Kobe knows that George Hill and the Spurs are a real threat.

Lakers' biggest problem not them, but their competition

Posted Dec 31 2010 9:26AM

• Seriously, it doesn't matter. Back-to-back-to-back losses by at least 15 points obviously looks bad and feels worse, as Kobe Bryant made clear. But enough stocking up on water and canned goods. The shift from figuring out where this group ranks among the greatest Lakers teams to spotting holes opening in the Earth is hilariously knee-jerk, even around an organization that always lives a magnified life. They have problems. But so does every contender. If the Lakers lose in the playoffs, it'll be because they get beat in the moment, not because of anything that happened around the holidays.
• Dec. 25, 2009: Cavaliers 102, Lakers 87. Dec. 26, 2009: Lakers 112, Kings 103 in overtime. Dec. 28, 2009: Suns 118, Lakers 103. Two losses by at least 15 points within three games and needing OT to beat a bad team in the other. Just sayin'.

• There is reason for the Lakers to be concerned, but it has nothing to do with the Lakers. The Mavericks, making a loud statement with impressive road wins, and the Spurs, sticking to a company policy of conservative minutes early, are bigger West threats than L.A. has faced in any of the last three seasons. Still, let's see where they are in April, not December.
• Michael Jordan shouldn't have been able to put the Bobcats' failings on Larry Brown in the first place. Jordan hired Brown knowing full well that LB would be in his ear nightly to reshape the roster. Jordan dealt Tyson Chandler as a money-saving move and in the same 2010 offseason let Raymond Felton walk as a free agent. Jordan traded June's first-round pick to get Alexis Ajinca in '08. So now Brown has been fired. But this is about Jordan's decisions, not Brown's nomad reputation.
• Very valid counterpoint from Howard Beck of the New York Times: Amid months of noisy trade speculation, amid what has been mostly an unquestioned belief that a deal would be a major step in rebuilding, the Knicks don't actually have a pressing need for Carmelo Anthony. A defensive-minded big man who will rebound, to be paired with Amar'e Stoudemire, is a greater priority than a scorer for the team that already has one of the best offenses in the league. They will, and should, continue the Anthony pursuit. But all the fuss is more about star power and knowing free agents will be more interested if Anthony is in New York than it is about filing a hole.
• The end-of-2010 review is that three of the biggest storylines, maybe the three biggest to reach beyond the NBA itself, all happened off the court. Not a good thing. The Decision is No. 1 for changing the course of history of three franchises (the Heat, Cavaliers and Raptors, because Chris Bosh was part of the package deal), for LeBron James starring in his own PR disaster and for empowering stars to go for their own Superfriends arrangement. The Gilbert Arenas gun incident and the rising level of labor unrest likewise have received more attention in mainstream society than the Lakers and Celtics renewing a storied rivalry and going to the final moments of the final game to determine a champion.
• The real implications of DeAndre Jordan putting up numbers for the Clippers with Chris Kaman sidelined by an ankle injury are that Jordan may finally be showing his potential and that the Clips could have new trade options. Jordan is up to 7.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in just 26.1 minutes as a starter, becoming an early candidate for Most Improved Player, and in the last four games has one showing of 14 points and seven blocks, another of 11 rebounds in 25 minutes, and another of 14 points and 13 boards in 33 minutes. He has been an intriguing prospect since lasting until the second round of the 2008 Draft, an athletic marvel at 7 feet and 260 pounds. But he's very raw. Still, his recent body of work could allow L.A. to at least dangle Kaman in trade talk to see what a 28 year old with a full season on his contract and an All-Star appearance on the resume will bring.
• People still contend the Sonics were wrong for letting Rashard Lewis go as a free agent and that, as addressed Monday by David Aldridge, the decision contributed to fans in Seattle turning against Clay Bennett. Seriously? Not matching the max offer for Lewis has proven to be a genius move that helped move Sam Presti from untested general manager to one of the best in the business. Presti not only did right in wishing Lewis well, but stuck the Magic with an even bigger contract problem by completing the transaction with a sign-and-trade that added more money. Dislike Bennett all you want. But not for that.