Pivot Points: The Lakers Continue Their Jekyll-and-Hyde Act on the Road

Halfway through an eight game road trip, the Los Angeles Lakers stand at 2-2 and each of the four games have left me wondering if the team might be afflicted with Multiple Personality Disorder.

Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers played superb defense but their offense failed them in a 93-87 loss. But in Madison Square Garden, their defense took the night off as their offense flourished in a 115-105 victory over the New York Knicks.

In Toronto, the defense once again failed to make their presence felt and the Lakers couldn't find enough offense to offset their collapse on the other end, and were again defeated 106-105.

If Los Angeles is searching for a true identity, then their victory over the Washington Wizards is the performance they should try to emulate, because it was their most complete game of the trip so far.

The defense wasn't as dominant as it was in Cleveland, but they were active and everyone played with a high level of energy and intensity, and they were able to maintain it for most of the game.

More encouraging was the play of Pau Gasol, who turned in his most consistent effort of the road trip with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and an energy which had been noticeably absent.

Gone was the tentative manner in which Gasol had seemed to approach situations; it was replaced by a more assertive version of Gasol who seemed more confident in his decisions and mental progressions.

Gasol was the best post player on the floor and that's one reason this road trip has been semi-disappointing, because he has the potential to be the best post player in the majority of the games the Lakers play.

Few are as skilled as Gasol and due to his knowledge, athleticism, and length, there are few players in the NBA that can match his play in the paint when he is steady and focused.

And consistent, because lately he has had the tendency to disappear at exactly the time the Lakers need him the most, and outside of Kobe Bryant, Gasol is the most essential piece to this Laker team.

Gasol alone is the only player on the roster capable of providing the necessary statistical support to complement Bryant, and the only player who has succeeded as a star outside of Bryant's umbrella.

Gasol is capable of putting up large numbers of points and rebounds and is a good enough passer to dictate the flow of the Laker offense from the paint, so consistency from him is critical to the team's success.

Every time Bryant takes the court, you are well aware you will see a display of maximum effort and maximum desire. But so far, Kobe has been the only Laker to approach each game in an identical manner.

The Lakers are such a talented team that when they play with a sustained intensity and desire on a nightly basis, their efforts will lead to numerous victories as they have one of the best collections of skilled players the league has to offer.

With a concentrated effort, that skill was on display against the Wizards. The Lakers effectively ended the game with a brilliant stretch, forcing several consecutive turnovers and blowing the game wide open.

That stretch was a reminder of why the Lakers are one of the best defensive teams in the league, although you wouldn't glean as much based on their wildly sporadic play on that end of the court.

Coach Phil Jackson recently said he expected the Lakers to finish their road trip with a 3-5 mark if they didn't improve their un-balanced play, but he sure wasn't talking about the version of the team that played Tuesday night.

That Laker team with Kobe at the helm and a dominant Gasol in the post is the team with the potential to repeat as NBA champions.

However, they must ditch their bipolar ways and discover the secrets of consistent, sustained effort.