worst is still pretty bad.

---

Now for the off-court issues.

Earlier this month Jordan Clarkson and Nick Young stopped at an LA intersection where they are accused of making inappropriate sexual gestures in the direction of a female-empowerment activist and her mother. The harassment was disrespectful, wrong and a weak representation of the Lakers organization.

Team focus? Gone.

Nick Young once again made headlines earlier this week after he was secretly taped bragging about recently cheating on his fiancé in the club with a teenage girl. Who secretly taped the confession? His rookie teammate, D'Angelo Russell.

Nobody really knows why the tape was made or how it was leaked but we do know that now D'Angelo is being shunned by his own teammates. Reportedly, it's a full-team exile and nobody will speak with or sit by the outcast, who likely will not be trusted with much from here on out.

Team chemistry? Long gone.

And then there's Kobe - who, might I add, I'm liking more and more as he eases into retirement. He isn't the same flashy, cocky, holier-than-thou Kobe we've traditionally been annoyed by. The injuries and impending retirement have reminded him that he actually is a human - not a God.

It's still Kobe at the core and he's still vocal about who and what he dislikes, which lately have been his teammates... as usual. But he's shaking hands and kissing babies on his way out the door and it sure is a sweet sight for Lakers fans' sore eyes.

But still, I can't help but feel bad for the man. It's the finale of a sparkling 20-year career jam-packed with accolades and titles and instead of peacefully going out in style as one of the greatest to ever touch a basketball, he's forced to suffer through 48-point losses and watch his childish teammates play grab-ass all season long. Instead of reliving his glory days, he's forced to answer questions about the last few playoff-less years and give his thoughts on passing the torch to this new immature generation - which, he said, doesn't deserve it.

And he's right. Kobe had his share of hiccups, namely the rape accusation, but even throughout that incident his focus was always on basketball and it's likely why he's so great. Yes, he similarly exposed Shaq's relationships and fought with a variety of teammates to the point of getting them traded away; but his motivation is relentlessly proving doubters wrong, his heart is tied to the court and his work ethic is ridiculous.

Basketball used to be about physicality and a dedication to the game. Kids like Allen Iverson saw basketball as a way to develop a life off the streets, the Detroit Bad Boys played physical because their passion was that strong and Scottie Pippen happily embraced the side-kick role for the good of his team.

These new guys? No comparison. It's all about the ego and fame and even on their best day, the potential wouldn't touch that of vintage athletes and this makes it seem like basketball has become their bill-paying hobby, not a passion or lifestyle.

Maybe that's what separates the O.G.s from the rest, though. Yeah, Kobe had an 81-point game, collected five championship titles and averaged 27 points per game as a 35-year-old. Yes, he's irritating and obnoxious but he also continued to play in a game after tearing an Achilles, sank buzzer beater after buzzer beater and won multiple MVP awards.

But he's only done so by having an undying love and dedication to the sport of basketball.

Which is something I don't think this Lakers squad is even capable of having. Kobe's an accomplished veteran but the rest of the team is a hodge-podge mess of nameless talents, a grown man named Swaggy P and a loud-mouthed rookie.

Nobody takes the Lakers seriously. 10 years ago would you have thought I'd be saying this? Probably not - and that's a testament to how far this organization has fallen.

Clearly D'Angelo Russell is a slight moron and Swaggy P could use a bit of character development - but it's the organization's leadership and staff that have allowed this to happen. D'Angelo is a child. A talented child who was suddenly handed millions of dollars, pressure and fame. Nick Young calls himself Swaggy P like it's a good thing. It's all inexcusable but it would be foolish not to expect mistakes from these people.

Yet, here we are because the Lakers movers and shakers up above have made the bogus trades allowing for serious players to easily flee the coop, they have hired coaches that don't fit the mold and they have made a mockery of this once untouchable empire.

Basketball is changing. I'm not sure we will ever see another Black Mamba, Shaquille O'Neal or Wilt Chamberlain but that's okay, they're considered great because they're one of a kind.

I'm just wondering who has the focus, dedication, pride, devotion, heart, skill and desire to be the next legend. Who will inspire the young hoopers of this generation?

My bets aren't currently on a Lakers player.

#LALakers #LA #Lakers #mensbasketball #basketball #bball #NBA #hoops #KobeBryant #blackmamba #mamba #shaq #philjackson #glorydays #nbatitle #nbachampionship #dangelorussell #swaggyp #nickyoung #oldlakers #newlakers #scandal