LA Lakers underperform this season despite big expectations

Head coach Mike D'Antoni of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 21, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers sdrives against Matt Barnes #22 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on November 2, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won 105-95.

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The Lakers have lost 10 of their last 12 games and this morning, found themselves closer to last place than a playoff spot with less than half the season left to play.

The Lakers started the season with big expectations. The team had added arguably the NBA's best center in Dwight Howard and one the greatest point guards of all time in Steve Nash, and, of course, they still had Kobe Bryant.

But the Lakers havent performed as well as expected. The team has lost 10 of their last 12 games and this morning, found themselves closer to last place than a playoff spot with less than half the season left to play.

Here to help us untangle this purple and gold drama is Andy Kamenetsky, longtime Lakers reporter for ESPN and the LA Times.