With how bad things have been going for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, it's not hard to see why the blame game has long been going on in LA. Right now, it's team general manager and vice president for basketball operations Rob Pelinka that has been unceremoniously placed on the hot seat.

Previous reports have emerged about Pelinka potentially being in danger of losing his job in Hollywood. These whispers became even louder after the Lakers failed to make any significant move prior to the trade deadline despite the apparent need for an upgrade on their roster. Pelinka implied that this was a collective decision made by the organization and that prominent players — LeBron James included — were on board. It was later revealed that LeBron himself was not particularly happy with LA's inactivity and that Pelinka was being untruthful when he said otherwise.

This was just one of the issues Pelinka has faced with more than a few folks out there questioning his competence for the job.

Be that as it may, it still sounds like Pelinka's seat isn't as hot as most would expect. The main reason behind this is the support he has from team owner Jeanie Buss. According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Bill Oram of The Athletic, Pelinka still has the full backing of the big boss:

Before and after the meeting, this much remained clear about Buss: Even if there’s criticism coming from all corners, she’s unapologetic about the counsel she keeps and the people she chooses to empower. And often, it seems, the significance of the history she has with each of her chosen allies is lost on most observers. Take Pelinka, for example, the longtime agent for Bryant and close friend of Buss, who sources say still has her full support and trust.

You could say that above anything else, this is the most important thing for Pelinka right now. He has been on the receiving end of a ton of criticism for his performance as the Lakers' general manager this season, but regardless of how he might be painted by the media, the fact still remains that Buss trusts him. As the above report states, Jeanie Buss doesn't appear to care too much about the noise and she remains steadfast in her confidence in the people she chose to lead her franchise, which as of right now, includes Rob Pelinka. You also cannot discount the fact that these two go way back and the relationship they built through the years is definitely something that is working in Pelinka's favor right now.

It goes without saying, however, that Pelinka is anything but indispensable. He still has the complete trust and confidence of Buss — until he doesn't. Don't let her facade fool you. This woman is as pragmatic as they come. Let's not forget that Buss once went to court to seek restraining orders against her two brothers during the peak of the franchise takeover.

Once Jeanie Buss feels that Pelinka is no longer living up to her lofty expectations as the team's VP and GM, then Buss likely won't hesitate to fire him. Whatever history they have will be thrown out the window if and when the time comes that she's faced with a decision that will have major implications of the future of the organization. After all, it's the Lakers that comes first. Always.