Lakers News: Biggest Obstacles Standing in the Way of 2013 NBA Title

It has been quite a change of scenery in Lakerland the past couple of months.

The Lakers exited the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on a grim note and their expectations for improvement coming into the next season were minute at best.

I can still remember the scoffs of every Lakers' hater who laughably pointed at their lack of financial flexibility and the prehistoric age of its roster.

I can still hear the mocking and the sneers:

The Lakers are done. Los Angeles is through.

At least, that's how it was supposed to be; that is how it certainly looked.

Where are the haters and critics now?

With one signing and another potential blockbuster trade on the horizon, Mitch Kupchak and company have metamorphosed critics' laughs to Los Angeles' hope, and changed the doomsayers' scoffs into championship promise.

Who is laughing now?

The additions of Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison and the re-signing of Jordan Hill have put the Lakers' enemies back on edge, and the NBA has once again taken notice.

While the future certainly looks bright in comparison to its once bleak nature only a couple of months ago, there are still some obstacles that could conceivably get in the way of Kobe's sixth Larry O'Brien trophy, Los Angeles pride and Antonio Villaraigosa's summer parade.

Let's take a dive into some of the hurdles in Los Angeles' way. It may be a complication at the moment, but there is always a solution to every problem (except in the case of slide six).

On the bright side, this article would have contained 100 slides two months ago, but Lakers' management has dwindled the obstacles down to six.

Without speculating on what may happen, here are the obstacles the team currently faces.

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1. Lack of Perimeter Shooting

Last season was an atrocity when it came to the Lakers' inability to knock down the perimeter shot.

With a team that features two elite big men in Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, perimeter shooting was and still is vital to this team's success.

Because of different players' jump-shot miscues, Bynum and Gasol often found themselves having to work inside a traffic-heavy paint. Double-teams on the Lakers' big men were frequent and often successful.

The offense sputtered and turnovers became rampant.

Maybe, the lane just got too crowded for Andrew Bynum's taste, as evidenced by his decision to take a breather from the paint to see if he could knock one in from long range. (See picture above)

That, of course, didn't go over too well with coach Mike Brown.

It was no coincidence that last year featured an embarrassing Lakers record of 13 consecutive games without scoring at least 100 points.

And, yes, much of this problem can be contributed to other areas besides outside shooting, but we will get to that later.

With Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison now in the fold, the Lakers' dismal 25th-place finish in overall team three-point percentage should take a hike for the better.

It is also being reported the Lakers' are interested in long-range guards, such as Jodie Meeks and Brandon Rush.

If the Lakers are to have any chance at an NBA championship, one thing is for certain: They need to fine tune the very thing that mutilated their hopes last year.

2. Coach Mike Brown

Los Angeles was forced into change when Phil Jackson stepped down as head coach.

There was certainly a sting to watching the man who orchestrated five Lakers championships walk away.

But, hope for continuity remained, as Brian Shaw was considered the heavy favorite to replace Jackson and was even endorsed by Kobe Bryant.

Not so fast.

In a blur of surprising events, Mike Brown was the chosen successor to Phil Jackson, creating an atmosphere of surprise and disappointment in Los Angeles.

While last year's outcome certainly garnered mixed opinions, the choices and direction placed in the season-long journey was questionable at best.

Yes, Andrew Bynum flourished and became an all-star for the first time under Brown's direction, but at what expense was this made to happen?

Pau Gasol, a key ingredient in the Lakers 2008-2010 championship run, was banished to being the third option behind Kobe Bryant and Bynum. The results became a disaster because Andrew brought his 'A' game only half of the time and Gasol disappeared altogether.

Friction between the players and coach became prevalent as Metta World Peace and Brown took jabs at each other through the media.

Andrew Bynum lost all respect for Brown at one point, as he refused to join team huddles because he was "getting his zen on" as he later explained it. After being benched for his shocking three-point attempt, Bynum later said he would 'continue to launch open three-pointers'.

And, there were even reports that the team had grown distraught with their new coach's offensive sets and wanted to resort back to Phil Jackson's triangle offense during games.

As a matter of fact, Brown's offense was so horrific, the Lakers were at one point averaging the franchise's lowest per-game point total (94) since before the advent of the 24-second shot clock in 1954-55.

Yikes.

For a coach who prides himself and his team on defense and toughness, the Lakers only finished 15th in overall defense. That's not very impressive by any stretch of the imagination, especially for the Lakers who feature two seven-foot towers in Gasol and Bynum.

