<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They're sinking fast now, unable to raise a chin or to find their way to calmer seas. And that's OK. The Lakers are in a free fall. They have lost four consecutive games and face a tough schedule and more tough times ahead. And it's for the best. The Lakers are on the verge of dropping from the last playoff spot in the standings, and as heretical as it may sound, that's the most practical thing that can happen. In the long term, it is better to miss the playoffs for one season and have a chance at a decent lottery pick, than to finish eighth and get embarrassed in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. It's better to end a season going nowhere and add a young player who can help in the future. The mediocrity of this Lakers team is not surprising and completely predictable. Return only one starter, no matter how great he is, and it's called rebuilding. Rebuilding is painful. It's part of the gig. And this reconstruction became infinitely more difficult when the new coach abruptly re-signed. The Lakers have gone from listing in uncertain waters, to plunging in a white squall. "It just makes for a good Hollywood story," Kobe Bryant said after Wednesday's loss. Sorry, but good Hollywood stories come with great endings, and this season doesn't offer one. The Lakers are tied with the Denver Nuggets for eighth in the Western Conference, which would nab the last playoff spot. The Nuggets are charging, the floundering Minnesota Timberwolves still are capable of regrouping and the Clippers are showing signs of movement. Really, it would be better if the Clippers passed the Lakers. They already have their young talent. They have a promising future, and they long for and need a playoff experience. The Lakers, as they currently exist, will never evolve into greatness. This is clearly not some terrific young roster that needs only to mature together to take the next step. Too many weaknesses and holes and mismatched pieces in this unit have been exposed through two-thirds of the season. It is a rebuilding process that demands re-evaluation. The inside game is beyond untraditional. Chris Mihm has been something of a pleasant surprise after the loss of Vlade Divac, but Mihm is not what anyone confuses with a powerful inside presence. Without a power center, you'd best have a nice power forward, but the Lakers have none</div> Source
