Although the Los Angeles Lakers are the reigning NBA champs, they haven’t played with their typical swagger of late and it’s caused them to fall further behind the Cleveland LeBrons for the best record in the league while the Dallas Mavericks continue their red-hot play to close the distance on L.A.’s Western Conference lead.
While the Lake Show tries to find a cure for their troubles, lesser squads have taken notice and have gone about trying to punk the purple and gold as if they aren’t the ones sporting the hardware.
Here’s what Lamar Odom had to say about the Lakers’ dissipating aura of invincibility:
“Got dudes on the Raptors talking [expletive]. They ain’t done [expletive]. You know what I mean? As a team, as individuals.”
“Our disposition as a team gives like some of these dudes, they feel like they have the right. The way we’re playing as a unit, they got dudes on their team that are talking [expletive]. They are like .500.”
“Right now, we’ve got teams that are way too confident against us. They are even doing that here.”
“But our aura comes off like ‘soft’. This was the second game I almost got thrown out. So I see one coming. I’m just going to take one, like, ‘hold up?’ Our energy, we are so laid back right now that these teams are like … ”
“That [expletive] that [Orlando's] Matt Barnes pulled, that ain’t never going to happen again. He’s lucky it was a close game.”
Derek Fisher has also noticed an increasing level of disrespect around the association:
“I guess a little bit, certain guys. I think [Odom] is right in terms of it’s a byproduct of what [opponents] see or what they feel.”
“So when a giant appears vulnerable and there is a chink in the armor or there is an open wound, people have a tendency to kind of go at that. Thus far we haven’t come across as invincible or unbeatable. So of course teams, their chests are going to be up a little bit more because they really believe that they can win.”
Laker Goggles:
The solution is pretty simple, isn’t it? If we’re playing well and winning ballgames there’s nothing anybody can say – just like the Cavs and Mavs are doing right now.
There’s still plenty of time before the playoffs start to get our game back on track. The offense has looked stagnant since Kobe’s return after the All-Star break, but it will come around.
The key is defensive toughness and providing resistance when the Matt Barnes’ of the NBA play like MJ against us.
Just in case you missed it, here’s what the latest Laker hater Tweeted about LA:
“Up early w/ babies watchn Dora.Seems Lamar can’t keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons s—ty diaper n it”
“Cum on yall its weds and yall tlkn bout sunday it was 1 game its over. Why u still trippn. Find sumthen 2 do w/ ur time”
Make sure to show the former UCLA Bruin some Laker love @Matt_Barnes22.
