The sports talk world is a buzzing after this past weekend’s NFL divisional playoff games where we saw Green Bay and Pittsburgh advance to the 45th Big Game (I think we can’t refer to it as its actual name which rhymes with Luper Toll). The buzz isn’t around the goal line stance of Pittsburgh or the 1st quarter of near perfection by Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, but like most hot topics in the sports talk world and one many Lakers fans are familiar with, it involves controversy surrounding a polarizing figure.
The topic that has the sports talk radio station phones ringing off the hook is the Jay Cutler knee injury that kept him out of the 2nd half of the pivotal NFC championship game leaving the Bears quarterbacking duties to a decrepit Todd Collins and an undrafted and unproven rookie in Caleb Hanie. To place this in perspective, it’s like having a choice of replacing an injured Kobe Bryant in Game 7 of a conference finals game with either Morris Petterson or Devin Ebanks.
In that situation, most would say that a one legged Kobe would still be more effective and trustworthy than either of the aforementioned players. That is what has the Chicago fanbase so irate, that considering the quality of players that are behind Cutler and the gravity of the moment, how he could not continue to play despite the injury?
Many in the sports world are saying that Jay Cutler lacks toughness, including the Chicago fan base, former and current players, media pundits and pretty much every group imaginable outside of his own team.
The Lakers have had their own moments where one of their players had their toughness or severity of their injury questioned:
Pau Gasol’s toughness is still questioned to this day.
Shaquille O’Neal had long been criticized for delaying surgery and not putting in the work in rehab to get on the court quicker.
Andrew Bynum was questioned just this past off season for delaying surgery to attend the World Cup. Also, the times he has been injured his recovery period has always exceeded the initial expected return date.
While we can follow the lead of the national media at Lakersnation and focus on negativity by reliving these moments, I think it would be better served to review the Lakers history of the polar opposite to what Jay Cutler is being accused of this week.
This brings to mind the absolutely greatest examples of toughness in the biggest games in Laker history. I want to focus on the times where despite injury and excruciating pain, the player willed himself back on the court to finish out a game or a series in the interest of the team and winning.
These are the greatest moments of toughness in Laker history that come to mind.
Next: The original flu game
7) Magic game with Flu.
While early on in the game it was apparent that Magic was feeling the effects of his ailment by looking slow and tired as he gasped for air and lumbered down the court throughout the first half. He picked it up dramatically in the 2nd half and was able to finish strong.
The Lakers took game 2 with the help of Magic’s 11 assist and 23 points on 7 for 12 shooting. The Lakers would eventually win the series in 7 games.
This game by Magic was overshadowed 9 years later by Micheal Jordon in his fight with the stomach flu in the 1997 NBA finals Game 5 against the Utah Jazz in what is now known as the “flu game”. Magic’s game is now forgotten by most outside of Lakerdom because it lacked Jordon’s histrionics and great photo ops like the sideline vomiting or being carried out on shoulders by teammates at the end of the game.
While MJ’s performance was truly memorable, it was Magic’s that originated the big game performance while battling the flu.
Next: The Mailman tries to deliver
The Lakers were coming into the 2004 NBA Finals as big favorites against the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons. This was the “Lakers Reloaded” team which saw the Lakers bring in future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton to help the Shaq/Kobe Lakers take back the NBA championship which had been taken away by the Spurs the year before.
In Game 2 of the Finals Malone left the game in the 2nd quarter with a knee injury but would return to finish the game shortly after. Malone showed his fortitude by playing 39 minutes on a bum knee but showed that he just wasn’t right after sustaining the injury.
After the game his injury was diagnosed as a MCL strain (same diagnosis as Jay Cutler) which he had injured earlier in the season.
The injury didn’t deter Karl as he continued to tough it out until Game 4 of the series when he proved to be ineffective on just one leg against an athletic Rasheed Wallace and the swarming defense of the Pistons.
Many believe, including myself, that had Malone not gotten hurt Lakers would have defeated the Pistons. Considering that Malone had chased his first NBA championship for 19 long years, there is no way that he would not have sat out unless the injury was so severe that he couldn’t step out on that court and be effective.
It wasn’t meant to be as the Lakers lost to the Pistons in five games.
Next: Lakers chances hanging by a string
It was the Laker’s quest for a 3-peat in the 1989 NBA Finals where they met the Detriot Pistons for the second straight year. The series got off to a horrible start for the Lakers as not only did they lose Game 1, they lost Byron Scott to a hamstring injury.
