Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong AP

The Lakers New (new) Identity

Out goes Mike Brown and in comes Mike D’Antoni after the Lakers started 1-4 despite a highly talented team.

Was it premature? I think a little given Nash was injured and they were still getting used to a new offensive system.

Now the pressure is really on the Lakers to perform under D’Antoni’s highly charged offense.

Given the Lakers lack of three point shooters I highly doubt the system will mirror what D’Antoni was running in Phoenix with Nash.

Will he magically transform them into contenders again or will they continue on the dark road of defeat until they fire their second coach for the season?

The extra money made in their blockbuster TV deal seems to be disappearing by the day so this had better work or getting Dwight and Nash may have been a giant waste of time.

Watch Out For the Timberwolves

With arguably their best two players out with serious injuries (Love due back in early December and Rubio back in mid-late December) this team is tracking remarkably well.

Sitting at 5-2 and 5th in the West, this group of role players have quietly kept the ship afloat while their big guns sit on the sidelines.

Can they keep this great play going with Kirilenko, Barea, Roy, Pekovic and Shved leading the charge or will they drop a few games like everyone expected?

Bigger Troubles in Denver?

Many people predicted big things for this Denver team before the season started and after a 4-4 start those same people are wondering where it is all going wrong.

This super team that plays 10+ deep has struggled to get wins over opponents that shouldn’t trouble them with losses to the 76ers, Magic and Suns.

Questions will be asked of the playing group by George Karl and with games against Miami, San Antonio and Memphis in the next week they must provide a suitable answer.

This team has the talent to go very far but they are a long way off showing us why they were highly billed in October.

Which of the the three teams do you expect to turn it around? As always keen to hear your comments below.