Your 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers!

The Lakers will not make the playoffs

Expectations were high at the beginning of the season once the Lakers landed Dwight Howard. And for good reason: Howard was easily the best center in the NBA, even if having him on your team could mean having a disgruntled superstar constantly clamouring for a trade. The Lakers already had an immature center with promise in Andrew Bynum, but the return on swapping Bynum for Howard seemed obvious, especially considering Bynum hasn't played in a single game this season due to injury.

Bynum had already dealt with a string of injuries over his career, was prone to act out during games (see here, when he almost killed J.J. Barea), and had at times voiced his displeasure about playing with Kobe Bryant. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, he also has a ridiculous/awesome haircut that no one can explain.

From businessinsider.com:

 

 

Howard meanwhile, was coming off a season where he was constantly in the media, flip-flopping on whether he wanted to leave or to stay in Orlando, and injured his back severely enough that he required back surgery to repair a herniated disc during the offseason.

For Howard, his rehabbed back is the reason why he's underperformed thus far. He doesn't look nearly as explosive as he has in recent years. He doesn't play so far above the rim that it appears no one can jump with him anymore, and I can't tell whether his slow defensive rotations are a function of his laziness or his inability to shuffle quickly enough to stay with guards.

The Lakers' problems are more pervasive that just Howard's diminished play. They're weak defensively, having allowed 101.5 points per game so far - good for 26th in the NBA; their bench contribution is almost non-existent - Earl Clark and Jordan Hill are "key" bench players; and Mike D'antoni seems bent on implementing a run'n'gun offence on one of the slowest, oldest teams in the league - the Lakers are the fourth-oldest team behind only, the Knicks, Heat, and Clippers.

I'm not sure why the Lakers decided to hire Mike D'antoni instead of proven ego handler Phil Jackson, but the move hasn't paid off. L.A. sits at 17-25 on the season, good for 12th in the Western Conference. They're only four games back from the Rockets for eighth place, but the team doesn't seem to be improving upon their chemistry. Over their last 10 game, L.A. is 2-8.

One of the few bright spots for the Lakers is Kobe Bryant. The man is 34 years old and averaging 29.2 points per game, good for a second place tie in league scoring. Even Kobe playing stellar offensive ball can't will this team to win.

The Lakers have no chemistry, don't play defence, and trade rumors involving Howard and Gasol are already swirling. Gasol always says the right things during interviews, supporting his team and acting like the negative criticism doesn't affect him, but he's demonstrated before that he takes criticism to heart, playing in slumps at times. With a team as overly scrutinized like the Lakers, I don't see his play changing any time soon.

Overall, this season is turning out to be a blemish on the entire Lakers organization. A starting lineup loaded with veteran superstars, anchored by one of the best centers in the league yet struggling to contend for a playoff spot even after a new coach was brought in after five games to salvage the season is embarassing. I'm not a fan of the Lakers to begin with and would usually take pleasure in seeing this over-hyped team flounder, but at this point, the story is becoming old and drawn out.

It's time to accept that the Lakers aren't a good team.