Blame Game Commences in LA

Lakers fans do have an excuse for how the first two games of their team's Western Conference semi-finals series went. The Denver Nuggets pushed them to the brink; they were likely beat both physically and mentally.

Game Three's win gave them hope that all will be restored to its natural state (with L.A. on top). For much of Game Four it appeared that the boys from Tinseltown were on the verge of tying the series at two games apiece and bringing sexy back to LA.

Kevin Durant had a different idea. His three-pointer with 13 ticks on the clock broke the tie and gave the Thunder the lead for good; final score--Thunder 103, Lakers 100.

Now the Lakers are down 3-1 and staring elimination in the face in Game Five on Monday. Even if you don't want to admit it Laker Nation, the writing is on the wall. It doesn't look good for your boys.

It's not the play on the court that says it—well, okay ultimately it is—but everything else that is going on.

Any and every coach will tell you that the first sign of a team ready to crumble is not one that loses or plays poorly, but one where a lot of in-fighting, bickering, and finger-pointing takes place. That is exactly what the Lakers are doing (especially in the direction of Pau Gasol).

Apparently it's all Gasol's fault that the Lakers are losing. Kobe Bryant made that clear in his comments following the game as did Andrew Bynum (it was Pau's fault that Bynum took all the shots that he missed in the 4th period).

The fact that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and the rest of the Thunder are playing well has nothing to do with it (sarcasm completely intended).

Kobe is likely hoping to motivate Gasol much like he did during the series with Denver. What he fails to realize is that when you go to that well too many times it goes dry real fast.

"Every single one of us played a part [in the losses]," Metta World Peace said. "Every single one of us needs to go to OKC and get back on track."

If MWP/Ron Artest is the voice of reason you know things are bad. They should have just blamed the ice from that darn hockey game.

Article by Travis Pulver