I have been trying to identify the problem with the Lakers this season. With the recent story regarding the Cavs players only meeting, it finally dawned on me why we're having such an atrocious season and also why free agents have not been coming to LA.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14690965/cleveland-cavaliers-finding-success-holding-players-only-meeting
Look, I grew up with Kobe as my favorite player. However, it has become glaringly apparent that Kobe does not have the ability to be a scorer, play maker, and elite defender.
Yet, Kobe still wants to bear the torch and be the alpha dog and star of the team. He is of the mindset that someone must take the torch, rather than for him to pass it.
What is the blue print for aging gracefully and lessening one's load? Look no further than Tim Duncan. It starts with Duncan allowing the Spurs to change from a rigid defensive team with him as the primary focus on offense to an uptempo team that can go to Duncan when a possession calls for a post up (can anyone say playoffs?). This has allowed for a lighter load and fresher legs for deep playoff runs even at the twilight of his career.
Again, Kobe is as competitive as Duncan, but he's not as team-oriented as Duncan (Kobe cares who gets the credit and needs to be the focus of the team. This is OK when your body allows you to produce, but is detrimental when Father Time wins the 20 year war.
Kobe did not choose this option.
In 2011, Phil Jackson said, "he didn't want to coach Kobe when he stopped being Kobe."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110513
Jackson surmised that, Kobe won't ever defer and will age terribly. If you wonder why the Lakers have had consecutive losing seasons, it all starts with one word, ACCOUNTABILITY.
If a coach is going to allow Kobe to abandon an offense, shoot at will, make ill-advised risky passes and play lackadaisical defense, then how can he ask players to play within an offense, stop iso-ball, decrease turnovers, and play hard fundamental defense?
I'm sure free agents look at the Lakers and realize that its the Kobe Show and rather than try to correct the problem of accountability, they would much rather go to a winning situation where players can develop chemistry and win immediately. Why would you take less money, try to change Kobe and have to defend yourself for playing on a putrid team.
These last 5 seasons have been very hard to watch, but like many have said, it's retribution for 5 championships and 20 years of watching one of the greatest to ever play.
Before we can move forward as a franchise, lets celebrate Kobe's last 2 1/2 months and hope that Coach Scott doesn't crush what remaining confidence our young core of the future still possesses.
