Success can’t be bought…

Success is a very hard thing to come by in the NBA. Some owners and general managers believe they can win by bringing in the big name talent, while others stress patience and build through the draft. Building from the draft can be tough and can take more than a few seasons to start being competitive.

 

Building through the draft is what the majority of small market teams do because big name players love, and are attracted to, the big city life that the larger markets offer. But being in a big and successful market has not been the case for one of the most successful teams in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers.

 

The Lakers have had a season filled with drama, losing, injuries, and feuds between players and coaches. You name it, they’ve been through it. It’s been the perfect scenario for teams like the Clippers, Thunder, Spurs, and Warriors, who have had so much success this season, when the Lakers were supposed to be the juggernauts of the NBA still stole the spotlight from those successful teams. That honor has gone to the Miami Heat who looks like a team who is on a mission to repeat as champions, but back to the Lakers.

 

This team has been so bad at times that they look like they have no kind of clue of what’s going on. Yes, they have had a coaching change, but that hasn’t worked out so well either. In the past, the Lakers have always been the team that spent the money for big named talent. That has not been the case with the LA Lakers this season, and has showed everyone why success can’t be bought anymore.

 

In some cases, success can still be bought, but with a price. That price has been the Lakers season, thus far. They gambled big time on a 39-year-old, Steve Nash, who has been injury prone all year, and has been burned by younger, faster point guards around the league.

 

Kobe Bryant has been the one guy for them who has played hard, and has been a leader when no one else on the squad had any clue of what to do. Now, Kobe is out for the season with a career threatening injury; a torn Achilles’ tendon.

 

Pau Gasol, who was injured off and on this year, had issues with finding his role on the team but looks to have finally figured it out the last two weeks of the season. I guess better late than never.

 

Metta World Peace, like Kobe, has been one of the most consistent role players for the team and brings it every night.

 

Next, Earl Clark, he was supposed to be a throw in from the Dwight Howard trade, but has proven to be a great role player with tons of potential, not as a star, but as great role player.

 

Then there is Dwight Howard. Howard started off slow, and had flashbacks from the “Dwightmare” that went down in Orlando last year, but he has picked up his play in the second half of the season.

 

Nash and Howard are the two guys who were supposed to put the Lakers over the top and beyond, from proposed record setting numbers to dominating teams around the league; that has not happened though. The Lakers had to fight to just make the playoffs and are on the verge of being swept out of the playoffs. Injuries have played a part into this season of course, but team chemistry has not been there. Money was spent but the end result has not been there for a team with such high expectations.

 

Buying success can be great at times or can result with headaches. Success is not just bought, but is earned. Success is more than just having big names that will fill the seats; success is about having heart and not just playing for a team, but for the fans who contribute to the success as well. It’s not that success cannot be bought, because really it can, but for the Lakers and other super teams, success must be earned no matter what. Earned by wins and having heart. Success is hard to come by. At the end, success can be bought but may not produce positive results, not to mention championships. Peace!