Lakers Join the Unemployed

Sorry y’all. I’ve been MIA. My life has been in a little slump lately and eerily mirrors that of the Lakers. Let’s take a closer look.

• Got a job – At one point I was a member of the working class before that damn recession bit us in the butt. I was making good money and reading WCBias on company time. The Lakers also had a job: to go through the L and establish themselves as the favorites for the NBA crown. A 50-13 record is impressive. Unfortunately there are three other teams on the East Coast with similar records. Still it was good times for the Lakers, healthy, working, and fat.

• Got laid off – So eventually all things must come to an end, and my employment was one of them. So I had to sit around and try to find a job in the worst economic crisis in a billion years. But I kept my head up and I Googled for jobs every second of my life. Andrew Bynum also got laid off, by his knee. With a torn MCL on the opposite knee than the one injured last year, Bynum is out for 2-3months. But even with Bynum out the Lakers also kept their head up, winning 10 out of their first 11 games. Lamar Odom was a big piece of that. He was rebounding and scoring at a very high pitch. Things seemed to be all right.

• Can’t find a job, depressed – So now its been 3 months since I was employed. I had a beard down to my waist and don’t shower (can’t afford water). I am still looking for a job but it bums you out when there is nothing in your field offered. The Lakers are missing Bynum. They are in a slump. They got blown out by the young Blazers and their only wins lately were against sub-500 teams. Lamar has dropped off (again) and the second unit isn’t jelling the way that they did at the beginning of the season. The ball isn’t moving the way it was earlier this season. The play is basically pass the ball to Kobe, clear out, watch him shoot, if he misses Gasol will clean it up. The defense is even worse. Rotations are poor and there is little interior defense. Although a bright spot could be DJ “Congo” Mbenga. The “Congo” is never going to be an all star in this league but right now he is bringing the energy that left with Turiaf last year. Lakers have 3 more games in the next 5 days. All on the road.

• Time to regroup – I’ve decided that if I can’t find a job opportunity, I’ll make my own. I’ve shaved the beard and showered (borrowed the hose from the Editor while he was gone). Built an office at the house and started to get organized. Funny it almost feels like a real job. I’m not getting paid but at least I get to blog on WCbias on company time. It’s time for the Lakers to regroup. Phil will need to build an office in each one of their lockers so they can get focused. This has turned into a more important road trip because of their slump. Plus Lamar has been suspended for one game for leaving the bench during the Lakers scuffle with Portland (honestly that was not a flagrant by Ariza, but Lamar leaving the bench and being suspended was the right call by the NBA office.)

Time for the Lakers to get organized offensively and defensively. No more sitting around, not showering, feeling sorry for yourselves and growing beards (ok, Gasol has a pass on that one.)