Dwayne Wade complains that the world is getting what it wants when the Heat lose. Kobe Bryant practices by himself an hour after an excruciating loss. Chris Bosh sniffles at the podium and bemoans his lack of touches. Kobe Bryant works on the shot that didn’t help his team last night but might help his team in the future. LeBron James tweets about going to war with his soldiers. Kobe Bryant is a bonafide general on the court and leads his teammates by example.
That is the cruci
Obviously the Heat know how to win ballgames (some of the time), but it is always easier to win games than to lose games. I know, duh. But in all honesty you never know what kind of team you have until adversity hits. Real adversity. That is when you see what each guy is made of and whether they can rise to the challenge or wilt under its immense pressure.
This season for the Lakers has been one of their most challenging in recent memory as a championship contender. They have had more losing streaks and fought more complacency than years past. The bulls-eye on their back grows larger with everything that they accomplish, and that can be wearying. The media blasted them, the fans questioned them and everyone asked what was wrong with the Lakers?
Instead of calling each other out or taking to Twitter, they weathered the storm and banded together. They got their mental focus back and have showed the league over the past month why they are the two time defending champions.
Next: That Don’t Impress Me Much
To be honest, the game last night doesn’t mean much in the long run. The Lakers are still 8-1 since All Star Weekend and are on an upwards trajectory. Ron Artest played well, hustling on both the offensive and defensive end and was one of the bright spots for me.
He had a number of steals, rebounds and assists and played stifling defense on 
Even though I was upset last night, I look at this loss differently than I would have earlier in the season, or if it came against Boston or San Antonio. Yes, Kobe might have tried to do too much by himself at the end, and Andrew didn’t step up for most of the game, but the Lakers are solid and I have come to learn how to weather their regular season roller coaster.
I think that the media and some fans tend to forget that the Lakers don’t have a rivalry with the Miami Heat! While there are connections between the two teams because of Pat Riley and the trade that sent Shaq to Miami in exchange for Lamar Odom etc, there is no animosity. There are no classic playoff battles, no bad blood, and no real threat.
I don’t think they’ll even make it out of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston, on the other hand? Bad blood is a mild way of putting it. San Antonio? Worthy playoff foes.
Those are the teams that have hurt the Lakers when it counts. Those are the teams that I am wary of. What has Miami done? Beat us twice in the regular season. Same as Cleveland last year, same as Charlotte has inexplicably done more than once. The regular season is important, but it is not everything and it is not always a harbinger of later success.
To be frank, the Heat wouldn’t bother me as much as they do if it wasn’t for The Decision and their ill-advised spectacle celebrating imaginary accomplishments they were (and are) nowhere near achieving.
They think they are hated because they are talented, but let me tell you: people do not hate talented teams. Michael Jordan’s Bulls, the early Lakers threepeat and numerous others have proved that. People hate arrogant teams, teams they see as full of hubris and entitlement.
Next: Leading by Example
In my opinion, the Heat believe they are entitled to the trophy because they think they have the best player and best shooting guard in the NBA. Even if that was true (which it isn’t), it entitles them to absolutely nothing. Hard work wins championships. Chemistry and knowing your role on the team wins championships. Having a leader who will settle for nothing less than your best each and every night wins championships.
LeBron said recently during their losing streak that “We could lose every game and still probably make the playoffs.” What a horrible attitude to have. Whether it is true or not is beside the point: that is a loser’s mentality. Champions try to go out and win every night, no matter what stands in their way. Even in an alternate universe, I can’t imagine Kobe saying something like that… ever.
I would say to put last night’s game behind you, Lakers Nation. If it wasn’t for writing this recap, I already would have! I like to pretend that certain events never happened, which is why I avoid ESPN and online sports sites like the plague. I don’t like to dwell on the negative and brush it off until the next encounter with said team.
Plus, it soothed my angered soul to hear about the Mamba spontaneously practicing until midnight after the game. It was the first time he has done so since a playoff loss back in 2004. That in and of itself speaks volumes and gives me faith that the Lakers will be alright.