Lakers Down For Now, But Far From Out

Uh-oh.  Time to push the panic button.  The Lakers have lost two in a row, on the road, to sub-.500 teams struggling to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

The sky must be falling, right?  Because the defending champions - who also happen to be the favorites again this year - just can't seem to get it together...

...in March, against mediocre teams, one of which - the Charlotte Bobcats - for whatever reason, has had the Lakers' number in recent years.

Okay, so maybe panic isn't yet widespread in Lakerland, but the worry warts are sure to reveal themselves sooner or later.  Such is, of course, to be expected when talking about a team like the Lakers which some thought, before the season started, would challenge the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' record for most wins in a season (72).

Unfortunately, the Lakers have "already" wracked up 17 losses, putting the record out of reach and equaling their loss total from all of last season.  So this Lakers team must really be underachieving, right?

To be fair, this year's edition of the Lake Show has had its problems with showing up ready to play on a consistent basis.  And to be fair again, so did last year's team, even during the playoffs (see 2nd round vs. the Houston Rockets). And so did all three of the championship teams from the early 2000s.

That's not to say that poor mid-season play is or should be acceptable, even to the fans.  I cringe when watching the Lakers play poor, uninspired basketball as much as the next person who bleeds purple and gold.

But even - and perhaps more importantly - in such times, one must not forget context.

By context, I mean that the Lakers have played into June each of the past two years, extending the team's cume of games played from just the 82 regular season match-ups per year into triple digits. 

That their top players have competed on the international stage, including Kobe and Pau matching up in the gold medal game at the Olympics in Beijing two years ago.

That their entire roster has endured a rash of injuries - from ankle sprains to dislocated fingers to torn knee ligaments.

Beyond fatigue and injury, the most important context to consider is that in which the Lakers themselves, as well as their fans, form their expectations.  When a team, led by the "Zenmaster" Phil Jackson, coming off a championship season adds a player of Ron Artest's caliber to the mix, one would expect nothing less than a championship follow-up.

And that is certainly what the Lakers expect of themselves.  And what they are focused on achieving.  And what they are still favored to achieve.

Sure, their recent play has been far less than what one would expect of a team vying for its second consecutive league title, especially with the competition from other top teams being as fierce as it has ever been.  Sure, there's reason for concern - injuries, lack of focus, a clear absence of effort and intensity.

However, now is not the time to push the panic button.  Not in early March.  Not when the Lakers have their eyes on the prize, staring hungrily at June on the calendar...even if that means overlooking the months in between.

So to Lakers fans and general observers, I say this: fear not cold streaks in the dead of winter, for cooler heads shall prevail in the summer heat of the Finals to bring another Larry O'Brien trophy to Los Angeles.

And if they don't, feel free to complain away.