Los Angeles Lakers Dealing With An Identity Crisis

Perhaps you have seen the commercial featuring former Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman, as he is approached by a fan at a gas station. As he is paying for his items, Aikman tells the starstruck fan “I don’t like to dwell in the past”. Then, his phone goes off, revealing his self-indulgent ringtone:

“I dwell in the past,” Aikman says.

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“I don’t blame you,” the fan responds.

No fan blames the Los Angeles Lakers for paying homage to their past, especially when a huge piece of that past is a monumental part of the present in Kobe Bryant. But is clear that “dwelling” in the past, and the mentality that comes from doing so, could potentially cost the Lakers a shot at a real future.

Some call the Los Angeles Lakers brass “delusional” in their expectations. Misguided, or perhaps even blinded, by the glory days of contending for multiple titles. Doing so creates a culture of high aspirations, but unrealistic expectations.

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The front office — led by Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak — have made solid moves for the future through the draft. But, they have been contradictory in their pursuits.

Whether it was chasing a 30-year-old LaMarcus Aldridge to add to their nucleus with an average age of less than 21 or opting for the longer-term, higher-upside project by taking D’Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor in the NBA Draft, it’s been difficult to identify the building strategy the team prefers.

The coaching staff — led by former Los Angeles Lakers guard Byron Scott — have made moves to counteract the development of young players in an effort to win meaningless games, at least at times.

Last season, it was starting Ronnie Price over Jordan Clarkson after a 5-15 start. It was leaning on Kobe Bryant’s deteriorating body night after night until it finally gave out. And, more recently, it was the fact there was even a debate about starting the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, Russell, to begin the 2015-16 season.

Of course it is the coaching staff’s job to win games, but it is also their job to develop the players who are the foundation of the future. Maybe Clarkson wasn’t ready, maybe overloading Kobe’s workload was the only way, and maybe it’s possible that D’Angelo Russell would have benefited from coming off of the bench.

The first alarming sign of this recurring was Lou Williams playing all 12 minutes in the fourth quarter of the opening game over D’Angelo Russell.

It’s not worth getting worked up over the first game of the year, but the stretch run of that game was a learning opportunity lost for Russell. It is easy to understand Scott’s decision to go with the most prepared guys to win that game; Russell was not playing exceptionally well and the contest was certainly within reach in the fourth.

A team’s first instinct is to go for the win, and that is exactly what Scott did with the choices that he made. In a vacuum, letting Russell watch the fourth quarter for one game is no big deal. If it continues as the season goes on, the choice will be disastrous.

The reality of the team’s situation — the Lakers are very clearly a team that needs to develop and acquire young talent above all else — and the paradoxical choices that have popped up are signs that the culture and thought process of this team are up in the air.

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This culture doesn’t just come from pressure internally, or even from the fans, but from extended members of an important Los Angeles Lakers family. Highlighting this identity crisis, more symbolically than anything else, was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reiterating his thoughts that the Lakers should make the playoffs.

Kareem is not a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, nor does he work in their front office; his hefty expectations won’t shape the team directly. He is obviously entitled to his opinion, and it’s better for the world of basketball if he expresses it actively. But, his comments illustrate exactly what will plague the Lakers this season: an identity crisis.

Until the Los Angeles Lakers admit they are rebuilding, not “reloading,” more games reminiscent of the 112-111 season-opening loss will come. Realistic expectations should be growth, and the decisions made by the team should reflect the desire to achieve said growth.

Chasing extra wins by pushing Bryant’s body to the edge or limiting the young core’s minutes in favor of veterans does nobody any good. This season will be a failure if that strategy is employed.

Most fans of the Los Angeles Lakers acknowledge this.

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Let’s hope the Lakers continue to do so themselves.