I have a theory about the Lakers' current difficulties. The problem is not that they are (significantly) worse than they were last year (6 months ago actually), but their very fame itself is working against them.

Teams will play the Lakers harder because they are big-name repeat champs. This means that they will give their best effort when on the Lakers. It is impossible to give a "best effort" all year around because it would wear your team down and create lots of injuries before you get to the finals. One is simply more motivated when around super-stars.

The Lakers cannot compete with that because like I said above, you can't give your best effort at every single game. This applies to the Lakers also. Thus, it is more or less like "ganging up on" the Lakers, like how focusing a bunch of laser pens on one spot makes the spot hotter; like a network D.O.S. (internet packet) attack.

Their pre-finals scoring has dropped repeatedly lower each year they were the champs. This is because they become bigger and bigger stars with each championship, which in turns targets all the other team's adrenaline toward the Lakers.

I would also note that the Lakers generate the highest ticket sales and viewerships. Thus, there are more eyes watching the competing team, making them expend even more effort.

If the Lakers can just get a foot into the finals, I think they will score better because finals is when everybody must max their effort anyhow. However, the Lakers may be spent by then from fighting all the adrenaline cannons induced by their fame at each and every sweat-dripping game they play.

Just the price of fame, I guess. I suspect they will lose the championship this season, but come back next season because the fame-gun will be on another team.

-T-