The Lakers’ embarrassing exit out of the 2011 playoffs at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks marked the end of many things. It ended the Lakers’ hopes of a 3-peat, it could have been the end of the Lakers’ run with this current roster and most importantly it marked the end of the Phil Jackson era in the City of Angels.
While Lakers Nation is still suffering through nightmares of Jason Terry hitting yet another three and the haunting images of a sweep still stays with us, we should also take time to reflect on the era that has just ended.
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Jackson arrived in Los Angeles in 1999, taking the helm for a talented team that could not get over the hump. 11 season and five championships later, we can now agree that the Jackson era was a success. Now let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at the Lakers’ top-10 moments with Jackson as their leader.
Next:Moments 10 and 9 of the Jackson era
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Moment #10: A Hollywood story without the feel good ending
What most NBA fans remember about the 2007-2008 Los Angeles Lakers is their humiliating, 39-point defeat at the hands of the hated Celtics in Boston. This was humiliating, but the season as a whole was anything but for Jackson and the Lakers.
The 2007-2008 season could actually be looked at as one of Jackson’s best coaching jobs. The Lakers endured drama, injury and roster changes in order to make a storybook run to the NBA Finals.
The season began with controversy as Jackson’s star player Kobe Bryant had expressed a desire to be traded from the Lakers. Jackson held the team together though as the Lakers didn’t receive an appropriate offer for Bryant.
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Cooler heads would prevail and the Lakers surprised the league by contending for the best record in the West, thanks in large part to the emergence of big man Andrew Bynum. The injury soon seemed to derail the Lakers’ title hopes though as Bynum went down with a knee injury.
Once again the stars aligned for Jackson and the Lakers as the team acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. The rest is history.
The once disgruntled Bryant won his lone MVP and the Lakers steamrolled the competition, even the defending champion Spurs, in the Western Conference playoffs setting up a renewal of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry.
Although the Lakers failed to win the championship, this season laid the foundations for the team to win back-to-back titles. Jackson should get unlimited credit for this as he helped the Lakers persevere through numerous hurdles.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJpuMzWlgYc
Moment #9: Kobe proves to be clutch…twice
The 2005-2006 season marked the return of Phil Jackson to the Lakers’ bench after a one year sabbatical away from the game. During this season, Kobe and Jackson had to bury their differences, many of which were chronicled in Jackson’s book “The Last Season”, in order to keep a very average Lakers team afloat.
The duo did just that as the Lakers rebounded from missing the playoffs the year before, even with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown being major pieces to Bryant’s supporting cast. The playoffs would not be easy though as the Lakers were only the 7 seed, meaning they would face the talented Phoenix Suns, led by league MVP Steve Nash.
The underdog Lakers actually took two out of the first three games against the Suns, much in large part to the brilliant play of Bryant and Jackson’s assertion to his star to keep his teammates involved.
The Lakers’ surprising start to the series set the scene for one of the most memorable finishes to a playoff game. In Game 4, down by two the Suns had possession of the ball, many felt that the Suns effort to even the series would be a formality after two Steve Nash free throws.
Then as they say, “amazing happened” as Parker knocked the ball out of the MVP’s hands into Devean George’s. George quickly got the ball to Bryant and the Lakers legend hit a nearly impossible shot to send the game into overtime.
In overtime the Lakers trailed by one with mere seconds remaining in the game, when Luke Walton tied up Nash to force a jump ball. Walton tipped to Bryant and the rest is history as he hit a shot over two Suns to give the Lakers a commanding 3-1 series lead, sending the Staples Center into frenzy.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2a-JKKIIlE
Unfortunately the Lakers blew the series, but this game still goes down as one of the greatest moments of the Jackson era.
Next: Moments seven and eight of the Jackons era
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Moment # 8: What can you do in .4 seconds?
The 2003-2004 was a roller coaster one to say the least for the Lakers. In response to being defeated by the Spurs the year before, the Lakers brought in veterans Karl Malone and Gary Payton assembling what many considered to be a dream team.
Unfortunately for the Lakers this dream team did not work out according to plans, as Kobe faced sexual assault allegations and the other three future Hall of Famers all suffered through injuries.
Despite all of that the Lakers seemed poised to get Payton and Malone their rings with their main road block being the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, their opponent in the Western Semi-Finals.
The two powerhouses split the first four games of the series setting up a pivotal game five which will go down in history. The two teams slugged it out only as champions can, setting up a wild finish.