In Game 2, the Lakers hopes of getting back into the series were dashed when Magic started limping badly due to a pulled hamstring in the 3rd quarter. Magic was defiant about sitting out and had to be forced back into the locker room. Magic showed his will and toughness by giving it a go in Game 3 but he just couldn’t bear the pain, and checked out for the series.
Unlike Cutler, Magic was engaged in every game and vocal on the sidelines in hopes of cheering on his team to victory. It proved to not be enough as the Pistons swept the Lakers to win the NBA championship that year.
Next: One legged performance
4) Isiah Thomas scoring binge on one leg in Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals
While we usually want to focus on Laker moments, there are certain great performances from Laker opponents that just can’t be ignored and are as much a part of Laker history as those accomplished by the ones wearing purple and gold.
One of those examples comes in Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals where the Lakers took on the Detriot Pistons in their famous back to back championship run.
The Lakers found themselves trying to stop a scorching hot Isiah Thomas in the 3rd quarter who had just reeled off 14 straight points and it seemed like the only thing that was going to help the Lakers stop the onslaught was divine intervention.
It had appeared that the Laker’s prayers were answered when Thomas rolled an ankle on Cooper’s foot in the 3rd quarter and went to the locker room to be attended to; however, in a showcase of undeniable will, Thomas returned in a matter of seconds and continued his torrid scoring pace, this time on just one leg. Isiah ended up setting an NBA Finals record in the quarter by scoring 25 miraculous points.
Thomas ended the game with 43 points but his inspirational showing wasn’t enough as the Pistons lost Game 6 and eventually the series the very next game.
Next: The Slow Walk from the tunnel
New York Knick center and leader Willis Reed tears a muscle in his thigh in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, and the injury is severe enough that he can’t play in Game 6. The Lakers take full advantage and take Game 6 in order to force a do or die Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
In one of the most iconic moments in NBA history, prior to start of Game 7, Willis Reed comes out the tunnel and limps out onto the court to join his Knick teammates for shoot around. The dramatic slow walk from the tunnel to the court created a huge reaction from the Garden crowd and the buzz seemed to fuel the Knicks throughout the game.
While Willis Reed struggled with his mobility and was not incredibly effective in the game, his presence inspired the Knicks to a Game 7 win and the NBA championship.
Next: Kobe beats bad ankle and …
The Lakers had just come off a convincing win in Game 1 of the 2000 NBA Finals against the Pacers when potential disaster occurred in the 2nd quarter of Game 2. Kobe Bryant rolls an ankle and has to leave the game. The Lakers were able to finish off the Pacers without Kobe in Game 2 but sorely missed him when facing the Pacers in Indiana in Game 3 as the Pacers took their first game of the series.
In what were the first signs of Kobe’s incredible will and ability to play effectively through pain, Kobe returned in Game 4. Kobe started off slowly and showed the effects of the ankle injury early on, but after Shaq fouls out in overtime, Kobe takes over by knocking down jumper after jumper to take down the Pacers.
The Lakers won Game 4 behind Kobe’s clutch performance, and went on to take the first of three straight NBA championships during the Shaq/Kobe era.
Next: Drew proves his worth
In what was one of the great moments of perseverance and selflessness, Andrew Bynum digs deep and plays through pain after suffering another knee injury in Game 6 of the first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2010 Playoffs. Despite being diagnosed with a small tear in his meniscus Bynum decides to continue to play the rest of the grueling playoffs to endure constant banging, pulling, stomping and running on that torn knee.
This wasn’t Bynum grinding it out for one or two games with the pain, but 17 bruising playoff games.
People might make the case that the knee injury was not that severe and shouldn’t have kept him out considering the importance of the moment. Well, first off that is what people are currently saying about Jay Cutler, yet he sat out of the most important game of the season due to a knee injury.
Secondly, the injury was severe enough that it required almost 6 months of rehab and recovery time, causing Drew to miss training camp, the pre-season, and the first 24 games of the regular season.
What I find surprising is how little fanfare Andrew Bynum has received for putting his body through the pain of playing with a tear in his knee and the tedious preparation and treatment involved with such a knee injury.
In addition, the 22 year old placed his bright future at risk by playing with an injury that could have potentially been made worse just for the chance to help the Lakers win a championship.
As it turned out, the Lakers needed every bit of whatever Bynum was able to provide as they barely escaped defeat by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals last year. The Lakers went on to narrowly defeat Boston in 7 games and it would be hard to convince anyone that the Lakers could have done that without the contributions and presence of Andrew Bynum.
I for one will not ignore the courage and toughness that Drew showed for the Lakers in the 2010 Laker championship run as I place this as the greatest example of grit (aka un-Cutler-like) in Laker History.