| |
|
NBA -- Silver linings in the purple-and-gold's gloomy season
By Nicholai R. Roska PhilBoxing.com Fri, 17 Apr 2015

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers' franchise-worst regular season ended the way it began --- with a loss. This time, it was a 23-point beating at the hands of the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
The 122-99 defeat was the Lakers' 61st of the season, the most ever in the history of the storied franchise.
Instead of their usual place in the playoffs, Kobe Bryant and the wounded Lakers are headed off to an early vacation.
Despite the this temporary fall from grace, the Lakers had several bright spots, most prominently the rise of rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson, who shrugged off a slow start to average 16.9 points and 3.5 assists per game in 59 outings.
And though the losses kept piling up, the Lakers faithful kept showing up at Staples Center, making them among the top 10 in the league in attendance.
On Wednesday's game alone, the Lakers drew a fat crowd of 18,997.
Looking over their shoulders with the success of the other Los Angeles team -- the Clippers -- the Lakers are ferociously intent on rebuilding, a path that includes opening a Laker-owned facility in 2016.
Cresting at the bottom 5 of the NBA standings doesn't necessarily mean the world comes to an end for the decorated Lakers. It just means there is hope in their future. It also means they could have the top 5 pick in the upcoming NBA, which means a healthy Julius Randle and a rising Clarkson could be the core of the next generation of Showtime performers.
And lastly, it could mean that what is expected to be Kobe Bryant's last season could be a magical rise.
The 2015-16 season is a good few months away. Can't hardly wait.
Photo: Jordan Clarkson provided some bright spots in the Lakers' gloomy 2014-15 campaign.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicholai R. Roska.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION APRIL 20 APRIL 2026: Baumgardner Outpoints Shin, Retains IBF/WBA/WBO 130 Lb Titles; Daniels Stops Green in 9; Lorente SD Collins in WBC Welter Eliminator By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Year of Memories Between the Ring and Faith By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026High Stakes in Ufa: Subkhankulov and Usmonov Clash for IBF #2 Spot By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Elorde Jr. is new PBF president By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Ancajas wins 1st bout as feather By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Ito knockouts Lerasan in 1st round By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Kristian ‘KP’ Prenga developing into Albanian heavyweight boxing GOAT , Tue, 21 Apr 2026IIEE PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe amazed with GAB Chairman Rivera’s advocacy for chess players By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026‘CALM’ PERO READY TO FACE MILLER’S FIRE , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez's son Aaron wins professional debut By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Top Super Featherweights Tsendy Erdenebat & Cobia Breedy Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Registration Now Open for the Return of the Butterfly Brawl at the Iconic Santa Monica Pier – August 22, 2026 , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Brackets Set for USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team at World Boxing Cup - Stage One , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Team Altagracia Primus Praedia Land Holding champ in Pacquiao chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Apr 20262-Division World Champion Daniel Ponce De León Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Tue, 21 Apr 20262026 NBA Playoffs: First Round Game 1 Recap By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu gains a total of 36 rating points, bringing his FIDE rating to 2321 by May after completing 2 chess tournaments in Spain By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026Irish super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde Improves to 15-0 with 10th KO , Mon, 20 Apr 2026IBA Bare-Knuckle Director attends historic Gambian Elite National Championships , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Rosales stops Obedencio in RFL 4 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Atty. Aldwin Alegre shines in 23rd Bangkok Chess Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov , Sat, 18 Apr 2026AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|