The Lakers Have Nowhere To Go, post Howard’s Era

It’s been nearly a month since Dwight Howard moved from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Houston Rockets, and yet, the Lakers have no strategy for the next season. Kobe Bryant is injured, and it’s time for Pau Gasol to shine, at least he believes so.

“I think I have the most uncertain period behind me,” Gasol told The Associated Press. “The team has suffered a lot of changes, but as far as me, I am back in the position of a lot of responsibility, which I like, and I’m just going to focus on getting healthy.”

“Now with Dwight gone I am the reference inside and I am more like I was a couple of years back when we made the Finals three straight times and won two straight championships,” he added.

The Lakers have 100/1 odds to make win the NBA championship in the 2013/14 season.

“It’s hard for me to sit here and criticize or even to understand why he left a place like L.A.,” D’Antoni told Los Angeles reporters about Howard’s move. “That’s kind of mind-boggling a little bit, but that’s in his DNA and what he wants to do.”

“Everybody has got to make that decision,” D’Antoni said. “You can debate it all you want. Only Dwight knows. Obviously he didn’t think he would be as happy here as he will be in Houston. That might be the case, and he had to make that decision. There will be a lot of speculation, we tried it, it didn’t work out, and we go forward. So be it. You hate it”.

Most experts think the Lakers should tank this season and plan for a high position in next year’s draft, which is loaded with talent.