The Lakers are getting closer for their first win

LA Lakers in action vs Phoenix Suns

Long road ahead

After a 112-106 loss to the Phoenix Suns last night, the Los Angeles Lakers are getting closer to that elusive first win, whatever that means in a season that is sure to be a long, arduous journey. This team lacks defense, talent, hope, and defense a second time, but what struck me while watching the game (mostly just the 2nd half) is that this team is going to fight for everything.

They aren’t stacked with high draft picks or young guys who are trying prove themselves for that first big contract, and so what we are going to see from this team are a bunch of players trying like hell to save their pride. You know it’s not going to be pretty because they almost have no hope in keeping teams under 100 points, but if they can scrap and claw through games all year, they will at least be endearing, even if that might be in a “I feel bad for them” sort of way.

Bryant being overplayed

Obviously this grit starts first and foremost with the team leader, and if Kobe Bryant has taught us anything from his career, it’s that he will grit through almost anything. This won’t turn into a space to bash Kobe for getting his shots each and every game (37 last night) because, at this point, what good is that going to do.

We know who Kobe is and how he plays and when his team sucks, he’s going to shoot, but rather just watching a player work relentlessly (offensive end only, I know) to keep the foot on the gas pedal and push his body and skill to try and come out on top was something to watch.

He played 43 minutes last night (Laker fans, you loved to yell at Mike D’Antoni for things like this, yet I hear no noise when Byron Scott plays a 36-year old a ridiculous amount of minutes) and the fact the he could put up that number and then shoot 6-13 in the 4th to lead an eventual close but no cigar loss is the definition of grit.

Or take Jordan Hill, a man who was stuck on the D’Antoni roller coaster these last two years (one of the few decisions he made that I never agreed with), he didn’t shoot all that well, 4-10 from the field, but he got nine offensive rebounds.

Unlucky on the night

Nine freaking offensive rebounds is insane, and really is a carryover of what a lot of Laker fans saw the last two years while he was stuck riding the roller coaster. He also got to the line nine times, simply because he was the premier hustle player in the paint last night.

He’s never going to do it with the best skill, though he had a wicked up and under and-one on Alex Len in the 2nd half, but when you take into account hustle and grit as a skill, Hill can provide that night in and night out.

Throw in Jeremy Lin (10 free throw attempts), Ed “The Steal for Under $1 mil” Davis (4 offensive boards in 18 minutes), and Carlos Boozer, who will make you want to gouge your eyes out watching him play D (which Lakers won’t), who will give maximum effort and communication every night, you have a team that you can get behind.

Bryant to blame

Kobe might, and probably will, throw 3-5 players under the bus throughout the year, but I really hope he can find some restraint because I watch the Lakers and see a lack of skill, but not a lack of want to, effort, and pride.

This won’t be much of a year for on court analysis and dissecting how the Lakers could have pulled out a win, so Laker fans should really focus on being able to watch professionals go out every night and give their all because that is what they are paid to do. Take if from a Sacramento Kings fan, it could be worse.