The LOLkers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an absolute joke this year. They are terrible and will not make the playoffs. This is a big deal because they are the Los Angeles Lakers, not the Los Angeles Clippers, and because they stacked their roster with perennial All-Stars. This team actually proves that chemistry and coaching play massive factors into success. It is truly surprising how big a role they actually play in the NBA.

Mike D'Antoni is not a good coach. He was extremely lucky in Phoenix that Steve Nash (in his prime) was there to successfully run the offense. His system, when provided with the right pieces is quite excellent, as his time in Phoenix proved. But his tenure in New York showed that, as a coach, systems and schemes must be adapted to the players on the roster. The Knicks couldn't run the 'Seven Seconds or Less' offense, but D'Antoni couldn't figure out how to make the pieces work. The Knicks have two all-stars, (three if you include Stoudemire), and Melo and Chandler were Olympians. That being on your roster should be enough to win some games.

In LA, the Lakers roster is even more ridiculous. Kobe, Nash, Dwight, Pau. How is this roster not above .500 at least?? Kobe and Nash are guaranteed Hall-of-Famers, and Dwight and Pau could also end up there. With those four on your roster, success should be a given. But as stated earlier, coaching and chemistry matter. The coaching hasn't been able to figure this team out and that's a failure on D'Antoni (and Mike Brown).

The chemistry is a failure on the players.

Athletes should have one goal, and that is winning a championship. When that becomes priority for everyone, chemistry falls into place. Sure, it takes time. The Miami Heat didn't win a title in LeBron's first year there, but they still had a year in which they made it to the NBA Finals. The Lakers are so far from that. This team needs another new coach, though I doubt the owner would be bold enough to fire two coaches in one season.

They also need to revamp their roster. This Steve Nash and Dwight Howard experiment isn't working. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the trade value of their players is low. Pau or Dwight are their most likely players to be traded. Some teams may want them, but won't be willing to give up enough to appease the Lakers. They're in a tough spot now and won't be interesting until the season ends (unless they actually make some moves). Their chances at winning this season are over. They've dug too big a hole and show no signs of turning anything around (even though that's all they keep saying). That elusive sixth ring for Kobe may never happen. The worst part for them during this season though? The Clippers are one of the top five most exciting teams. How the tables have turned.