What's the future of the Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers are declining as the star players are aging. For three consecutive years, the Lakers exited in a 0-4 fashion, this time in the first r ound. It's not helping for the Lakers as Kobe Bryant is in the latter part of his career and the experiment of acquiring Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to enchance the chances didn't work at all.

Let's take first the problem of the Lakers with Nash and Howard season.

1. Early injury for Howard - Dwight Howard didn't play in the preaseason and that the Lakers were into a bad start. It took the second half for Howard to find his place.

2. The acquisition of Mike D'Antoni  - Not a wise decision for the Lakers management. D'Antoni was not the right person to coach a team with caliber as the roster of the Lakers.

3. Injury of Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace - Unfathomable but the age factor caught on the Lakers.

4. Pau Gasol's role - Never forget about Gasol's desire to be a part of this team as D'Antoni wanted run-and-gone offense at one time.

5. Kobe Bryant injury - This was big. If he was healthy, the Lakers should have fough strong against the San Antonio Spurs.


Let's think about what the Lakers can do:

1. Keep Dwight Howard - He is the future of this team and he must be kept. It is up to Mitch Kupchak to persuade Howard to play again not for a year but for five years worth $118 million.

2. Rehire Phil Jackson - Who can handle a star like Howard but Phil Jackson. Probably the Lakers will hire Jackson first so that Howard will stay. D'Antoni will not lead the Lakers into a championship.

3. Get some young players - The roster is old and that new players must be injected. Think about the Spurs, they have new players for Duncan to rest.

4. What to do with Kobe Bryant? - Kobe's time with the Lakers is over. Give up Kobe for a new blood of players to help Howard for the Lakers. Not a great suggestion but Howard will not flourish if Kobe is the leader.

NBA Playoffs Schedule 2013: In case you are in the Philippines

Not that much excitement this time here in the Philippines as the NBA Playoffs Schedule is underway. The absence of Kobe Bryant will affect the interest of the NBA fans here. Filipinos have been inloved by the acrobatic moves of Bryant the same way they were enthralled by Michael Jordan in the 90's. Filipinos loved those two players and this is the NBA Playoffs without them. However, the nation will be routing for Miami Heat probably. Not because of LeBron James but our very own Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Of course the fascination of watching LeBron James always attracts millions. A replica of Bryant or Jordan? How about the flashy game of Kevin Durant? Will he fill the void that Bryant left? Because the popularity of Kobe Bryant in the Philippines, millions will still tune in their television to watch the Los Angeles Lakers. How will the Lakers subdue the power of the San Antonio Spurs? How will coach Mike D'Antoni uses his two big guys? The enthusiasm in this game is to high that it need not to be neglected at all. Everybody wants to see the aging Tim Duncan against Dwight Howard at his prime. How about the strategy of fouling Dwight Howard? Hack-a-Howard? In terms of being emotional, we love to see the Miami Heat winning back-to-back. We want Spoelstra to be mentioned as a Filipino of course. While the rest of the country are too much engrossed by the May 13 election, the sports lovers will tune in to the NBA Playoff Games. Watching NBA Playoffs Games in the Philippines is not complicated as watching boxing. Through cable and satellite providers, Filipinos can watch the NBA games. Check your provider if NBA channel is available. Also, ABS CBN will cover the NBA Playoffs, though some games might be televised in delayed basis. Some of the my friends are watching the NBA Playoffs live online stream. I don't have the idea how to do that but they told me it is possible. Moreover, today is Sunday and the NBA games will be live Monday. Here's the NBA Playoffs Schedule live Philippine time Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers at 1:00 AM Monday Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs, 3:30 AM Monday Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat, 7:00 AM Monday Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 AM Monday It is more likely that ABS-CBN will capture the Rockets vs Thunder live while the rest will be in a delayed telecast.

Lakers Formula of Success: Kobe must share the ball

Lakers Formula of Success: Kobe must share the ball Not too late to find the right formula. The Los Angeles Lakers quest for the answer to be a winning team has arrived. Winning two games in a row against Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was not luck at all but it's something that they found. What's the key of the Lakers two consecutive wins? Believe it or not, it's Kobe Bryant sharing the ball to his teammates. Bryant had 14 assists in each of his two games and that he was just short of a rebound for triple double. What transpired was that Kobe has created a way for his teammates to be happy that carried it into defense. Look, the Lakers have been playing a sloppy defense but when Bryant shares, the defense is inspired. Against the Oklahoma Thunder, Bryant had 21 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds while five of his teammates were in double figures in scoring. Steve Nash had 17 points to help the Lakers in overpowering the Thunder. Also adding up in the offense is Metta World Peace who enjoys getting the ball from Bryant outside the arc. What needs to be done for the Lakers to keep the momentum alive and to be back in the contention for the playoffs? Remember that the Lakers are just 19-25, way far from a playoff team. One of the obvious move of coach Mike D'Antoni is moving Pau Gasol out of the starter so that the Lakers have something to play for when a substitution is needed. In the previous games, Gasol has been effective so far. It's like Lamar Odom's role with Phil Jackson before. Though Gasol is not that amenable coming off the bench, he has to sacrifice for his team. The big problem for the Lakers right now is Dwight Howard's free throw shooting. Against Oklahoma, because of 2-for-10 in the line, Howard was benched in the crucial stage in the fourth quarter and he was not seen back. D'Antoni was worried that the opponent could exploit Howard's inability to make free throws. The Lakers will make the playoffs if Kobe has to look for the pass first. He has to be like Magic Johnson in this important stage of his career than being Michael Jordan.

Lakers Five Reasons of Not Getting into the playoffs

The most popular basketball franchise,  Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA with a winning tradition,  is in disarray as they suffered yet another defeat, in the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Lakers record is now at 9-13 passing a quarter of the season already.


1. Coaching change - What an unwise decision for Lakers management to fire a defensive coach Mike Brown and eventually land an offensive coach Mike D'Antoni. In basketball, defense is better than offense, which is proven in winning championships. The coaching change affected the Lakers mindset and that it is a bad choice.

2. Aging legs - Coach Mike D'Antoni installed a system that was so effective in 2005-2008 with the right players. Surely, the high octane offense of D'Antoni fits then the younger Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson, and even Boris Diaw.  What about the Lakers roster? Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Metta World Peace, and Pau Gasol? All these stars are out of their prime. How can you run a fast pace offense with old legs that can easily get tired.

3. The use of Kobe Bryant - He is the main man for the Lakers, taking too much shots. He is the to scorer in the NBA as of the moment. He scored 42 points last night against the Cavaliers but he is not making his team better. He took to much shots. The problem is that he can do whatever he wants even with so many missed shots and turnovers.

4. Dwight Howard freethrow shooting - How can he be a reliable scorer at the stretch when he couldn't make free throws? The opponents intentionally foul him when the game is on the line. Because of Howard's inability to make freethrows, Kobe is taking all into his hands.

5. Pau Gasol's role - the Spaniard is not a fit to the system of D'Antoni. His strength is not being maximized at all. He is supposed to be at the low post not taking long jump shots.

The Lakers will not get into the playoffs unless they get together as soon as possible.