I will say this for last night’s game: even though it was still a loss, it was better than Sunday. Neither team shot well, but both played good defense. It was an even matchup that unfortunately did not bounce the Lakers’ way.
I really liked the way Andrew Bynum played aggressively. He was challenging shots, going up to get rebounds and throwing it down in the paint- Bynum finished with 10 points and 10 boards. 
Pau Gasol also played well, finishing with 19 points and 7 boards; Lamar had ten of his points in the final quarter, Artest had 13 and 5, and Kobe finished just one rebound shy of a triple double. The rest of the team really struggled offensively, like I mentioned, but the game itself was close and exciting the whole way.
It all came down to the last two minutes, of which the Lakers played good D. They held the Spurs scoreless, including missed signature shots from Ginobli, Parker, and Duncan, until the very end. The Lakers have been on the receiving end of many lucky bounces in their day, and last night was not meant to be unfortunately.
I’ve watched the Lakers lose some tough games, but I can’t remember many instances where it happened in such heartbreaking fashion. One lucky shot deserves another, so I guess it’s only fair in the scheme of things considering Derek Fisher’s 0.4 basket came against the Spurs. Not to mention the shots from Robert Horry back in the day… it didn’t make me feel any better last night though.
Next: Grudges and an Admission
I read an article recently where the author was wondering if anyone actually hated the Spurs. They’re vanilla, they’re boring, they go about their business and everyone respects them. While that all may be true, I can tell you one person who hates the Spurs: this girl. I hold basketball grudges for years, and I can’t let go of the fact that they knocked us out of the playoffs in 2003, ending our bid for a fourth straight title.
I couldn’t forgive 
I don’t like to admit this but we, as Lakers fans, are spoiled. Yes, I said it. It is championship or bust for us every year, and always has been since the days of the Minneapolis Lakers. While some fans hope to see their team get the number one draft pick go .500 in the regular season, or make the playoffs and God willing the Finals, anything less than a championship in LA isn’t good enough.
I’m not saying that that is a bad thing, but it is a fact. At the same time, it is not our fault that our team wins. Many of us in Lakers Nation have grown up watching the Lakers either because we were born and/or raised in Southern California, or because of our families. Bleeding purple and gold is a way of life for us, the true fans, and we shouldn’t be penalized or have our feelings of doubt marginalized just because of who we support.
Next: Why we are still lucky to be Lakers fans
Lakers fans might not ever understand the true heartache of rooting for other franchises, even though we think we do, but that is okay. For whatever reason, I feel unnecessary guilt in many aspects of my life, including about sports. I used to worry about “being allowed” to feel sad or to complain about the Lakers. I’m not going to worry any longer. I am proud to be a Lakers fan and have no reason to apologize for supporting my team so fervently- I know that I bleed purple and gold.
I feel lucky to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan. While I wish I was old enough to remember the days of Magic and Kareem and their epic battles with the Celtics, I’ve gotten to witness Kobe Bryant’s greatness every day for his entire career. I got to watch Shaq dominate in his prime. I get to watch history unfold each and every day in Phil Jackson’s quest for an unprecedented 4th threepeat and Kobe’s march through the record books. I’ve witnessed some of the greatest plays and greatest players in history.
We have been continually blessed with amazing players, great coaches, fantastic management and five separate Lakers dynasties (and counting). We have sixteen banners hanging from the rafters and have missed the playoffs only twice since Jerry Buss bought our team. And the sky is certainly not falling on this current season yet.
Next: This sounds familiar
As a slightly amusing aside, here is a word for word from my personal journal, which I wrote last year in April… it’s sad that you could read it and think I was referring to this season because the complaints are the same:
“I don’t even know where to begin with the Lakers. They are so disappointing, and have been for the past two months. I don’t know what’s wrong with them. I feel like the only one that is passionate and cares is Kobe. Maybe Pau. They have the potential to be so amazing, like they were in the beginning of the season. It makes me sad. The season isn’t over by any means and they have time to recapture their swagger, but time is running out.
Part of me has unwavering, even blind faith in the Lakers; I believe in comebacks until we’re down more than 10 with 30 seconds left. Maybe that’s unrealistic, but that’s how I feel. The other part of me has serious doubts about their commitment, their passion and drive, their accuracy… I’m secretly scared about losing Game 6 or 7 to the Thunder. And if they make it past the first round, how far they will go with their current attitude and poor style of play.
And then of cours
And as we all know, they did! Thank goodness. But yeah, it’s incredible how that exact statement could have been meant for 2008, or 2009, or this year in addition to last year. I guess that’s part of being a sports fan. The frustrations that come along the way… and they never seem as bad after the fact of course but it’s hard to see the forest through the trees sometimes.
So even though I take losses harder than most people and get frustrated throughout the season, I try to remember how lucky I am to be a part of Lakers Nation. The joy they have given me over the years (even in losing seasons) far far outweighs the anguish I have endured at the hands of my Lakers. Basketball is one of my favorite things in the world- it is fun to play, amazing to watch and makes me infinitely happy. I just have to remind myself of those facts every once in awhile!