Focus

Focus. A simple word that means so much. It applies to work, relationships, emotions, success and sports. Focus is what enables Kirk Gibson to hit a homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning in the World Series off of one leg. Focus is how Tiger Woods wins Golf’s toughest competition with only one knee. Focus is what allows the Boston Red Sox to defeat the New York Yankees in the ALCS after being down 3-0.

Focus is what the Lakers are losing.

The Lakers have surrendered double digit leads in the third quarter in their last three games all to sub .500 teams. Hold on, they won two of those games, right? Yes. They lost on a last second three pointer, right? Yes. So what’s my point?

How you act now, determines how you act in the future. There’s a reason why Phil keeps plugging in Vujacic when he can’t make a bucket even if he was standing inside of it. Phil understands that he’ll need Sasha at some point in the playoffs and relegating him to the bench, will crush his focus for the rest of the season. Sasha has to keep playing.

So why do three seemingly meaningless games against sub .500 teams matter? Because how you play the bad teams, will reflect how you rise to the good ones. This Laker team does not have the defense to allow a terrible team down 18, to crawl back and nearly steal a game. It’s as if they believe NBA games are now only three quarters long. Why else would the Lakers stop caring, er, playing after 36 minutes?

The Lakers are still one of the few elite teams in the league, and they’re poised for a deep playoff run. What is worrisome is if they can shrug off the lack of killer instinct criticism as a temporary mental lapse, do they really understand it’s a problem? Last years crushing defeat to Boston was chalked up to a missing Andrew and defense. I don’t disagree, but losing by 38 points in a must win game in the Finals, isn’t just being soft. That’s called giving up.

If the Lakers don’t figure out their focus issues, we may be in for another long summer. The difference is we won’t be seeing the resurrection of a once proud franchise, but a coronation of a King.