32-year old small forward Metta World Peace looks like he’s more than content to do the least he can to still pick up his paycheck.  He has played in 18 games (0 starts) for the Lakers so far this year and he is averaging 20.9 minutes, 5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  The basket must look like it has a lid on it to Metta World Peace as he is only shooting 33.9% from the floor and 15.8% from three point range so far this year.  If he doesn’t start the pick up the pace, head coach Mike Brown will probably nail his butt to the bench.

37-year old point guard Derek Fisher is starting to act his age.  He has played in 19 games (all starts) for the Lakers so far this year and he is averaging 26.1 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Fisher is only shooting 35.8% from the floor and 30.3% from three point range so far this year, which is pathetic.  Derek Fisher is looking like a player running on fumes as he has not been helping the Lakers’ cause at all this year.  Fisher’s days of starting could be nearing an end for the Lakers if he doesn’t start shooting better.

Last season, Pau Gasol was a beast near the basket in last year’s playoffs, as he had as much to do with the NBA Championship as Kobe Bryant did.  This year though, Gasol is getting pushed around….especially in this series as Dirk Nowitzki is really dominating him.  Gasol has played in all three games against the Mavericks so far in this series and he is averaging 36.3 minutes, 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.  That is just not going to get it done.  Gasol is the key player today, because if he doesn’t play well, the Lakers season is going to be over.  Gasol has now played in 9 games (all starts) in the playoffs so far this year and he is averaging 36.0 minutes, 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game.  But, he is only shooting 42.2% in the playoffs which is awful for a player of Gasol’s skill set.

The Lakers will be without backup small forward Matt Barnes for at least a month (and maybe two) with a torn meniscus in his right knee.  Barnes has played in 37 games (0 starts) for the Lakers so far this year and he is averaging 20.8 minutes, 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  His minutes will likely fall to Shannon Brown & rookie Devin Ebanks.  Brown has played in 37 games (0 starts) so far this year and he is averaging 18.8 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  Brown is also shooting 41.5% from three point range so far this year and that is outstanding.  Devin Ebanks has played in 12 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Lakers and he averaged 6.4 minutes, 2.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  The Lakers are going to miss Barnes as he was pushing Ron Artest for P.T.

31-year old starting small forward Ron Artest needs to pick up the pace before 30-year old Matt Barnes takes his job.  Artest has played in 30 games (all starts) for the Lakers so far this year and he is averaging 26.9 minutes, 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game.  But, he is only shooting 39% from the floor and that is pretty awful.  Matt Barnes has played in 30 games (0 starts) so far this year and he is averaging 21.5 minutes, 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  He is shooting 47.1% from the floor this year so he’s adding punch to the offense when he’s on the court.  Artest better start playing better soon or he’s going to be playing in less than half of the game.

The Lakers tried like heck to deal 26-year old shooting guard Sasha Vujacic over the summer but they didn’t find any takers.  He is buried on the depth chart and is rarely getting his butt off the bench.  Vujacic has played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Lakers so far this year and he is averaging 5.4 minutes, 2.0 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Vujacic is only shooting 34.8% from the floor so far this year and I don’t see that getting better any time soon due to his sporadic playing time.

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a three-game losing streak, the longest of their season.  They have not been playing very good team basketball and their defense has been suspect.  Head coach Phil Jackson loves the triangle offense, and he should since it has brought him 10 NBA Titles.  Ball movement is key in the triangle offense though, and the Lakers have not been doing a good job of moving the ball lately.  There has been too much standing around and 1-on-1 basketball.  Some of the Lakers’ players are making the mistake of giving the ball to Kobe Bryant and then being stagnant and just watching him go, instead of moving without the ball and creating opportunities for Kobe and the offense.  Kobe also needs to try and create more for his teammates, which is something he can do a great job most of the time.  Mainly though, they need to tighten up their defense.  They are giving up way too many points lately.  In their current three- game losing streak they are giving up an average of 102.7 points.  They are the defending champions and defense is one of the main reasons why.  They need to get back to playing better defense and limiting second chance points.  I’m confident the Lakers can get back on track and they are still my favorite to win the NBA Title again.  Hopefully this funk they are in currently will be a wake-up call for them and they can gain some more intensity.

Small forward Luke Walton’s season started late due to injury but that doesn’t cover up for the fact that he is not playing well. Walton has played in 20 games (0 starts) for the Lakers this season and he is averaging 8.6 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has fallen behind Shannon Brown on the depth chart pretty much because he has gotten outplayed by him.

Shooting guard Sasha Vujacic looks like he has flat out lost his job to Shannon Brown (who is outplaying him this season). Vujacic has played in 39 games (0 starts) for the Lakers this season and he is averaging only 7.9 minutes, 2.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. With his long range shooting being his main asset, Vujacic might need some time to get back his shooting rhythm if he gets brought back into the regular rotation at some point this season for the Lakers.

Small forward Adam Morrison continues to be overmatched in the NBA proving that Gonzaga is not a goldmine for NBA players. He has played in 20 games (0 starts) for the Lakers this season and he is averaging 8.3 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has the reputation of being a good shooter but it isn’t very accurate as he is shooting 39% from the floor, 28.6% from three point range and 50% from the free throw line. Morrison is looking like one of the all-time busts of the first round. He has played in 150 games (28 starts) in his three years in the league and he is averaging 21.4 minutes, 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.