Lakers Analysis

Buss 
Jim Buss comes off as a guy who's looking to impress someone. His dad gave him the team so he for now on believes he has to make all the decisions and his game plan has to be the only game plan. His pride is a major roadblock for the team. His issues might stem from problems with his siblings or an unresolved conflict he had with his dad but regardless if the Lakers are ever going to regain their glory they need an owner who's only motive is making this team great.

Fans and Media
Most of us fans have no knowledge of basketball past scoring and fouls. Media just make stuff up to make headlines and get paid. Most of them learn about the game on the job. We influence the game more than we think though. The players and front office actually watch shows and listen to other fans. All the american players were raised with the media and so their personal views of the game have been influenced since their childhood.

Don't believe me? Go volunteer at your local elementary school or go grab a ball and head to the park. Listen to how the youth talk about the game. It's going to sound a lot like many of the ESPN analyst. Very few of the youth have original thought when it comes to the game of basketball. As the youth grow and some make the league these views come with them to the NBA. Which explains why some players don't want to play for the Lakers. Who would want to play for a team that has such negative coverage. In the same light it would be comparable to working at McDonalds. Although it's clearly Americans guilty pleasure no one wants to be caught wearing the arches.

We live in a society where we celebrate and glorify instant gratification. In the case of the Lakers their fans have been spoiled by sixteen championship banners that hang in the Staples Center. Many of the younger fans grew up with Kobe and Shaq on the Lakers. Championships became synonymous with Los Angeles. Even as the glory years of the three peat came and have since left it wasn't long at all for the Lakers to get annoyed with not winning and made the trade for Gasol which lead to two more championships.

Analyst, fans, spectators and even haters expect the Lakers to be a winning team. This has created a pill too hard to swallow. A line up that includes Price, Sacre and Ellington has only frustrated the frustrated. Although the Lakers may be a few moves away from contending they currently only look towards one thing, their first win of the season.

The instant gratification demanded is gone. The media and many "fans" have moved on from the Lakers because their water hole seems to have run dry. This leaves the franchise with no fan support. When you have no support, it creates the classic dig yourself out of the hole atmosphere.

Now how do we move forward? This team needs a small forward who can knock down three's and defend big dominant forwards like Lebron. They also need young consistent big man to replace Pau and stronger depth at each position.

Here's my Suggestions

1- Trade for Monroe or Rondo

2- Nash retire and place Randle to the IR list. This will allow them to sign two players for half of the salary of the above mentioned. I suggest signing Earl Clark.

3- From now on stop targeting blockbuster players like Melo and LeBron. Those aren't realistic pickups. Instead target guys like Kawhi Leonard and DeAndre Jordan. These are guys who make an even bigger impact for half the money. Then surround them with quality role players. The Lakers won in 2009 and 2010 with guys like Shannon Brown and Trevor Ariza. They will not win with Guys like Ronnie Price and Robert Sacre. You need to know the value of players and what their strengths are to a team. That matters more in the long run.

4- Remember this is Kobe's team until he retires. Don't try to be smart and move him out earlier. He's not a scrub he's the best player in franchise history!!!


By Chris Schlierman
Edited and Co Written by Eddie Schlierman