The Los Angeles Lakers are in a deep hole right now. This team has lost six out of the seven games they've played since the All-Star break. While there is still some (misguided?) optimism about this squad going on an extended run in the playoffs this year, the majority of Lakers fans have already accepted their team's fate this season. There's just this lingering feeling that this is already a wasted year and that it's time to look forward to what's ahead for the organization.

Apparently, it isn't just the fans and the media who are feeling this way about the Lakers. According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, even the players themselves are already feeling dejected about how this season has panned out for their team:

Multiple conversations with staff members and players have included the some version of the phrase, “at least there’s only a month left” — not exactly the kind of message you hear from a group with realistic visions of playing until early summer.

It sounds like there's a heavy cloud of pessimism looming over the Lakers right now. The report did not indicate which particular players have taken this defeatist attitude, but I'd be shocked if LeBron James was one of them. The King has been through a lot of trying times throughout his decorated career and he just isn't the type to give up on his team.

Then again, one could argue that LeBron is in the midst of one of the worst stretches of his entire tenure in the NBA. What's happening with the Lakers right now is downright awful and to some extent, James should be held accountable for his role in forming this roster.

You also have to take into account how LeBron has been playing of late. He's been balling out for the Lakers for pretty much the entire season. As a matter of fact, James is playing some of the best basketball we've seen from him in years. Right now, the 37-year-old is averaging 29.3 points per game, which is his highest scoring output since 2010 during his first stint with the Cavs. He's also averaging 8.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.5 steals, a.d 1.0 blocks, while also draining 2.7 triples per contest on a 34.8-percent clip. It wouldn't be absurd to say that if the Lakers were in a much better position than they are now then James would have been in the MVP conversation yet again.

In spite of LeBron's heroics, the Lakers just can't manage to win. This has to be utterly disappointing for the four-time NBA champ and there are times when it seems that James is no longer able to hide his frustration.

On Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, there was one point in the game where a dejected LeBron looked like he was ready to raise the white flag. James looked completely fed up after Russell Westbrook missed a wide-open layup in a crucial juncture in overtime. Unfortunately, this has been the theme for the Lakers for the whole year, and to some degree, it feels like you just can't blame LeBron for looking like he's already abandoned all hope.

Technically speaking, the Lakers still have time to turn things around. At this point, however, it feels like only a miracle will be able to save this season for the purple and gold.