Last week, after the Lakers went into Boston and took a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals, it seemed like it was only a matter of time until Figueroa Street would become noticeably more crowded, swarming in a parade of purple and gold. We all heard Stuart Scott point out that in the current 2-3-2 format, the team that wins Game 3 of the NBA Finals when the series is all tied-up, has emerged as the champions 10 out of 10 times. Michael Wilbon lauded Phil Jackson’s accomplishments as a head coach, alluding to his impeccable 47-0 record whenever he wins the first game of a playoff series.
Magic Johnson had already abdicated his title as the “Greatest Laker of All-Time” by bestowing that tile to Kobe Bryant, even causing a stir by prematurely mentioning Kobe’s name among the greatest of all-time. And Jon Barry- well, no offense but no one really cares what J.B. thinks, even if Magic tends to ask for his opinion, more so out of courtesy than genuine curiosity.
What a difference one week makes. As of today, the Lakers find themselves in unfamiliar territory– trailing in a series for the first time this postseason and on the brink of letting another championship slip away at the hands of their most despised rival. While Kobe has been doin’ work in the Finals the rest of the supporting players have disappeared faster than the cast of the next Spider-Man sequel. No offense to Boston, but losing this series has much greater implications for the Los Angeles Lakers than it does for the Celtics. If the Celtics were to lose the NBA Finals, it would mean that the Celtics were too old or that the Lakers were simply more capable. But if the Lakers don’t win their last 2 games, there will be plenty of blame and finger-pointing to go around.
Next: Who to Blame… If the Lakers fail to repeat as champions, the first and most obvious culprit will be Ron Artest. To say he’s been struggling lately on the offensive end is an understatement. He’s been shooting an abysmal 30% from the field in the Finals, but that doesn’t even begin to explain his ineffectiveness on offense. Whether it’s his tendency to get lost in the triangle because he never knows where he needs to be or his inability to make free-throws in the clutch, all these shortcomings could be forgiven as long as he’s contributing on defense, his “forte.”
In Game 1 of the series, Ron’s plus/minus was an astounding +26, as the Lakers won the game by double-digits. However it’s been a tedious, uphill battle for the Lakers ever since. Ron Artest’s plus/minus in the next four games were as follows: 0, +1, -12, and 0. Although he didn’t have a negative plus/minus in the last game, his ill-advised decision when he attempted to block Rondo’s lay-up in the game’s final minute instead of sending him to the foul-line, further demonstrates Ron-Ron’s inability to be trusted to make sound judgments on the court.
After admirably defending his man in the beginning of the series, Paul Pierce has been markedly increasing his production with each successive game, which does not bode well for Artest, especially if he’s not making much of an impact on either end of the floor. While I don’t believe it’s fair to pin Ron Artest as the scapegoat, if the Lakers fall short of the championship, much of the onus is inevitably going to fall on him.
In a way, he’s sort of been the “anti-Ariza” in this series. Laker fans will remember all the open three point shots that Ariza made throughout the postseason and never forget his heady play at the end of games, particularly when he made two clutch, series-altering steals in the final minutes of last year’s Western Conference Finals against Denver. And I must admit that I am a fan of Ron Artest and I was ecstatic when we acquired him in the offseason. But you probably wouldn’t have thought that after reading my aforementioned comments about him. I can’t imagine how much ire he’s accumulating from Laker fans who were furious to see Trevor Ariza go.
Next: Stepping Up or Going Home…
Then there’s Lamar Odom and the rest of the “Bench Mob.” It seemed like an eternity ago when this unheralded group was extolled for their exemplary play. A couple of years ago when they came into games, they were not only expected to maintain the lead that the starters spotted them, but they were often expected to add to it. I once joked that if the Lakers bench formed their own team, they could win 40 games. I was delusional then. Now I’m just disillusioned. In Game 1 of the Finals, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown had drives in the second quarter where each player penetrated into the rifts of the Boston D, blowing by the Celtics untouched for easy scores. Farmar and Brown must’ve fallen through the cracks because they have been nonexistent ever since.
While it’s not fair to condemn Luke Walton or Sasha Vujacic for the way they’ve played, it makes it that much more frustrating when players on the opposing bench have made significant contributions in the Finals. From Tony Allen’s magnificent defense, to Nate Robinson’s sheer determination, to Rasheed Wallace’s back-breaking 3-pointers, it’s been a tough pill to swallow watching Boston’s bench come up with timely plays. I didn’t even mention the biggest factor, Glen “Big Baby” Davis. Celtic fans have been drooling over his play almost as much as he has. While Phil Jackson has been keeping his starters on the floor for the majority of games, Doc Rivers has had no qualms about keeping his bench players out on the court during crucial moments. While Lamar Odom is always vital to Lakers success, in Game 5, when Rondo leaped over Odom for the tip-in score, it really summed up L.O.’s play in this series: Lackluster. But luckily, Odom and the rest of the bench have two games in the friendly atmosphere of Staples Center to redeem themselves. And there will be absolutely no excuse for not being up to the task in front of the home crowd.
