A couple of weeks ago on our US Sports slot, we looked at why the New York Knicks have consistently punched below their considerable weight.
However, another giant of the NBA is having a bad time of it as well and tonight on Off The Ball, we decided to focus on the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 16-time NBA champions, who last won the title in 2010, missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2005 and this season has been disastrous as they currently sit bottom of the Pacific Division, as well as second bottom of the Western Conference. They are also on course for their worst season record in franchise history.
Their plight is even more stark when you consider that their underdog neighbours LA Clippers are among the stronger teams in the NBA.
"What is going on is complicated and interesting. Kobe Bryant got hurt and they gave him a big contract. He'll be back next year, but he's 36 or 37 now," said Bill Dwyre of Tthe LA Times on tonight's show.
Kobe Bryant challenges Lebron James (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
"Instead of re-hiring Phil Jackson a couple of years ago, they hired a coach from Phoenix, and this is just before Jerry Buss, the owner who had orchestrated so much of this greatness over the years, died. His vision was to have Magic Johnson showtime back. So along with the coach from Phoenix came a player, Steve Nash, who was a leader of showtime but got hurt immediately and only played a handful of games with the Lakers, so you had Kobe out and the showtime guy out, and pretty soon they fired that coach and hired a new guy and it's been a slide. They just can't seem to get it right."
Dwyre, who also spoke about the concerns about the current ownership of the franchise, added that the big hope for Lakers fans is that they fall to such a point that they get top draft picks this summer.
The franchise has always been associated with Hollywood celebrities courtside, but are any going to migrate to the Clippers if things get worse?
"The interesting thing would be here to watch the LA fanbase if the Clippers go really deep into the playoffs or even win a title and really grab this town which is pretty loyal to the Lakers. It would be interesting to see if the worm turns a little bit next year, particularly if the Lakers start badly," said Dywre.
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