NBA2K14 simulation predicts Lakers will miss playoffs

An NBA2K14 simulation has the Lakers missing the NBA playoffs. Photo Credit: NBA2K

An NBA2K14 simulation has the Lakers missing the NBA playoffs. Photo Credit: NBA2K

Anxiousness awaits for the Lakers’ training camp, and for what?

Very few tab them as NBA championship favorites. Uncertainty lingers on how Kobe Bryant will look after he heals his left Achilles tendon. Skepticism persists over whether Mike D’Antoni can lead these Lakers through troubled times.

That’s perhaps why NBA2K14, a video game that prides itself on comprehensive player analysis and credible game simulations, tabs the Lakers this season failing to reach the playoffs and finishing with a 35-47 record. Granted, NBA2K13 rated last year’s Lakers as the NBA championship favorites, and we all know how that turned out. The NBA2K franchise also may do its own simulations before the Oct. 1 release. I received an advance copy and performed my own simulation.

But there’s plenty of reasons to feel skeptical about the Lakers. Dwight Howard bolted for the Houston Rockets. The Lakers lost their best defensive player in Metta World Peace for the sake of saving luxury taxes through the amnesty provision. The Lakers’ offseason additions in Nick Young, Wesley Johnson, Chris Kaman and Jordan Farmar bring some added speed and additional scoring. But on paper, it appears the Lakers don’t have enough defensively.

“This team just doesn’t have enough athleticism and speed to contend for a title,” said Clark Kellog, who offers analysis with Steve Kerr while Kevin Harlan serves as the play-by-play announcer for the NBA2K14 game.
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Metta World Peace predicts Lakers will make NBA Finals

Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace

As his former Lakers teammates, fans and reporters can all attest out here, Metta World Peace spent four seasons with the Lakers saying some pretty weird things.

Now that he joined the New York Knicks this offseason after the Lakers waived him through amnesty provision, the former Ron Artest has kept that habit up.

The Lakers may have lost Dwight Howard. They have cut ties with World Peace. They may face various health concerns involving Kobe Bryant (left Achilles tendon), Steve Nash (right hamstring) and Pau Gasol (knees). Skepticism remains on if the Lakers’ veteran-laden roster can handle the speed that the Clippers, Oklahoma City and Golden State boast.

No matter.

“I think the Lakers are going to go to the NBA Finals,” World Peace told ESPN New York. “I think Kobe’s gonna be healthy, they’re gonna get Pau. The Lakers are gonna make a big trade like they always do. They’re gonna get another good player, boom, boom, and they’re gonna go to the Finals. I believe it. Kobe’s gonna come back, he’s gonna play team ball, and Pau’s gonna play well.”
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