The Lakers are 4-23, and yet they can’t really complain at all about the state of the franchise. Sure it’s embarrassing to lose at this rate as one of the NBA’s premier franchises, but there are a few things going for the purple and gold.
First, Kobe Bryant’s “farewell tour” has seen an unexpected twist; Kobe Bryant is balling. Over his last nine games, Bryant has averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 40.4 percent from the field. They’re not wild numbers for one of the greatest two-guards of all-time, but they’re enough to quell the calls for his retirement right this instant.
Lakers Can Only Beat Hung Over Opponents
In that nine-game stretch Bryant has scored 21 or more points five times, and dropped 31 on the Wizards. He also threw down a hellacious throwback jam on Rockets forward Clint Capela for two of his 25 points on Dec. 12.
Kobe's Having A Bad Year, But One Ex-MVP Has Been Much Worse
The Lakers are 2-7 during the Black Mamba’s resurgence, but that brings the second reason the Lakers should still be happy to the forefront. Bryant playing well in his last season will put butts in the seats, but all his efforts aren’t translating to victories. That’s crucial to L.A. this season; with no chance at a title or a deep playoff run, their best bet is to finish with as poor a record as possible to land a top-3 pick. They owe their first-round pick to the 76ers in 2016, unless it falls inside the first three choices. The same applies to 2017. If they’re going to stink, they’ve got to be Philadelphia-esque for it to not be a total waste.
Everything is coming up roses. Kobe's back (kind of), the fans are excited, and the team keeps losing.
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