It’s A One-Sided Affair in Orlando

If Friday night was any indication of who’s the better center, there should be no argument following Dwight Howard’s 21-point/23-rebound overpowering performance in the Orlando Magic’s 92-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Amway Center. But of greater importance, this was the Lakers third consecutive game where their offense failed them. They managed only 10- first quarter points en route to a meager 31- total points in the first half. This follows equally unimpressive starts against Dallas (39-points) and Miami (37-points). In fact, the offensively-challenged Lakers have not scored over 100-points for the tenth game in a row. To put this into proper perspective, they’ve hit the century mark exactly ONCE this entire season.

The price for the services of free-agent-to-be Dwight Howard just doubled. Copyrights may apply. All rights reserved.

Kobe Bryant (30 points on 11-22, 8 assists, 3 rebounds) was the sole Laker who arrived in Orlando prepared for redemption after getting outplayed the previous night to Lebron James and the Miami Heat. Kobe went so far as to give his team a pep-talk before the game but this apparently fell on deaf ears. Andrew Bynum (10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocked shots), the young center often compared with Howard, was limited to 26-minutes of action after picking up two-quick fouls whereas his running mate Pau Gasol, (13 points on 4-12, 10 rebounds, 3 assists), fared no better. If Drew had hoped to secure his Laker future with a strong performance, he did little to sway opinions of who should be tabbed as number 1.

This game was much more than Howard vs. Bynum, but unfortunately, with all of the hype leading up to this game, little could be done to sway fans from comparing the two, dominant big men in the NBA. Had the Lakers fired on all cylinders, or even half of them, the final outcome could easily be flip-flopped. But for some reason, be it a new coach with a new system, an aging group of tired veterans, or a serious lack of talent, the Lakers have hit the wall and appear beat. Beat as in beaten up, beaten to the punch, and beaten to a pulp.

Along with the team having problems with their offense, roles appear confused as Mike Brown tries to find a group that can work cohesively out on the court. That elusive five-some remains to be found as minutes are scattered up-and-down the roster. Unfortunately, no one player has stepped up to secure his spot in the ever-changing rotation. It has been one experiment after another, with the results often more disastrous than helpful. This team lost a lot of impact when it traded away Lamar Odom. But for our other bigs to look this confused and unsure of themselves boggles the mind.

If help is indeed on the way, the price for it just increased. With both Bynum and Gasol underperforming, why would Otis Smith, or any GM give up a prized possession in a one-to-one exchange. Would you give up Howard for Bynum straight-up? Gasol? How about Deron Williams? The only way to gain an upper hand in any trade equation is for the Lakers to start playing better and to win some games.Perhaps the team should focus on its glaring deficiencies rather than dwell on the unattainable. Regardless, the problem is no longer an anomaly but instead a huge gaping hole that needs to be filled immediately. Otherwise, come playoff time, we may find ourselves watching another LA team on TV living up to its lofty expectations.