For a fanbase that’s used to winning and being on top, things just aren’t going well for the Los Angeles Lakers. After the monumental flop of their All-Star team last year, this year they’ve been bit by the injury bug, HARD. They’ve lost all their point guards, Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar. Then the big blow happened when they lost Kobe Bryant to a knee fracture after gearing up for his big return. With all the issues the Lakers are of course struggling and have a 13-15 record including losing to the Warriors and Suns by a combined 46 points. Still despite all the setbacks the Lakers have a group of fighters playing their hearts out and D’Antoni has a message for the impatitent fans.
via ESPN:
Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni was defiant when a reporter suggested fans have become “discouraged” by the team’s 13-15 start to the season.
“Why would I be discouraged?” D’Antoni said. “We’re fighting with a bunch of good guys that played well before, and they’ll play [well] again. If [the fans] are discouraged, then, you know, find another team to root for. I’m all right. We’re not going to give up. Are you kidding me? Discouraged? That’s not even fair to these guys.”
Asked about the morale in the locker room after the two-game dip away from Staples Center dropped L.A.’s road record to 6-9, D’Antoni said, “It’s good. They’re going to fight.
Like I said before, Lakers fans are used to winning and many of them aren’t built to go through these rough times. Like many great franchises sometimes you have to fall to the bottom before you can rise back up again.
