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The Los Angeles Lakers put on another embarrassing performance on Sunday night in a 113-103 loss to the Orlando Magic. Right on cue, fans in Los Angeles went into their requisite panic mode. The reactions on Twitter were typical of many Southern California NBA fans. They were ridiculous.
Disclaimer: These reactions are based on very little basketball knowledge and will cause many face-palms:
#FireDantoni !! Go #Lakers
— Jesus Ramos (@JRamos_) December 3, 2012
Of course -- because the Lakers need more change and uncertainty and to learn another offense.
Still think you made the right coaching choice, Mr. Buss??? #Lakers
— Jarvis Deon Davis (@jdeondavis) December 3, 2012
Our buddy Jarvis isn't alone, let's blame Jim Buss for the Lakers coming out flat game after game. Let's blame him for Chris Duhon getting faked out of his shoes by Glen "Big Baby" Davis. Let's blame him for the Lakers not getting a stop late in the fourth quarter and making the Magic look like the San Antonio Spurs.
Jarvis and the fans have it all figured out.
Yes, Phil Jackson should have been the coach of the Lakers, and Jim Buss is an easy and deserved scapegoat. But let's take the game at face value. The Lakers didn't show up, period. The loss is on the players.
Pau can't even get in the game in the 4th quarter. He is gone. Ryan Anderson would look good in a #Lakers jersey
— Los Angeles' Finest→ (@CallMe___Kratos) December 3, 2012
That's a real tweet from a real fan, basketball world. Ryan Anderson is the solution. Let's just plug his numbers (17.2 points, 8.0 rebounds per game) right into this system. That's how it works, right?
a dash of Nash would fix the #Lakers in a flash!
— Ron Brunk (@CrispyBeaver) December 3, 2012
People really think this way, and it's incredible. A 38-year-old with a bad back can fix a team's lack of consistency, energy and desire. Yup, that's it.
Ladies' and gentlemen, that's life as an NBA fan in Hollywood. The good news is, we only have to do this 65 more times.
The bottom line is this -- It's one-fifth of the way into the season, and granted, the loss was bad. But there are many avenues to take before the Lakers need to jump to any outlandish conclusions, and there's a lot of basketball left.
Fortunately, fans don't run front offices or make personnel decisions. Thank goodness for that.
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