It may be time for the Los Angeles Lakers to hit the panic button after falling to the now 5-17 Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night 100-94.
The Lakers are now four games below .500 at 9-13, and their struggles under coach Mike D'Antoni's system continues to plague the team leaving a baffled Kobe Bryant confused and close to his breaking point.
"This is one of the most challenging stretches of my 17 years, and the most baffling, too," a puzzled Bryant said after the Lakers lost for the eighth time in 11 games. "We have the talent and personnel to do it, but we're not, and it's baffling. It's extremely frustrating.
"It doesn't make any sense. We're still finding ways to lose games."
Bryant did everything he could offensively scoring 42 points in the loss. He admits with every loss it's becoming harder to keep his cool or his "Zen".
"I'm very upset, and in the past I would blow my top and go crazy," he said. "Then I had a head coach [Phil Jackson] who always kept calm and I learned from that.
"I'm trying to do the same thing here, but I won't lie; they're messing with my Zen stuff."
Defense has been the topic of discussion for the Lakers current problems and Bryant admittedly spoke on their transition defense has being one of their main problems.
"Last year we got beat in the playoffs by transition points and this year it's still an Achilles' heel for us. I don't know if we're too slow of a team and we got to change things up a little bit and play a slower game. I don't know the answer."
Their defense or lack thereof led to Kyrie Irving torching the Lakers with 28 points and 11 assists in his return after missing 11 games with a broken finger. C.J. Miles scored 28 in his first start this season, Anderson Varejao had 20 and Alonzo Gee 17 for the Cavs.
Related Articles:
Los Angeles Lakers News 2012: Steve Nash Says He Still Needs Some Time Before He Makes His Return
LeBron James Tells Charles Barkley To 'Shut Up' With Critical Comments Towards Dwayne Wade
