Los Angeles Lakers: 12 Reasons Why Kobe Bryant and Co. Won't Reach 72 Wins
Los Angeles Lakers and their quick start are the topic of my latest article.
The Lakers may have dropped two in a row, but they are still on pace to do some exciting things this season. I am a Lakers fan. But I am of the realistic variety. This start has some of my more blinded comrades declaring that the Lakers of 2010-2011 could do something that has only been done once before.
Here is why they will not.
10. They Already Have Two Losses
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Now, I am not saying that the Lakers can't go on multiple double digit winning streaks. It is just that having two losses this early in the season greatly diminishes your ability to attain 72 wins.
If the Lakers maintain this pace and lose two games every 10 tries, they will already have 12 losses when they get their 60th win. The best they could do after that is 70 wins. The math is already a bit shaky.
9. Parity
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The NBA is a tough league. Every night you have a tough opponent or an opponent that is playing you tough because you are the world champs.
The Lakers have to face the Celtics twice, the Heat twice, the Magic, the Hawks and a plethora of other East powers twice. There are more than enough chances for them to drop games. That is what happens in the NBA—good teams lose games. They have since the dawn of time.
Now I haven't even discussed the Western Conference. Every team in it drools at the chance of taking the Lakers down a rung. You can bet Los Angeles drops a couple to the Nuggets and Portland as they do every year.
8. Marathon
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The NBA season is a marathon. It is much more like a major league baseball season than it is an NFL one.
Every game does matter, just not to the extent that the NFL must suffer through. There are times of momentum shifts, road trips, injury plagued weeks, etc. In other words, there is time to grow as a cohesive unit. The best way to do that is to win and lose as a team. There is a lot to gain from losing on the second leg of a back-to-back road trip. You find out what your strengths and weaknesses are.
7. Andrew Bynum
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The Lakers may be out to a strong start, but they are missing one of their core pieces. Andrew Bynum is still sidelined from knee surgery. His return will not be as smooth as it may seem.
You can't just plunk a starter into the mix and call it a day. There will be repercussions. Lamar Odom and his fast start to the season will be relegated back to the bench. It remains to be seen what that does to his production. Also, newcomers Steve Blake and Matt Barnes will have to fill different roles on varying minutes due to the big man's return.
6. Phil Jackson
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The last thing in the world Phil Jackson would want is for his group of players to attempt the unthinkable. As I stated earlier, it is a long season. Phil Jackson is a master at pacing his team throughout the year so they can peak at the right time.
We NBA fans know that the postseason takes eons to finish. You don't want to tire out your personnel.
5. Aging Stars
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This brings me to my next point. The Lakers are star studded, I know. But what they also have is tired legs. Both Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant have logged more minutes than they care to count. Every second they get on the bench is a blessing.
To have both of the Lakers captains ready for the playoffs, you need to monitor their minutes. That is what Phil Jackson has already done with Fish and is attempting to do with Bryant.
4. Kobe Bryant
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Kobe Bryant has become wise in his old age. I say that with tongue firmly placed in cheek, but there is some truth to it.
He no longer craves the personal accolades that he did in his younger playing days. The only thing he wants now is the one thing that matters most—rings. Kobe Bryant is a collector of rings. He understands chasing a record like 72 wins would deter that.
3. It Is Unnecessary
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Winning 72 games is one of those records that just happens as fate unfolds. Rest assured, the Lakers are not trying to win every game in order to win 72. The number itself is meaningless.
The Lakers, like any team, are trying to get better with each game. It is cliche but true. Athletes really do take it game-by-game.
2. Injuries
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We have already seen the Lakers at a limited capacity as they are playing without their true center. But the fact is most NBA teams play that way. Throughout the season, every NBA team will suffer injuries. Whether it is to a backup guard or a starting center, it happens.
You can believe that the Lakers will have their fair share of untimely injuries.
1. It's Only Been Done Once
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Every year, NBA fans clamor to a team that has the ability to put together a magical season. I think it is time to temper expectations. We thought the Heat could do it as quickly as this year. Then the Lakers got off to a hot start. I know it is only a matter of time before we hear about the Hornets chances of doing the impossible.
Seventy-two wins is a record that will last for many years. It has only happened once, and I can thank a higher being that I was alive to see it. But it is a very difficult task to complete. It could quite possibly drain the team that does it.
I for one, would be quite glad for this talk to end here. My Lakers are just fine not winning 72 games. Now 70 games, let's talk about it.
