Fancap: Thunderstruck

This past week or so has been more frustrating than I could have anticipated. Going from 17-1 and a chance to catch the #1 seed to losing five in a row for the first time since March 2007 and fighting to keep the #2 seed.  Even though you wouldn’t think it, I’m the last person to panic about the Lakers however.  Whether it is because I’m prone to making excuses for them or because I have unwavering faith in their abilities and understand how they operate, I rarely worry until the playoffs.

Everyone seems to forget the end of last season.  The Lakers closed on such a dismal run that it was a legitimate concern that they could lose to the Thunder in the first round.  The didn’t fully get out of their funk until the end of the series either.

I don’t need to sit here and remind anyone how last year turned out, which is the funny part.  It’s easy to recall the good memories but the tough road that led to that point often lies forgotten… call it selective memory.  The 2009-2010 Lakers finished 57-25, and the current incarnation of the team is sitting at 55-25, so it’s not like they are far off the mark.

Like I said, I’m very frustrated by the Lakers.  They are obviously looking ahead to their “second season” next weekend instead of taking care of business now.  To be quite honest, I don’t care as much about seeding as some.  I know that they can and will obliterate any team in their path once the stakes are higher.  It is a veteran team’s curse to know how much and when they can afford to slack off, so to speak.

I’m not saying that Los Angeles hasn’t been trying at least some of the time… but they let a winnable game escape their grasp last night by making rookie mistakes.  One turnover in three quarters of play ballooned to nine in the fourth quarter alone, and that is why they lost. The Lakers made too many mistakes down the stretch.

Next: A Luminous Play amongst Drivel

I hate writing about games we’ve lost.  Three quarters of exciting play and four pages of handwritten notes just go out the window.  One amazing play from the first quarters definitely bears mentioning, however.  Kevin Durant ran down a loose ball in the corner, but Kobe didn’t quit on the play:  he came from behind and picked Durant clean, then finished with an emphatic dunk and the chance for a three point play.  It was a great sequence.

Last night was just perplexing in many ways.  Fish hustled for numerous loose balls, the Lakers went inside often to Andrew and Pau (who was very aggressive), Lamar showed great leadership, Steve Blake hit three triples, Ron-Ron played well, Kobe lit it up in the second quarter especially… and the lost.  Defense was the main culprit, as in they played none.

I think I’ve learned my lesson yet again about the perils of talking trash, as well.  I’m sure everyone knows by now what was said about the Lakers by Kendrick Perkins, current Thunder player and former Celtic who is the supposed reason they didn’t win it all last year (due to his injury).  In the second quarter he and Kobe got locked together, with Kobe attempting to free his head from underneath Perkins’ arm.  They both started jawing at each other and technicals were called.

It was after this that Kobe went off, hitting 7 of the Lakers’ next 9 points. He hit a quick triple, got two points off an assist from Gasol and hit a jab step jumper.  Mamba mode in full effect, which I trumpeted all over Facebook and Twitter at Perkins’ expense.  Whoops.

Lamar Odom’s Team USA teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (the second highest scoring duo in the NBA) got the win last night, but I know that the Lakers will rack up the wins when it counts.  They know they let one get away, we know they let one get away, and all we can do as fans is move forward. Hopefully the Lakers will fix their broken “switch” soon and do the same.