Magic foresees subpar season for Lakers
From where Magic Johnson sits, the Los Angeles Lakers are in for a long season.
The former Lakers great, who now is a part owner of the Dodgers, says the team's fans are spoiled.
"I don't know how they're going to react now because this is going to be a tough season," Johnson said Tuesday in a radio interview on ESPNLA 710. "This is going to be one of the roughest seasons that the Lakers have ever faced.
"You're waiting on Kobe (Bryant) to see if he can get healthy. Nobody knows if he can be what he was. Then you've got (Pau) Gasol -- who I think is a premier big man -- but he plays better when he has talent around him.
"You've got guys who are all on one-year contracts, and all were journeymen on other teams. Laker fans are not used to that. I don't know if they're going to buy into that. We're going to see. If you want the Laker fans to really buy in and be involved, you're going to have to win right away. I don't see that happening."
Johnson thinks it will be tough for the Lakers to make the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference.
"We have to see what Kobe we're going to get," Johnson said the injured Lakers guard who is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. "Is he going to be that same Kobe or is he going to be hurt a little bit?"
Johnson is still bothered by the Lakers not hiring Phil Jackson as coach last year when they had the opportunity.
"It blows me away that we could've had Phil Jackson," Johnson said. "As much as we all would like to see Phil a part of it, he understands it can't happen."
