Lakers good team, but not as great as projected

If anything a four-game road test should be a preparation test for the Lakers, starting off dicey doesn’t prepare them for their upcoming test on Christmas Day, when they meet the Boston Celtics in a rematch after last season’s failures. What we’re experiencing is another potential letdown and potentially an unpredictable season of concerns.

Though, the Lakers weren’t expected to make a run to the NBA finals last season, where they were crushed and humiliated by the Celtics, they were much more exciting to watch unlike this season, entering with lots of expectations.

The Lakers didn’t have expectations last season, shocking the world to make a final's appearance, after everyone assumed that they were still young and rebuilding into a contender.

Well, the Lakers are expected to contend for the West and potentially for the championship in June. But, watching the Lakers deficiencies in their performance, rewrites the script. The Lakers are good, but not as great as we projected.

The Lakers won four straight games, but that streak was snapped at Miami. The NBA’s Most Valuable Players nominee Dwyane Wade outplayed the Lakers, posting 35 points in a shootout against Kobe Bryant, who scored 28 points, missing a shot that could have tied the game and extended a dramatic contest to overtime in an 89-87 loss on Friday.

As the final seconds dwindled down, Bryant attempted a 12-foot jumper that rattled out, giving the Lakers their third road loss in five road games. It’s bad enough they couldn’t beat Sacramento before running into another obstacle course at Miami.

The Lakers lost to a team that has a lower winning percentage than them and if they expect to contend against powerhouse teams such as the Celtics, they will have to improve a lot of blemishes in their discontent play of late. It’s hard to believe the Lakers own the best record in the West at 21-4 and it’s hard to credit them for such a winning record, after barely winning against inferior opponents or escaping with a decisive rally.

The absurdity and lackadaisicalness continues to ravage the Lakers performance, after committing 21 turnovers and missing nine-of-19 free throws. When the Lakers play Boston for a Holiday showdown, they can’t make errant turnovers or miss at the charity strike. What ever the Celtics give, the Lakers will have to take advantage of their freebies, that’s if any are giving out.

However, the Lakers aren’t physically or mentally prepared to play Boston, watching Kevin Garnett the other night against Atlanta was a prime example of how devoted the Celtics are as a unit to win a back-to-back. And watching the Lakers lose to Miami was a prime example that the Lakers can’t match the intensity level of Boston’s Big Three.

Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Hawks on Wednesday night, leading the Celtics to their 16th straight victory, a streak that extended to 17 after the Celtics dismantled Chicago at home on Friday.

If the Lakers have trouble stopping everyone else driving the lines, it will not be an easy assignment stopping KG and Paul Pierce driving into the line. The Lakers are unbalance defensively and no player has played consistent or physical. The Lakers ranked first in the league offensively but on the opposite end of the floor their percentage is overwhelming ranking 15th defensively.

Sure, the Lakers aren’t the team everybody projected. Everyone figured they were going to enter the season as the toughest defensively, after having a season of experience. Everyone figured they would have what it takes to win a championship. And everyone figured that Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchack have put together the best version of the Lakers this season.

After losing to opponents they should have pulverized with no problem, their opponents have pulverized them. Losing to the Kings was the biggest upset of the season, but losing to the Heat was even larger.

Wade leads the NBA in averaging 30-point games, averaging his 11th 30-point game of the season. His performance was desperately needed if the Heat wanted any shot at beating the Lakers. And Wade came through helping the Heat snap their three-game losing streak.

The Lakers didn’t want to start off their most pivotal road trip losing. Instead it would have been nice winning over the Heat to build confidence and momentum for the rest of the road trip before taking on the Celtics. The road trip is a good way for the Lakers to prepare for the biggest game.

Certainly, the Lakers needs lots of improvement before winning the championship. But dust far, Boston is the team to stop in the NBA as the Lakers are still stopable, despite one of their best runs in many yeaars.