Andrew wrote:Sit wrote:I do not think realistically any team can stop us on our way to the NBA Finals.
I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am that the jinx has been passed on to someone else.
Thanks Andrew.
On a serious note - the Lakers deserved to lose the series. We got our asses kicked in Game 4 but that's irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that the Lakers could not play any kind of defense in the second half of Game 1 and they did not play defense in the fourth quarter of Game 3. The loss isn't shocking/surprising to me because all season long and even last season, the team has been going through the motions of the season and talking about the proverbial on/off switch.
I can't remember who said it - I think it was Brian Shaw - 'Past Lakers teams would lose and look to right the ship the next game. This team was too calm and too easy-going.' I agree with this sentiment very much. As a fan, I did not understand what was going through the minds of half the players. I'm not taking credit away from the Mavs as they played a great series but the Lakers were downright terrible. Perhaps it's the lack of athleticism/foot speed and also a certain 7 foot tall German but the Lakers, as a team, should have stepped it up. However, it is lost now and no point complaining too much about the result.
All I'm trying to say I guess is that it didn't seem like the Lakers wanted to win the championship as they did say two seasons ago or even last season. So the Lakers did deserve to lose this series. They weren't going to win games on talent alone. Too much talk of 'we will get there by the postseason' and 'it's only the regular season - it doesn't matter.'
Well, what a poor way to send off the best Head Coach in NBA history. Feel sorry for Jax.
Looking to next season - I hope that Brian Shaw steps up to take Phil's place. As for roster changes, I honestly don't want to see anyone traded away. I want the Lakers to keep Bynum, Gasol, Bryant, Odom together. Odom starting (finally) at SF in Game 3 was awesome. I hope to see more of that - who knows if we will though. Ron Artest was downright terrible but the glaring problem we have is depth at point guard. Derek Fisher may have been good in Phil Jackson's system but in this current NBA and also considering Fisher's talent, it's time to see him step aside for a younger replacement. It was always tough to see Jordan Farmar go and the team missed him this season as Steve Blake never really got into it. I think Matt Barnes will stay on in LA but Shannon Brown will probably be gone.
I know that LA may be looking for some changes to their playing roster but don't know what we could do if we were to keep Bynum, Gasol, Odom and Bryant in the fold. I doubt anyone would take on Artest's and Walton's contracts any time soon.