The Lakers Have Critical Problems: I Have Constructive Solutions.

When I'm at home watching my mighty Lakers squander ten point leads, miss defensive assignments, play passive in crucial moments of the game the first thought comes to my mind is lack of motivation.

Why is that the Lakers are a better team when they are losing in a ball game then when they have the lead? Why does it have to come to the Lakers almost getting evicted from the playoffs last year by the Rockets to finally start playing with a sense of urgency?

Why did it take for Kobe to go down with an injury this year for the rest of the Lakers to start earning their salaries? The answer lies simply put " The Lakers are not motivated" and motivation is the coaches job.

Also regardless of what offensive or defensive schemes they are running, when the Lakers are down they go to what works. Sometimes unfortunately its too late.

The quality I love about Phil Jackson so much is his loyalty to his team his love for his players, ironically thats the same thing that drives me nuts.

Stevie Wonder could tell you that Derek Fisher should be coming off the bench, and I bet Ray Charles would co-sign that statement if he was still among us God bless his soul.

Another problem that is so blatant that one has to wonder is Phil sleeping through most of the games is that Bynum and Gasol don't play well together. My suggestion is that Phil alternates the bulk of the playing time between the two, with the player better that game being the beneficary of the minutes.

With Pau Gasol starting against the smaller front lines around the league since the more passive of the two. Another adjustment I would make is running the triangle through Pau when its him and Kobe and running the pick and roll when its Kobe and Bynum since Bynum has yet to learn how to pass out of the post.

 Farmar and Brown must be reminded not to shoot any jumpshots unless they are WIDE OPEN, there job is to push the tempo and attack the basket nothing else. It also would not hurt to post up Artest more often he has a corner jumper but he is way more effective closer to the rim.

Odom we are fully well of all your capabilites but with the Lakers you are more effective attacking the basket not creating for others your passes have been awry as of late.

 As crazy as this might sound I recommend playing Mbenga against some of the more scrappy frontlines in the NBA, he has a big solid body and when he plays he always competes on the defensive end.

Derek Fisher has made many big shots in his days but he is more effective attacking the basket, even if he misses a lay up the possibility of the Lakers getting a put back is greater then the bricks he has been throwing up the last 3 years.

 Last but not least Phil we know you are the Zen Master. We know you live vicariously through yourself. We know your cooler than the Fonze and John Travolta combined.

However every now and then you have to sacrifice the cool. I think the vast majority of Lakers fans would like you to show more passion during the game then afterwards at the press conference.

Also I would like to see Phil take more responsiblites for his actions, we all know players win games coaches lose them.

Kobe has been the scape goat far to long, and quite frankly it has gotten very old.

If the Lakers can win as a team, they should be just as capable of losing as one, I prefer the former alot more might I add.