Los Angeles Lakers demolished by Cleveland Cavaliers, final score: 100-94

The Los Angeles Lakers were [insert verb synonymous with embarrassed] by the Cleveland Cavaliers. A team with Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant alone should be able to put up, at the very least, a fight. But nobody on this team gives a [insert interjection synonymous with damn]. Steve Nash being out in a team that is prepped to be centered around his point guard abilities means they will surely play lesser without him, but this lack of effort and cohesion is [insert adjective synonymous with pathetic]. The Cavaliers demolished the Lakers, ate their souls (the little that they actually had), and walked away with a season defining defeat for the Lakers. Have the Lakers hit rock bottom?

We'll find out against the Washington Wizards. But this is the eighth circle of Hell for Dante; fraud.

The Lakers have been that exact six letter word thus far in the season. Frauds. It doesn't matter what last name is on the back of the jersey on any given night for the Lakers, this lack of effort is pitiful. Disgusting, lamentable, wretched, feeble. I can go on and on how poorly the Lakers are playing right now.

Where's the leadership from two of the top ten players in the league? Where is the pride in wearing the purple and gold; one of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Basketball Association? This is embarassing to everyone who has any stake in this. When it seems as if the beat writers, the bloggers, and the fans give more damns then the team actually playing on the basketball court? This is rock bottom.

Oh, wait, they still have to play the Washington Wizards on the road this week. Hold off on the champagne bottles popping for a franchise record low.

Once upon a time we saw a floundering Lakers team barely amount to 34 wins. It had Caron Butler, Chucky Atkins, Lamar Odom, and Chris Mihm starting alongside Kobe Bryant for over 60 games. Off the bench? Jumaine Jones, Brian Cook, Tierre Brown, Brian Grant, Luke Walton, Stanislav Medvendeko, Devean George, and Sasha Vuajacic (also, Vlade Divac, Kareem Rush, and Tony Bobbitt). They started the season with 14 wins and 8 losses. And they missed the playoffs. This team is 9-13 in the first 22 games of the season.

Anyone still feel like Kobe Bryant scoring 30 points or more is what's causing the Lakers' woes? How about the lack of a point guard who can handle cradling this team, this offense, and this history. Clearly the Lakers need somebody who can facilitate the offense as Chris Duhon, Kobe Bryant, and [insert name of any other player on the Lakers roster] are all unable to create for their teammates consistently. The offense has no rhythm, the defense has no effort, and the Lakers as a team have no heart.

None.

Yes, the Lakers clawed back into a game they had no business being in. On the back of who? Kobe Bryant. Heart of a king, that man has. Think twice before calling out him trying to take the game into his own hands as the Lakers flop around like fish out of the water.

X player had Y points. Z player had A assists. The Lakers lost. Next up, the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. That should go well, right?

Anyone feel that way, with Steve Nash being out two more weeks AT LEAST, and Pau Gasol still trying to rehab that tedinitis? Didn't think so.

via assets.sbnation.com

Full recap in the morning.

- Drew

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