The current state of affairs for the Los Angeles Lakers is explained fairly easily and with few surprises. The team has been bringing up the rear of the Western Division for the entire season and is ensconced in a forward-looking, youth-driven rebuild.
Heading into the stretch run, there are two major focal points—the last games of Kobe Bryant’s brilliant career as he heads into retirement, and the progress of rookies and second-year players.
Predictions at this late stage come with a healthy dose of reality—to wish for a playoff berth, for instance, would be fantasy at best.