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NBA -- Embattled Lakers gun for second straight win
By Joan Secuya-Medida
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Nov 2012
LOS ANGELES -- Six games into this young season, the powerhouse Los Angeles Lakers are languishing in the bottom of the Pacific Division with a below average 2-4 won-lost slate. The unusually sluggish start has cost head coach Mike Brown his job.
Who would have thought the Lakers would be this pedestrian?
Kobe Bryant and company seek to reverse their fortunes Sunday night at the Staples Center, where they host the upstart Sacramento Kings. Although the Kings have their own struggles with an equally disappointing 2-4 start, they have beaten the Lakers twice during the preseason schedule and could make things more miserable for the purple-and-gold franchise.
To uppend their neighbors from the state capital, the Lakers will require to play with the same stingy defense that allowed them to easily manhandle the Golden State Warriors, 101-77 on Friday night at Staples Center. But that would be easier said than done as the porous Lakers defense has surrendered an extremely generous 95.2 points per game thus far this season.
Equallly important is quality execution at the point guard position, which has been wanting in the absence of two-time league MVP Steve Nash, who is at sick bay with a bone fracture in the lower left leg. Interim point guard Steve Blake hasn't exactly acquitted himself well as Nash's replacement, averaging an unspectacular 5.7 points and 3.3 assists per in six outings, four as a starter.
If the Kings were to make it three in a row over the Lakers, they will need significant contributions from their young and talented stars in DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton.
As compelling as this match-up is, much of the conversation in this Lakers-crazy town is the state of the head coaching position. Several reports indicate that the job is Phil Jackson, if the Zen master decides to unretire and chase another ring. (Joan Secuya-Medida)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joan Secuya-Medida.
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