The question buzzing around the NBA these days is, "What's wrong with the Lakers?"

Frodo knows.

For the Tolkien-challenged, that's the young hobbit who has to journey through a place he's never been that's full of assorted enemies all committed to the single goal of stopping him. The prize he already possesses saps his energy at times, making him even more vulnerable against the forces who want it, some of whom have considerably greater resources than his. Lords of Rings in every realm, it seems, face the same the problems.

	Family holiday bickering has even struck Kobe Bryant (8) and the Lakers.

Not that anyone needs to feel sympathy for the Lakers as they might a pint-sized mythical character from Bag End. Just realize that if they're stumbling around looking disoriented, it's because they, Phil Jackson included, are in completely foreign territory. No one recently has chased a fourth consecutive title, much less been favored to do it. Michael Jordan in his prime took one look after clawing his way to three and retired. The presumption that the Bulls could've won a fourth the second time around ignores how broken down the team was after the '98 run. Chicago's three key players -- Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman -- certainly were never the same. With no salary-cap room to reload, I have to believe Phil knew that team didn't have a fourth run in it but let Jerry Krause take the heat for acting on that foresight. And without Jackson's season-long "Last Dance" theme -- as in go ahead and empty the tank -- maybe they don't even repeat the three-peat.

If they had stuck out another year, then there'd be a point of reference for this year's Lakers. But they didn't, so there's not.

So what's wrong with the Lakers, in short, is that they're shooting for a stretch of dominance that history suggests is beyond current physical limits. Yeah, the Celtics won eight in a row from '59 to '66 -- when two playoff rounds were the max and no luxury tax and draft lottery inhibited Red Auerbach from adding Satch Sanders in Year 3 or John Havlicek in Year 5 or Willie Naulls in Year 6. This, while keeping Bob Cousy for Years 1-5, Tommy Heinsohn 1-7 and Bill Russell and two Joneses (K.C. and Sam) for all eight. This isn't to devalue what Red and his teams did. It was simply a different, incomparable era.

What's also wrong with the Lakers is that they're beatable unless they have both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal at full strength, and Shaq isn't. After undergoing toe surgery that immobilized him for months but -- if what Shaq is privately saying is accurate -- hasn't alleviated the pain, he's in the second week of getting back into some semblance of shape. The Daddy is barking at the Lakers' complementary players because this is their time to carry a bigger part of the load and they aren't. (The reality is they probably can't.)

They're barking back because Shaq isn't close to being Shaq right now. The offensive numbers are solid, but when you're the biggest, fastest center in the league on a plodding team, those numbers always will be there. The dead giveaway is that the Lakers' D is worse, largely because O'Neal is too slow providing help or defending his own. The Hornets, for one, drove at will to the rim last weekend and Shaq either got there late (for goaltending calls) or not at all. The Lakers collectively had no steals through the first three quarters, in part because you can't gamble (unless you're Allen Iverson) without a shot-blocking safety net. As is, Shaq is averaging even fewer blocked shots than he did last season, when his aching big toe clearly limited his mobility.

What's also wrong with the Lakers is that Derek Fisher isn't the same defensively since breaking his foot twice. That means his overall confidence is slipping, which is now showing up in his shooting stroke. That means Brian Shaw is closing games, which means Kobe, despite bulking up to small-forward size, is defending point guards and scoring down the stretch. No one in the league handles that double duty every night, and all indications are he'll have it from here on out.

	What's also wrong with the Lakers is that they need fresh talent more than their challengers, but owner Jerry Buss doesn't want to pay for it. He's already on the hook for $8 million in luxury tax.

What's also wrong with the Lakers is that they need fresh talent more than their challengers, but owner Jerry Buss doesn't want to pay for it. He's already on the hook for $8 million in luxury tax, and the Lakers have the sixth-highest payroll ($63 million). But the Orcs breathing down their back are the Kings ($69.75 million) and Mavericks ($73.5 million). How much do you think Jim Jackson could be helping the Lakers right now?

What's also wrong with the Lakers is the horses they've ridden hard for three consecutive postseasons can't possibly get stoked for games in December while aiming for a fourth June. Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Fisher, Kobe and Shaq all put between 1,547 (Fisher) and 2,452 (Shaq) extra grueling playoff minutes on their bodies over the last three years. For comparison, Chris Webber leads the Kings over the last three years in playoff minutes with 1,211, and that's while missing a good chunk of every regular season. Vlade Divac has plenty of playoff battle scars, but his 3,176 career minutes are paltry compared to Horry's 4,882.

"You're programmed to keep going to the well," says one Bull who played that fourth season without MJ after the first three-peat. "But what if there's nothing there?"

What's also wrong with the Lakers is that Jerry West is in Memphis. That's not a knock on Mitch Kupchak, because he's dealing with one of the reasons West left -- no room, financial or otherwise, to operate. In any case, the current roster offers no relief. It takes a full year just to feel comfortable in the triangle offense, much less contribute, so forget about Tracy Murray or Kareem Rush. The failed experiments with Mitch Richmond and Isiah Rider, meanwhile, are quietly coming home to roost.

What's not wrong is that Shaq opted to have surgery in the fall and thereby cut down the regular-season wear-and-tear he'll absorb. They need him at full capacity in five months, not now. It could mean the Lakers are a lower postseason seed, but that's the kind of maneuver necessary when all the elements are working against you. Just ask the Baggins' kid.

And Ones
As it stands, 17 teams almost certainly will incur the luxury tax this season. The Spurs, No. 18, are on the bubble at $52 million. The top five -- Blazers ($105.5 million), Knicks ($93.75 million), Mavs, Kings, 76ers ($64.5 million). The Lakers, Nets ($61.4 million), Grizzlies ($61 million), Timberwolves ($59 million) and Bucks ($58 million) round out the top 10. ... Kings point guard Mike Bibby is telling teammates he'll be ready to make his season debut on Thursday against the Spurs. As much of a favorite as Bibby became last spring, he may have slipped (again) behind Bobby Jackson, who missed his first game Sunday with a sprained foot. When Jackson's unavailability was announced, there was an audible groan in Arco Arena. "He's been our best player," coach Rick Adelman said. ... San Antonio placed rookie Manu Ginobili on the injured list to let his ankle heal completely and his frustrations to subside so they'll have him for the stretch run. No timetable is set for his return. They don't have another perimeter player with his combination of playmaking, scoring and defense. ... I have no problem with announcers second-guessing the officials, even though they have the benefit of a replay monitor and a stationary sideline seat and get it wrong more often than the referees do in real split-second time. Announcers are in a tricky position as media employed by respective teams, but what has made some telecasts on the dish increasingly unbearable is yammering from those who've never read the NBA rulebook, official's manual or case book -- all three are essential -- or talked to a referee about his job. The league is providing media of every type that chance for the first time this season, which means announcers -- and columnists, for that matter -- could be providing insight to how and why calls are made, the same as they would a busted play or a coaching move. Instead, some just bellow in ignorance, misleading their viewers and readers. The worst are those who compare the number of fouls or free throws between teams or individuals, as if that's indicative of anything. It's a disservice to the game and it's certainly not analysis. There, I feel better.

Ric Bucher covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ric.bucher@espnmag.com.