For anyone who has watched the Lakers this season, you'll know that they started with a lofty goal. They wanted to beat the 1995-96 Bulls who had 72 wins that season by getting 73 wins. I was a little skeptical, but thought that perhaps they could pull it off...especially with the defensive powerhouse acquisition of Ron Artest. But, pretty quickly we realized (and probably the Lakers, too) that there was no way they were going to realize that goal this season. Then they started to get plagued by injuries. The non-stop basketball that Kobe was playing was finally taking it's toll (Olympics in the off season, etc). We ended the season with a very poor showing, losing too many games to try to compete with the Cavs for best record in the NBA. We ended up slipping to third best in the NBA under the Magic, but we were barely able to hold on to the best record in the West. In the first round of the playoffs, we are facing the OKC Thunder. A very young, but tenacious team. We made a good showing in the first two games and in the first 3 quarters of game 3....but then something snapped in the Lakers heads. They stopped playing. Stopped being aggressive. Stopped going inside to their big-men. They started taking ill-advised three pointers, even in two on one fast break opportunities. Joi and I were flabbergasted. Who are these guys? I read an article that said that either Kobe has had a zen moment and decided to stop believing in competition, or he was too worried about or hampered by his injuries to be effective. I'm going to believe the latter. But, the truth is, Kobe has gone missing. So, who will step up? I'd like to see Bynum and Gasol get the ball more in the paint. I'd like to see Ron Artest step up his defensive intensity. I'd like to see our second string make some shots. Tonight is game five at the Staples Center. I'll be watching with bated breath. If the Lakers show up and play hard, they might have a chance. If they look like lost, little children (like they have been in the last couple of games), then they are done. I can hardly believe that the series between the 1st seed Lakers (the defending champions, no doubt) and the 8th seed Thunder is tied 2-2. If the Lakers have decided to stop playing and hand the Thunder a free pass to the second round, then why bother showing up at all? Concede the game. Don't show up. Don't waste your time and ours by making us hope and believe that you are really going to try and compete. Seriously, Lakers! You are better than this. I feel like the Lakers are Rocky Balboa in the beginning of Rocky 3. They've lost that "Eye of the Tiger"! Come on, Lakers! Eye of the tiger! Eye of the tiger!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Lakers: Lay Down and Die or Pull It Together?
For anyone who has watched the Lakers this season, you'll know that they started with a lofty goal. They wanted to beat the 1995-96 Bulls who had 72 wins that season by getting 73 wins. I was a little skeptical, but thought that perhaps they could pull it off...especially with the defensive powerhouse acquisition of Ron Artest. But, pretty quickly we realized (and probably the Lakers, too) that there was no way they were going to realize that goal this season. Then they started to get plagued by injuries. The non-stop basketball that Kobe was playing was finally taking it's toll (Olympics in the off season, etc). We ended the season with a very poor showing, losing too many games to try to compete with the Cavs for best record in the NBA. We ended up slipping to third best in the NBA under the Magic, but we were barely able to hold on to the best record in the West. In the first round of the playoffs, we are facing the OKC Thunder. A very young, but tenacious team. We made a good showing in the first two games and in the first 3 quarters of game 3....but then something snapped in the Lakers heads. They stopped playing. Stopped being aggressive. Stopped going inside to their big-men. They started taking ill-advised three pointers, even in two on one fast break opportunities. Joi and I were flabbergasted. Who are these guys? I read an article that said that either Kobe has had a zen moment and decided to stop believing in competition, or he was too worried about or hampered by his injuries to be effective. I'm going to believe the latter. But, the truth is, Kobe has gone missing. So, who will step up? I'd like to see Bynum and Gasol get the ball more in the paint. I'd like to see Ron Artest step up his defensive intensity. I'd like to see our second string make some shots. Tonight is game five at the Staples Center. I'll be watching with bated breath. If the Lakers show up and play hard, they might have a chance. If they look like lost, little children (like they have been in the last couple of games), then they are done. I can hardly believe that the series between the 1st seed Lakers (the defending champions, no doubt) and the 8th seed Thunder is tied 2-2. If the Lakers have decided to stop playing and hand the Thunder a free pass to the second round, then why bother showing up at all? Concede the game. Don't show up. Don't waste your time and ours by making us hope and believe that you are really going to try and compete. Seriously, Lakers! You are better than this. I feel like the Lakers are Rocky Balboa in the beginning of Rocky 3. They've lost that "Eye of the Tiger"! Come on, Lakers! Eye of the tiger! Eye of the tiger!
1 comments:
Ahhh!!!! I despise the way the Lakers are playing! And some of the articles I've read are disappointing, too! Kobe and Fish are not that worried. They think the Thunder have won because of the way the Thunder are playing, them not blocking more of the Thunder shots, and not because of the weird threes the Lakers were taking. Weird basketball. Hopefully, tonight will be the change for our lacadasical (?) Lakers!
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