NBA Playoffs 2011: Are the L.A. Lakers Sick of Playing Basketball?

It's a strange question. How can professional athletes that are paid millions of dollars and doing what they love most be sick of playing basketball?

There is an easy answer to this strange question: human nature.

Everybody reading this right now has experienced a moment in their life where they wanted to escape routines. That's why we go on vacations. That's why we take breaks. That's why after creating the universe even God took a day off.

It's well documented that the Lakers have played more basketball games than any other team since the beginning of the 2007-08 season.

Wait a minute. Just stop and think about that for a second. What were you doing with your life in October 2007?

Now think about what you are doing with your life right now.

Two things happened. Either you realized that a lot has changed in your life or that you are stuck in the same routine. Chances are if you are stuck in the same routine, you might be sick of your job or whatever you may be doing. It's just human nature. When we do the same things for a long time we want a break from it, no matter how much we enjoy it.

Nobody can eat their favorite food every single day. And most of us haven't gone to work for every single day in the last four years. We just get tired and need a break. Unless someone is very motivated, which the Lakers haven't been all season, people get sick of routines.

Getting back on track, we have seen the Lakers routinely play 82 regular season games for four straight seasons along with eight preseason games per season. Finally, they've played deep into June with 21 playoff games in 2008, 23 in 2009 and 23 more in 2010. Add world tournaments for Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom (three huge members of the team) and we have ourselves a very exhausted team mentally, physically and emotionally.

The Lakers might just be very sick of playing basketball.

Waking up every morning, going to practice, playing games, dealing with the media, traveling to the same cities, not seeing family and pretty much getting short summer breaks for three consecutive offseasons.

But how can a team that's sick of playing basketball finish second in the West?

Exactly. Why did they finish second? They should've finished first!

The Lakers are a more talented team than San Antonio. They could and should have finished with the best record in the Western Conference. They did not. They struggled mightily this season especially with long losing streaks.

The long losing streaks are the No. 1 evidence that the Lakers are exhausted. These long losing streaks exemplified the Lakers desire for a break. The Lakers are able to win games based on just talent alone. When they win games and things are going well, the apathy and desire for a break die down.

It's just like that in life. If a student is doing well in his classes, even if he is desperately waiting for summer vacation, he gets solace in knowing his grades are solid and he continues to work hard. However, when the Lakers would fall into ruts, the losses would pile up. Similarly, an unmotivated student who is also getting bad grades will continue to get bad grades.

The Lakers were the unmotivated student with good grades after the All-Star break when they went on a tear. But once a few losses hit they've been the unmotivated student with bad grades since then.

Is it too crazy to think that Lamar Odom wakes up some mornings and just does not feel like going to work? Is it too crazy to think that Ron Artest would rather be at a beach sometimes?

Compare the Miami Heat with the Lakers for a second. The Heat are a team that's been criticized and bashed from day one of their formation in July. They have the most polarizing figure in the league who is desperately trying to prove his critics wrong and win a title. Plus, they have meshed well together and are playing well.

The Lakers have won two straight titles. They have a coach and star who have nothing left to prove. That same star has had his finger taped for the last two years and is definitely not healthy at all. And they're a team who has been playing basketball without being eliminated since training camp of 2007. You tell me which team's members wakes up focused to go to the arena and dominate?

Last night should have been one of those games where Kobe Bryant took over when the Mavericks were making their push and put the game out of reach. Is Kobe done? No. Just look at all the different body parts that are taped up.

As for Pau Gasol's softness, is it really too crazy to think that the LA media and fans have just drained him emotionally? Is it too crazy to think that he, like Kobe, is also drained physically? Couple these two scenarios together and you get 13 points and 7 rebounds in the postseason. Pau is still in his prime and everyone knows he can do that based on his regular season performances and recent postseason performances.

Can the Lakers get out of this rut?

Of course. They're one of the few teams that can. They have a lot of positives to take in from Game 3 plus they get Ron Artest back. Also, Phil Jackson should look into putting Luke Walton in the game so he can help move the ball around. His presence has always helped the Lakers spread the ball well and should help the offense.

Most importantly, it depends on the Lakers. Sure they might be banged up physically, but when a team is playing on adrenaline and passion none of that matters.

The Lakers need some more introspection and need to find a few successes in their game. Game 4 is a good start One success can lead to another and that can lead to motivation and a desire to win again. However, if they lose, it could be a good thing in the long run. A rested Laker team could actually do more damage next year with a motivated, fresh face as head coach.