Coach Brown acted very cautiously to avoid any run-ins with the captain and face of the franchise, Kobe Bryant. The result was problematic at times.

While Kobe has been brilliant throughout his career, we often witnessed Bryant doing too much last season. A lot of it can be attributed to the ball being in his hands with three seconds on the shot clock (blame that on Mike Brown's offensive schematics), but Kobe was also guilty of attempting to take over games while forgetting about the team.

This happened far too often and was due to Coach Brown's inability to tell Bryant when enough was enough.

The biggest concern going forward is how Steve Nash will be integrated into the Lakers' lineup. While his playmaking and scoring should infuse and propel the Lakers to new heights this coming season, last year showed that Mike Brown simply does not have what it takes to manage an NBA offense.

Will he continue to bend over to Kobe Bryant's offensive flurries, or will Nash be allowed to dictate the flow and pace of each game?

For now, we can only speculate on what we could expect from the Lakers' coach this upcoming year. But, it is solely up to him whether the offense (and defense) is utilized properly.

If the Lakers have not lived up to expectations come February's NBA trade deadline, there is an easy solution to this complicated enigma: Jerry Sloan.

3. Age and the Injury Bug

While the injury gods were relatively friendly to the Lakers last season, there is no escaping the inevitable: old age.

The average age of Los Angeles' starting unit and top two reserves is 32.7 years old. This pales in comparison to their biggest rival, the Oklahoma City Thunder whose average age is only 26.4. 

No, I did not just name the Thunder's youngest player. I stated the team's average age. That's just scary if you ask me, but what can the Lakers do about it?

After last season's early playoff exit, many expected the Lakers to make a groundbreaking trade which would have broken up the starting core and infused youth back into the team's roster.

But instead, the Lakers have acquired 38-year-old Steve Nash and 36-year-old Antawn Jamison—not exactly what Lakers' fans originally had in mind.

With these two pivotal decisions, the Lakers brass made it clear they have no intentions of surrendering the next few years to build an eventual contending team. They want to win, and they want to win now.

Kupchak is setting the team up for the short and long haul in brilliant fashion. 

Steve Nash was signed to a three-year deal that will come off the books the year after Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant's current contracts expire.

If you want to talk about going all-in, Lakers' management has put full faith in Nash's 38-year-old body. Now, anything short of an NBA championship would be a disappointment.

But, is this newly acquired talent going to excel in the NBA playoffs against the likes of the Thunder or Miami Heat?

Personally, I do not believe that this team, as currently constructed, has enough gas to go all the way into June.

They will be considerably better than last season, but they have yet to add a much needed reliable and young bench player...or two.

With Jodie Meeks, Leandro Barbosa and Brandon Rush all on the Lakers' radar, any combination of this group plus Dwight Howard would be the perfect recipe blend for a championship come June.

The Lakers would feature a veteran savvy core with a defensive anchor in Howard and fresh legs to replace the weary.

What an addition to Kupchak's already-storied resume this would bring. You could compare it with the privilege of screaming "bingo" to a million-dollar jackpot prize.

On another note, should Andrew Bynum remain with the Lakers despite the seemingly increased likelihood Howard will take his place, the Lakers' championship hopes would squarely rest on Bynum's shaky knees.

Last season, Andrew managed to play the whole season injury-free (one missed game due to illness). Because of this, his trade value is at an all-time high. If in fact he remains a Laker, you can bet Los Angeles will keep its fingers and toes crossed in the hopes that last year was not a fluke for Bynum's injury-prone career.

The injury bug bites, and when Andrew Bynum is involved, it usually bites hard.

Likewise, with Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant, Mike Brown will have to be spot-on in managing their minutes as the mileage and grind of an NBA season can heavily take its toll.

Dwight Howard and a group of younger players are absolutely essential to Lakers glory.

4. Ego

Since the days of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles has been full of basketball players with egos so big, not even a Pacific Ocean tidal wave could consume them.

Kobe Bryant is considered the ultimate alpha male.

After Derek Fisher was traded last season, Bryant would later reflect on how Fisher's calming voice was vital to the locker room because of his own personal motivating techniques and strong personality.

And, when Steve Nash came gift wrapped a month ago, Kobe explained how Nash would complement his leadership style perfectly.

When it comes to Kobe, the current Lakers' players have already acclimated themselves to Bryant's competitive and alpha-male nature.

