Lakers Coby Karl moves to LA D-Fenders; fans, critics skeptical about reserve trades

With the latest change in the Lakers reserves - the handing of Coby Karl to Los Angeles’ minor league affiliate, the LA D-Fenders - fans and critics are skeptical what about whether the trades and moves will bring more success. Karl, who will be facing off against the Rio Grande Vipers today while his former team takes on the Denver Nuggets (coached by Karl’s father) tonight, is just one of the trades the Lakers have made in the past two weeks, according to an article published Thursday, Nov. 29, by the Los Angeles Times.

When Kwame Brown injured his knee and ankle, coach Phil Jackson pulled Andrew Bynum was pulled up to play with the first unit. Later last week, Maurice Evans and Brian Cook were traded to Orlando for Trevor Ariza, leaving even some LA team members wondering if their second unit will ever recover, according to the LA Times.
“The second unit is a lot of building chemistry together, and we kind of had a real solid chemistry,” forward Luke Walton said. “Then between injury and trades, people were getting moved from the second unit to the first unit, and the first unit to the second unit, and we kind of lost our flow and rhythm that we had there for a bit.

“It’s hard,” Walton said about being a reserve. “It’s definitely harder to play that way, but at the same time, you can’t really make excuses.”

While the Lakers have struggled with their past four games - winning their last against Seattle, despite the tied half-time score - they seem to be dedicated to coming back and giving it their all. Kobe Bryant, who scored 35 points against the Supersonics, is still putting in valiant efforts, which haven’t gone unnoticed by fans and even competitors: “He brings that intensity to the whole game and he gets the crowd going,” Kevin Durant, Seattle rookie, said of Bryant. “You always learn from playing against a player like that.”

Fans will have their fingers crossed that LA can come back from their three-game losing slump as they take on the Denver Nuggets tonight. Still haven’t been to a game this season? Get a pair of Lakers tickets right here and right now at Stubhub.com.

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