The Lakers still have 13/4 odds to win the NBA championship — second only to Miami — but the team is hardly inspiring confidence these days. Los Angeles lost 96-94 to the Mavs on Monday, and their lack of effort was evident. The Lakers have used defense to reach this stage of the playoffs, but they let the Mavericks shoot nearly 50 percent from the field—including nearly 57 percent in the decisive second half, in which Los Angeles blew a 16-point lead.

Kobe Bryant isn’t hiding his worries. “I’m highly concerned,” Bryant said after the loss. “The team can beat us. It’s clear.” Obviously, Bryant is trying to motivate his teammates, but his words ring true—the Lakers are vulnerable. Right now, Bryant seems like the only one who is truly trying. Bryant racked up 36 points on Monday, with only two other Lakers cracking double digits—and none but Kobe topping 15 points.

If you’re looking for a scapegoat, look no further than Pau Gasol. Though he posted a solid line in Game 1 (15 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists), Gasol has yet to put forth a dominating performance and ease some pressure off Bryant. The Spaniard hasn’t topped 17 points in the playoffs, and he’s scored 20-plus points just once in his past 15 games.

But jumping all over the Dallas bandwagon might be a little premature. The Mavericks are also severely lacking legitimate threats beyond Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, and getting modest contributions from players other than those two is crucial. Dallas is 50-15 this season when four or more players score in double figures; when it doesn’t happen, the Mavericks are just 7-10.

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