But, how will Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison fit in? Because they both come from backgrounds of being their respective team's primary leader, how will they respond to Bryant's antics and competitive personality?

Of course, there is also Andrew Bynum. Last season, he elevated his game to elite levels, so now one has to wonder how long he will be OK with playing second fiddle to Kobe.

The fact that he has listed the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets as possible destinations in free agency shows that he wants a role to showcase his talents.

Also, what about Pau Gasol?

He made it publicly known that he was tired of being the team's third option. How will Bynum respond if Gasol maintains this stance and furthermore, what will Gasol do should he become the team's fourth option behind Steve Nash?

Will Bynum and Gasol's expectations and personal aspirations finally come to a boiling point when Kobe refuses to relinquish his stance?

Subtract Bynum from the equation and throw in Dwight Howard and the end result is even more cloudy and mysterious than the current predicament the Lakers sit in.

Here is the bottom line: This upcoming Lakers team must be serious about winning. Personal accolades and milestones must become a thing of the past in order for this current team to successfully coexist.

If these players can gaze into Staples Center's rafters to envision a championship banner instead of their own retired jersey, this team should walk away unscathed and more than OK. 

5. Uncertainty Is in the Air

Trade rumors have been viciously rampant ever since the offseason came into focus, and they are dying down anytime soon.

Last season was turbulent for Pau Gasol, to say the least. He was a Laker before the season, a Houston Rocket for a few hours and then he was a Laker again—all thanks to Chris Paul.

Unfortunately, even though Pau handled the situation as professionally he could, the thought of him being traded by the very team he won two championships for stung him.

He became the poster boy for trade rumors last season. One day it was Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola, another day it was Josh Smith and Marvin Williams.

Up until last year's trade deadline, the rumors grew louder and shook Gasol with despair.

Kobe Bryant saw what his teammate was going through and finally decided that enough was enough.

"

"It's just tough for a player to give his all when you don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow. I'd rather them not trade him at all. If they're going to do something, I wish they would just (expletive) do it. If they're not going to do it, come out and say you're not going to do it. This way he can be comfortable, he can go out, he can play and he can invest all of himself into the game."

"

Gasol was taken aback by Bryant's stance, but the damage had already taken its toll.

He was a non-factor during the playoffs and upon the Lakers' early exit, trade rumors began to swirl once again.

Dwight Howard's availability doesn't help matters either, especially when the Lakers are trying to acquire him.

They have already agreed to a one-year contract with Devin Ebanks, but have not officially signed him, due to restrictions in the new CBA, should they need to package him in a deal that would land Howard.

Andrew Bynum, Jim Buss' prized asset whom he once dubbed "untouchable" has suddenly taken Gasol's place in the mix of everyday trade rumors. So far, rumors have him landing in Houston, Orlando or Cleveland.

One has to wonder what kind of toll this is taking on a 24-year-old kid who has already endured incredible criticism for his inconsistencies and attitude problems.

If Pau could barely handle it, how much can Andrew handle?

If Andrew is taking the rumors well, does that mean he has no desire to be a Laker?

And, if so, how would that affect the Lakers' championship pursuit this season?

The rest of the team (Kobe Bryant excluded) has also been involved in trade rumors. 

It was reported that the Lakers' management had told a player he would be traded at any moment during a period in which Dwight Howard rumors had gained considerable steam.

Steve Blake, Josh McRoberts, Devin Ebanks and Metta World Peace have all been mentioned as possible candidates in the Howard sweepstakes.

Speaking of World Peace, he went on ESPNLA 710 radio last week and asked Ric Bucher if he had been amnestied yet. He was unaware that the deadline to be amnestied had already passed, but this goes to show how trade possibilities and roster knock-offs can affect a player's psyche.

You can expect the Lakers' to be performing at their best level after these trade rumors cease and the Dwight Howard saga is finally resolved.

It's hard to live life when you always have to look over your shoulder. In the same way, it is hard to play a basketball game when your mind is worried about other things.

"If I miss this shot, will they trade me?"

Confidence can be destroyed when one has to play with this sort of burden, and it is obvious that every player on the Lakers' roster will have to play under these circumstances should the "Dwightmare" drag on into the season.

The quicker these trade rumors die, a better chance the Lakers have of mentally preparing themselves to play championship level basketball by season's end.

6. December 21, 2012 and the Mayan Calendar

If December 21, 2012 comes and goes without a zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion, then the Lakers will have overcome another obstacle in their NBA championship quest.

This one should be their most daunting task yet.

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