Let's Look at the Brightside (LA Lakers Version)

Earlier in the season I was one of those people who, as NBC is now asserting, was under the impression that the Lakers would eventually get their shit together.  Now, I'm not so sure.  And to me, at the heart of the problem isn't really their age.  Instead it's the fact that both Lebron and AD seem to be reluctant to postup, which kinda defeats the purpose of having both Lebron and AD.  Last night they barely beat the perennially-woeful Pistons and, once again according the NBC, did so by attacking the paint.  But the way it sounds is like Lebron and the gang weren't doing postups but rather layups.  And if such is the case, at least it's a start.  But currently, the Lakers' starting five is influenced largely by AD's reluctance to play center.  And I always like the fantasize that if I were the Lakers' coach, I would absolutely force him to do so.  So at this point, I'm rather convinced that what the Lakers may really need is a trade - which may or may not happen - that would make them more respectable in the current jump-shooting/layup fashionable NBA.

But I think there's a couple of things to be thankful for also.  For instance if the Lakers were this old yet devoid of all of that Hall of Fame talent, they would have been lucky to have even won 5 games by now.  But instead they are at a semi-respectable 11 and 11.  It's like if the old timers really exert themselves, they can beat the lower quality young teams.  But as for the better ones, well, let's just say that if LAL does make the Playoffs they'd be lucky to even get out the first round.

Also say what you want about Lebron, but he's currently the most entertaining personality in the NBA.  Dude gets into beef with other players, fans and even like Twitters and shit.  It's like no matter who you are, everybody has an opinion of LBJ.

CONCLUSION

The reason I don't have much hope in a Lakers' turnaround is because I thought AD and Lebron were going to wise up and start posting down low a long time ago, like two seasons past already.  And I don't think Frank Vogel or any one coach in or out of the NBA can make these dudes do something they don't want to do.  So basically you have a squad in their 30s trying to beat dudes in their 20s utilizing a style that may be more fun to execute than grinding down low but favors the latter group.  If the Lakers really want to play the old man game they should perhaps consider starting a five like Rondo, Westbrook, Horton-Tucker, Lebron and AD and actually let Rondo handle the rock more.  Before I advocated LBJ at PG, thinking he could take better advantage of opposing guards.  But whereas he may be a player with the power of a coach, he doesn't necessarily seem to possess the strategics skills, even if he does have natural basketball smarts or whatever.  But at least the Lakers don't have a garbage record, which was very much possible considering how many of their wins have been close calls thus far.