*FAN SUBMISSION by Deion Broxton of Baltimore. Follow him on Twitter @SwagReflex.*
After a hard fought battle with the Miami Heat on Christmas day, the Lakers fall to 13-16. Many questions remain unanswered for the 2013 Lakers. When will Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and other key players return? Will the Lakers make the playoffs? Can the Lakers compete for Kobe’s sixth ring before he retires? I will give speculations on how the season will turnout.
Courtesy: Fox News
Lakers fans were happy for the return of the “Black Mamba” only to be disappointed a few weeks later, after he sustained another injury. Kobe was optimistic about his injury; he noted that this will give him more time to regain full health on his Achilles, which sidelined him last season. But when the Mamba was in the lineup this year the Lakers have suffered; they were an abysmal 2-4, with Bryant in the lineup, but hovering around .500 with him out of the lineup.
In the games Kobe played this season it seemed that he was a step behind; the Lakers play much faster with him out of the lineup. Like most, I believe if any player has a couple weeks to get their feet wet again they can return to game playing shape. When Kobe returns I believe the team will mesh properly after a few games.
An unlikely hero has stepped up in Kobe’s absence, “Swaggy P,” better known as Nick Young. The sixth year veteran has averaged 15 points a game, has given the Lakers a spark when he plays and is also a fan favorite.
But will this be enough for a playoff run? Probably not; the Lakers are still an average team that can possibly get an eight or seventh seed in the playoffs, which will most likely be knocked out in the first round. The Lakers need to make serious moves next offseason if they want to be a contender in the western conference.