Down by a point, Spurs Forward Tim Duncan hit a near impossible shot with Shaquille O’Neal draped all over him, leaving the Lakers just .4 seconds to win the game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mav2iBA1cwo
We all know what came from that as Derek Fisher took a desperation shot that fell and seemingly saved the Lakers season. Jackson and the Lakers winning the title seemed to be just a formality now.
This was not the case though as the Lakers were humiliated in the Finals by the defensive savvy Pistons. This moment is still memorable though as we all learned that “one lucky shot deserves another.”
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Moment #7: The greatest scoring performance on tape
As noted in moment number eight, Phil Jackson was given limited talent in his return to the Lakers during the 2005-2006 season. Jackson basically went to battle with Kobe, Lamar and pieces that most general managers wouldn’t touch.
This often led to Kobe carrying the Lakers on his back, often single handily carrying the Lakers, soon 40-point games were just common games for Bryant. Bryant’s scoring outburst on Jan. 22, 2006 was far from ordinary.
The Lakers went into their game against the lowly Raptors carrying a two game losing streak, it was imperative for the Lakers to win as they struggled to hold ground in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Lakers came out flat and trailed by double digits for much of the game, causing history to happen. The Lakers trailed by 14 at the half and Bryant had a not so surprising 26 points, then history happened.
Kobe went on to score a historic 55 points in the second half thanks to his ability to draw fouls and an amazing three point stroke. Bryant ended up tallying 81 points in the Lakers double-digit win.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeXZY4eVLlo
Kobe’s historic 81-point game ranks second in NBA history, trailing only Wilt’s 100. For many of us this regular season game against the bottom feeder Raptors turned into the greatest scoring performance any of us will ever see.
Next:Moments number Five and Six of the Jackson era
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Moment #6: Kobe grows up before our very eyes.
Phil Jackson arrived in 1999 with one goal in mind, return the Lakers to glory. Jackson wasted no time in doing that as the Lakers advanced to the Finals in Jackson’s first season.
Standing in the way of Jackson’s seventh championship was the Indiana Pacers led by Reggie Miller and an old nemesis of the Lakers, Head Coach Larry Bird. The Lakers won the first two games, but a young Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle in Game 2.
Bryant sat out Game 3 which resulted in a Lakers loss, then returned in game four which set the stage for his coming out party as a legitimate superstar.
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Game 4 had a thrilling finish which resulted in overtime. Trouble soon came for the soon to be champs as MVP Shaquille O’Neal fouled out with two minutes to play. The 21-year-old superstar then took over for the other half of The Combo.
Bryant calmly hit three clutch buckets counting towards his 28 points, while Reggie Miller failed to win the game at the buzzer for Indiana. Bryant had become a superstar on basketball’s biggest stage and the wheels were in motion for the Lakers’ dynasty.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXj1kfZj8Fk&feature=player_embedded
Moment #5: Phil, Kobe and Fish climb back to the top of the mountain
With a bitter taste from being humiliated in the previous year’s finals, the 2008-2009 Lakers had one goal: Redemption. With nothing but a championship on their minds Jackson’s squad came out focused and ready to take out any team standing in their way.
The focused Lakers overcame a second knee injury to Andrew Bynum en route to the Western Conference’s best record. The season included many memorable moments but all would be for nothing if the Lakers came up empty in the playoffs.
Jackson’s Lakers were tested earlier than thought as a scrappy Rockets team took the Lakers to a seven game struggle and the Nuggets gave the Lakers all they wanted in the Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers were once again the West’s best, and Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic were the only team standing in the way of a championship. The Lakers took the series in five games, although the series featured two overtime games.
Though the Finals weren’t an instant classic this championship was a memorable one. The remaining holdovers from the three-peat, Kobe, Phil and Fisher, could rejoice as they had finally climbed back to the top, while a new crop of players became champions.
For Phil Jackson this championship was even more special because it was his 10th championship as a coach, elevating him above Red Auerbach as the game’s best coach of all time.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I9QAfF38Ok
Next: Moments Three and Four of the era of Zen
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Moment #4: The 2001 Lakers make a historic run
Fresh off of the heels of their return to glory the 2001 Lakers certainly made their title defense interesting. A new and improved Kobe Bryant came to the Lakers this season, with his improved game Bryant wanted a larger role, leading to the rebirth of Kobe vs Shaq.
Throughout the regular season the Lakers struggled to juggle the drama and the prospect of teams gunning for the champs and the team got off to a very pedestrian start. Jackson eventually got Bryant and O’Neal to come together and the Lakers won their final eight games heading into the playoffs.
