I’m willing to bet that even the Dallas Mavericks are secretly at least a little bit surprised that they swept the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Surely, they thought they could prevail in the series, but not in four games. But of course, that isn’t the story today. Unfortunately for the Mavs, even in defeat, the Lakers steal the headlines.
Following yesterday’s game, the storylines were regarding Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum’s hard fouls on Dirk Nowitzki and J.J. Barea made out of frustration at the end of the blowout Game 4 loss, the potential end of Phil Jackson’s coaching career, and the end of the Lakers’ dynasty. Odom and Bynum should be ashamed of themselves. Bynum’s ignorance reached new heights with that foul on Barea. As if taking off his jersey when walking back to the locker room wasn’t enough, Ron Artest of all people was the one to escort him. You know you’ve really acted up if Artest has to make sure you keep your cool.
This is another story for another day, but why is everyone throwing Phil Jackson a pity party for how his last game ended? He has 11 rings! Knock it off.
But what resonated with me the most was everyone’s assumption that this was the end of the line for the Lakers as we know them. I was completely shocked when I heard Magic Johnson say that the Lakers should blow up the team. Why on Earth should they do that? The Lakers went to three consecutive Finals with this current core, winning two of them, and because the Mavs sweep them, they’re not good anymore? I disagree.
Maybe it had something to do with the matchup. Perhpas Dallas just matches up really well against the Lakers and that’s the reason they lost the series. Sure, the Lakers are getting up there in age. Kobe is 32, Fisher is 36, Odom is 31, Gasol is 30 and Artest is 31. The three most important guys of the aforementioned are Kobe, Odom and Gasol. I don’t think anyone would argue that those three are still effective and that they are the core of the team, along with Andrew Bynum. Sure, Fisher has hit alot of shots for the Lakers in his career, but if they got rid of him, would the team really be any worse? The same goes for Ron. How much of a setback would they suffer if Ron went elsewhere?
If the Lakers returned the exact same roster next season, I guarantee they would contend for the top seed in the West again. Why wouldn’t they? Because Phil Jackson is leaving? You’d think that a veteran-laden team such as this would have what it takes to continue winning with Brian Shaw (Jackson’s successor in all likelihood) as the new head coach. Kobe still averaged north of 25ppg in the regular season, Pau had just as strong a season as he ever has, and Odom won Sixth Man of the Year in a season where pundits said this was his best year ever. So, I’m confused.
Many thought the Spurs’ run came to an end after they were unceremoniously swept by the Suns in the second round of last year’s playoffs. But then they turned around and won the West’s regular season by winning 61 games. The commonality is that they’re just as old as the Lakers. However, their anchor, Tim Duncan, has fallen off faster than anyone I have ever seen not named Shaquille O’Neal. No one on the Lakers of any significant relevance has suffered a demise quite like Duncan.
More than anything, what contributed to the Lakers not winning another 3-peat was Pau Gasol’s play. Pau didn’t get worse in the playoffs because he aged since the regular season ended, but because he played softer than he ever has and wasn’t aggressive enough when it mattered most. But he’s still a very good, above average player in the league with plenty of game left.
If the Lakers want to get younger and add ancillary pieces around Kobe, Bynum, Gasol and Odom, fine. I can buy that. But to tinker with that core would be a huge mistake. When did going 57 – 25 in today’s Western Conference become a sign that the team needs to be blown up? It has become expected that the Lakers will be in the Finals every year, and because it didn’t happen, there must be a problem. There’s no problem. They’re entitled to lose. Somewhere along the line they became prisoners of their own greatness.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