Next: What’s at Stake for Kobe and Phil… Let’s not forget the two biggest names on the list: Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. For some, Kobe will never be regarded as the greatest of all-time, even if he does somehow win this series and winds up with more rings than Michael Jordan. But that’s not what’s at stake here- at least not at this point in his career. If Kobe fails to lead his team to victories in the final two games, there’s no way he will surpass Magic Johnson as the “Greatest Laker Ever” despite what Magic himself has to say about the matter.
What made Magic an all-time great was his ability to elevate his game on the biggest stage, along with his ability to make the players around him better. While I’ve forgotten every locker combination I’ve ever had, the numbers 42-15-7-3 (Magic’s stat line for Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals as the starting center in his rookie season) are forever ingrained in my memory. Magic’s Lakers teams also beat Boston twice in the NBA Finals – the only two times the Lakers have ever beat the Celtics on such occasion. If Kobe loses again, he will be 0-2 against Boston in the NBA Finals and it’s highly improbable that he’ll get another opportunity to play them again – especially with each member of the Big 3 drawing another year closer to retirement.
If Phil Jackson loses, it’s definitely not going to tarnish his reputation, but there will be small dents and scratches to otherwise sparkling and masterful coaching mantle. He’s already won more NBA titles than any coach in the history of the league and it’s hard to picture his record being broken anytime soon, if ever. But the Zen-master, regarded for his ability to get the most out of his players, will have to face questions about Ron Artest’s inability to fit in, Lamar Odom’s uneven performances, and the perception that his second-best player is “soft.”
All these things will be compounded and magnified if Phil Jackson cannot figure out a way to beat Boston. It’s also fair to consider that if the Lakers don’t win the title, does Phil Jackson really want to be encumbered with so many inconveniences for another season? Furthermore, don’t be surprised when a lot of pundits will come to the conclusion that Doc Rivers has out-coached Phil Jackson, and not for the first-time in a championship series. It’s like saying Paul Pierce is a better player than Kobe Bryant. It might not be true but at least in these series, the results speak for themselves.
Next: Time To Defend A Championship…
The worst part of potentially losing to Boston would be the reaction from Boston. Many New Englanders and Bostonians will be quick to duly note what Doc Rivers has been preaching all postseason- that the Celtics have never lost a series with their current starting 5. Then there’s going to be speculation whether the Lakers championship from last year was legitimate, since Kevin Garnett wasn’t healthy enough to play. Can we just stop with the “what ifs?” What if Bynum was fully healthy? Would the Lakers be the ones up 3-2 in this series and not the Celtics? And what if Bynum was healthy two years ago? Would it have had any effect on the outcome of that series? I’m tired of hearing all these inane hypothetical questions. None of it matters. Injuries are part of the game and it’s something all teams must deal with.
I will, however, give credit where its due. If the Celtics beat the Lakers in one of the next two games, they deserve to win this championship, dismissing even the most valid explanation any Lakers fans may come up with. In a 7 game series, the better team always wins. Even though the officiating has been questionable to say the least, let’s not blame the refs. Egregious calls have gone against both teams in this series and its up to each team to win at all costs.
While many consider the Lakers to be the more talented team, it doesn’t necessary make them the superior team. Keep in mind that this Celtics team has already beaten the two best teams in the NBA during the regular season. If they beat L.A. once more, it’s a championship that’s unexpected but well-deserved. However, I’m not jumping to any sort of conclusions yet. The Lakers still have two games to defend their title at home. And at some point, all champions must overcome adversity. Honestly, the Lakers haven’t been this vulnerable since the first-round of the playoffs.
They’ve always had championship talent but not necessarily championship heart. They now have their backs against the wall, but it’s a rarity for the Lakers to lose at home in the playoffs, let alone three consecutive games. It’s been a crazy and unpredictable series and it only seems fitting that it will go the distance. If it goes to Game 7, all bets are off. As Kevin Garnett most eloquently stated after the Celtics won it all just two seasons ago, “Anything is possssibbbbaaaaallllllllll.” Also, it wouldn’t hurt if Paul Pierce decides to make another bold prediction regarding the outcome of this series.