The Lakers winning streak had just begun as the competitive Western Conference was about to fall victim to a historic run. The run began against rival Portland, who had taken the Lakers to the brink of elimination a year before in the conference finals. The Lakers swept them with ease.
Next was the up and coming Sacramento Kings, who had also taken the champs to the brink of elimination a year before. Though two of the games were close the Lakers ultimately swept the young Kings.
Finally, in the conference finals the Lakers took on the previous champs before them, the San Antonio Spurs. Many came into the series thinking that the Spurs twin towers of Duncan and Robinson could defeat the Lakers; but it turned out they were no match for the Lakers.
O’Neal and especially Bryant, who put up some mind boggling stats in this series, swept the Spurs in dominant fashion. The Lakers had reached the Finals, with an opportunity to make history as the only team in history to run the table in the playoffs.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyfR2pDOt3k
The Lakers were stunned by league MVP Allen Iverson in Game 1 of the Finals, then the champs went on to win four in a row in order to successfully defend their title. Although this team did not go 15-0 in the playoffs, the playoff run by Jackson and his Lakers will truly go down in history.
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Moment #3: Big Shot Bob strikes again
The following season the Lakers were looking to become the first Lakers team in history to win three consecutive titles, this was no easy feat though as the same Kings team the Lakers had swept a year before seemed poised to take the Lakers title.
The Kings finished with the best record in the NBA this season and met the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Kings took a 2-1 series lead and the Lakers had a seemingly must-win game on their hands in the fourth game.
This game turned ugly for the Lakers as the Kings dominated the game, leading the game by as much as 24 at one point. Like most champions do, the Lakers fought back.
The Lakers soon only trailed by two points with 11 seconds left. Kobe then drove to the hoop and missed, Shaq also missed a put back and the ball was slapped away by Vlade Divac. Unfortunately for the Kings the ball landed in the hands of the man we know as Big Shot Bob, you know the rest of the story.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA-o3uALst8
Horry’s buzzer beater kept the Lakers alive and the Lakers eventually defeated the Kings in seven games on their way to a third consecutive championship. As for the Kings, they never came so close again and are now ultimately struggling to stay in Sacramento.
Who knows what the fate of these two franchises would be if it weren’t for Robert Horry.
Next: The top Two moments of the Phil Jackson era.
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Moment #2: Portland can get out the bottled water
It’s amazing how much can change in the course of 12 minutes. This was proven in the seventh game of the 2000 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Lakers seemed poised for one of the most disappointing collapses in NBA history as they trailed Portland by 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game 7. Then in almost the blink of an eye, the Lakers made a historic comeback.
The Lakers erased the lead with a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a few clutch threes from Brian Shaw. The Lakers took the lead eventually and the roof blew off of the Staples Center, the only thing missing was a signature play to top it off.
Up by four with 45 seconds remaining, Kobe Bryant advanced the ball up court. Then history happened as Bryant found Shaq for the most memorable alley-oop in Lakers history. After that alley-oop Portland’s season was basically over while the Lakers’ dynasty had just began.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ikaIDz-Ck
The game showed the greatness in Jackson as he remained calm through the Lakers’ struggles, never panicking. Jackson had delivered in year one as many great times were ahead of us.
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Moment #1: The Lakers win ugly against Boston
The 2010 finals couldn’t have been written any better. From the east you had the 2008 champions who had never lost a series with Kevin Garnett, out west you had the defending champs. And oh yeah, these two teams have a bit of a history against each other.
This chapter of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry did not fail to disappoint as the two teams fought one another to a decisive Game 7. As they say there is nothing like one game with all of the marbles on the line.
In an ugly game the Lakers showed the toughness and defense that had failed them in 2008 against the Celtics. Despite a 13-point deficit and a poor shooting night from Kobe, the Lakers were able to ultimately stave off their bitter rivals in a thrilling 83-79 victory.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfaxusuEIcI
For Jackson this was his 11th championship, a mark that will likely never be touched, for his team it was redemption from the embarrassment they had felt two years ago. This may be Jackson’s greatest moment with the Lakers because of the importance of the game and who it was against.
The disappointment over this year’s playoffs will pain anyone who loves the Lakers for some time. Many wish that Jackson could have had a thrilling end to his career to match some of his and the Lakers’ finest moments in this era. Despite the disappointment, I think all of Lakers Nation can agree with me when I say this: Thanks for the memories Phil!
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