A Loss Changes Everything For Lakers

There's no way the Houston Rockets can beat the Lakers in Game 7 today ... is there?

It's head-scratching enough that Houston has pushed this series to the limit and won two games since Yao Ming got hurt back in Game 3. It seems almost too loony to think that the undermanned Rockets can go into Staples and lay another "L" on L.A.

But what if they do? What if Houston eliminates the Lakers? Then what? Where would the Lakers go from there?

More Coverage: Rockets-Lakers Game 7 Preview

It's one thing for the Lakers to falter in last year's NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. It's quite another to go into this season with the singular goal of winning an NBA title, then being the prohibitive favorites, and then getting ousted in the second round by an injury-plagued team with far less talent.

If the Lakers lose, general manager Mitch Kupchak would have to consider revamping instead of tinkering. How could he possibly bring back essentially the same crew after last year's team lost in the NBA Finals and this year's team lost in the second round?

Regardless of what happens, the Lakers will have a decision to make about Lamar Odom, who is a free agent this summer. Odom makes $14 million this season, and it's unrealistic to think the Lakers will re-sign him at a number anywhere near that. Particularly if they're a one-round-and-out team.

The Lakers already have more than $60 million committed to Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton and Adam Morrison so they're kind of locked in there.

The problem the Lakers have is that Odom is as valuable as any player on the team with the exception of Bryant. Odom is the Lakers' best rebounder and maybe their most versatile player at both ends of the floor.

But why would you go into the land of the luxury tax to simply keep intact a one-round-and-out team? That wouldn't seem to make a lot of sense.

Would a Lakers' loss make it more likely that Kupchak would look into trading Gasol or Bynum? The short answer: Absolutely. It's not so much that Kupchak would want to trade one of those players, it's just that it's hard to imagine the Lakers getting anyone of impact for their role players.

Walton, Fisher and Vujacic, et al. are nice role players. But how much value do they have around the league? Probably not a lot. Those players have more value for the Lakers than they likely do for any other team.

The Lakers are heavy favorites against the Rockets today, and they should be. L.A. is healthy, more talented and playing at home.

But if the Rockets somehow manage to do the improbable and knock off the Lakers, it could very well mean the end of the Lakers as we now know them.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-17-2009 @ 9:49AM

Martin said...

If the Lakers lose to the Rockets, some possible scenerios.
1. Bryant becomes frustrated and opts out of his contract.
2. The Lakers decide to go with a more traditional offense, instead of the triangle, and look for a new coach to accomplish this. Either Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar have the quickness to handle the traditional point guard duties.
Of course, if the Lakers go on to win the championship this year, this second round series will be long forgotten. After all, two teams took the poor-playing Celtics to seven games last year before the Celtics won the championship last year, and no one seems to remember that.

5-17-2009 @ 9:57AM

Linwood said...

Lakers will not lose today believe me..but they have to show more spirit..they cant turn it on when they feel like it..they have to be more consistent..they have all the talent in the world and they have a really young team..Bynum has loads of talent plus he is only 21...the thought of trading him makes no sense what so ever..GO LAKERS

5-17-2009 @ 10:25AM

sholomgootzeit said...

What is interesting is how Laker Fans seem to think it is a foregone conclusion that if the Lakers beat Houston, they will win this. Well, if they beat Houston, they have to get past Carmelo Anthony and a very talented and hungry Denver team, and if they get past Denver they will have to get passed a very talented Cleveland team, probably. This year's playoffs are much less a foregone conclusion than last years. Garnet, Pearce and Allen were very experienced and very talented. Lakers, while talented, are no where near as experienced. I think the toughest problem they will face, if they beat Houston, is Chauncy Billups, who will drive them crazy directing Denver. Some terrific matchups to come in these playoffs, Lakers no way a lock to win this.

5-17-2009 @ 11:56AM

ovstampco said...

I think the problem with the lakers is not that they are "folding" in the playoffs , but that during the regular season they were able to play at their full ability , while most teams could not muster high intensity frequently during the regular season the lakers could because of Phil and Kobe's leadership . But in the playoffs all the teams are playing to the max - every game - and the lakers talent is starting to show the weaknesses - i.e. lack of a quality point guard that can shoot and penetrate - I thought early in the year Farmar could be the guy but as in last year he faded after the first couple months of the season. They are fun to watch but still a good point guard away from winning it all.

5-17-2009 @ 12:02PM

Michael gifford said...

Lakers have no place to point but at themselves for grooving a pattern of getting leads and then blowing them...they established that pattern through the season and then proceeded to live the pattern out through the post season. And while Cavs may or may not have played two "lesser teams" ( I"m mindful that one of these teams routinely beat Lakers regular season) The Cavs have shown champiionship calibre by not only holding their leads when they get them, but running them up...they've won double digits Almost ALL the time and quite handily...Clearly, they are on a mission, while the Lakers are still playing regular season basketball...OH and yes, IF the Lakers get by Houston, then Denver is NO lock by ANY Means and given their demonstrated commitment to winning and peaking at the right time, are more likely than the Lakers to face Cavs

5-17-2009 @ 12:37PM

sandytarrdesign said...

Depends on how good a game the rapist has

5-17-2009 @ 6:03PM

lopjackie21 said...

Are you just a bitter old fart that needs to vent
and hate ???
I feel sorry for you...LOL!
GO KOBE......GO LAKERRRRRRRRRRRS!

5-17-2009 @ 12:41PM

ilovemysummer said...

LOL===================== CARMELO ANTHOY/BILLUBS GOING TO DRIVE LAKERS CRAZY/NO MATCH FOR LAKERS,WHAT IS DRVING ME CRAZY IS THAT THE LAKERS ARE SHOOTING THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT.I STILL BELIEVE IN THEM,THEY WILL REGROUP,BUT NOT CARMELO OR BILLUBS /LOLOLOL//// ANYWAYS FIRST THING FIRST,GAME SEVEN GO LAKERS

5-17-2009 @ 1:04PM

river4407 said...

The Rockets beating the Lakers will be like having sex with Kobe... It's gonna happen rather you want it to or not

5-17-2009 @ 2:56PM

john said...

Hah... nice one.

5-17-2009 @ 1:21PM

Robert Ferree said...

The odds of the Rockets beating the Lakers today are astronomical. The Lakers are just too deep down low and with Kobe roaming the perimeter or doing what is necessary, the lights are all but out.

Houston would have to shoot the lights out at about 65% for the game and the Lakers would have to play one of their worst games of the year. However, I remember the '69 Mets and then again "Joe Willie".