Lakers’ Busy Off Season
Every event in life has a turning point.
To me, the turning point of the just-ended Los Angeles Lakers-Dallas Mavericks Western Conference semifinals series was Game 2 when the Lakers just simply lost team catching up the more aggressive and more focused Mavericks five. LA dropped Game 2, 81-93 at the Staples Center.
After making just two inconsequential three-point baskets in the fourth out of 20 attempts, I think Dallas coach Rick Carlisle already had a “eureka” moment from there.
He probably knew already that his team, led by German fireball Dirk Nowitzki could extinguish whatever fire the Lakers had for a third straight championship run by playing tough interior defense as well as shooting their way from beyond the arc.
And the Mavs did it in a tremendously explosive fashion, sinking 20 three point baskets in Game 4 that completed Dallas’ domination of Los Angeles via a 4-0 series sweep.
The win towed the Mavs back to the Western Conference finals since they did the trick in 2006, where they eventually reached the NBA Finals before bowing to the Miami Heat in six games.
As for the Lakers, I believe they can still be a playoff contender even after their dashed championship aspirations. But for them to get back to championship contention, there is a need for them to make some changes to address some issues in the team.
1. Speed. The semis series against the Mavs unmasked the Lakers’ weakness in speed. Derek Fisher is now 37, while their starters led by Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum along with Sixth Man of the Year awardee Lamar Odom just can’t keep pace with the Dallas’ Express offense inside and out. For them to get back to championship contention, Lakers front office will surely have to add younger and aggressive players in the roster who could help keep their starters fresh during times like these.
2. Shooters. LA just shot 19.7 percent from beyond the arc during the four-game semis series. Kobe was hitting bricks during the series and credit that to the perimeter defense designed by Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. LA didn’t have any other solid shooters off the bench to provide the spark. And with Pau Gasol just ineffective off the rebounds, the Lakers’ downfall was inevitable.
3. Solid coaching. Phil Jackson no doubt has etched his name in the NBA annals as the league’s greatest coach, having more NBA rings than his 10 fingers (he’s got 11 championship rings by the way). But since he has repeatedly said during the regular season he’s basically in his last tour of duty for the Lakers, LA will now have to find someone who could motivate and help LA get back its championship bearings.
For now, the Lakers front office are back to the drawing boards. And how well they do in making roster changes and key adjustments will determine how far they will go in Kobe’s few remaining championship runs.
No Greens & Golds In The NBA Finals?
In this same month of last year, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were flexing their muscles in the playoffs. The Lakers were hardly challenged by the Utah Jazz in the second round of their Western Conference semifinals as they roared to a 4-0 series sweep to march back to the West’s Finals.
On the other hand, the Boston Celtics sent Lebron James home packing with Cleveland following their methodical demolition of the Cavaliers in Game 6 to advance to the East’s Finals, opposite their 2009 tormentor Orlando Magic.
Today, the Lakers and the Celtics are slowly being pushed at the edge of the Playoffs cliffs by their respective post-season opponents.
Yesterday, the Celtics looked older, slower and aging in their 91-102 loss to the surging Miami Heat before the America West Arena home floor or Lebron and Co.
On the other hand, Los Angeles, which many expected would bounce back in today’s Game 2 match up, failed miserably in its return to Staples Center. Instead of ending Game 2 with a series tied at one apiece, the Lakers played with no sense of urgency at all, bowing to the confident Dallas Mavericks, 93-81 and going down to the pit, 0-2 in the semifinals series to the horror of the LA fans.
With the Celtics and the Lakers down, 0-2 in their respective semifinals series, questions linger among die-hard followers of these storied franchises in the NBA whether they could still arrange a date with destiny and face each other one more time in an epic Finals showdown.
Between the two, of course, the Celtics are much older. Their playoffs-tested veterans of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are all in their mid-30s. And questions of whether they could still keep pace with the younger, hungrier and more athletic Heat trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh appear to have been answered following Miami’s Game 1 and 2 victories.
Los Angeles’ story however, is different. Majority of the Lakers players are still in their prime. Kobe Bryant is turning 33 a few months from now, while Pau Gasol is just 30, along with Lamar Odom. Andrew Bynum is just 24. Derek Fisher is the senior citizen at 36.
The main problem coach Phil Jackson has been addressing all season long has been the Lakers’ inconsistent plays. They can be an unstoppable force to contend with if the Lakers wanted to, but oftentimes throughout this 2011 season, they appear to play with no sense of purpose and urgency.
The Celtics’ age issue and Lakers’ inconsistent, apathetic plays can probably signal an end to the NBA’s most colorful league rivalry ever.
For now, the NBA Finals slots remain open for takers. The only question now is, which two teams will make history this 2011?
The Sting That Could Wake Up The Lakers
A lot has been said about the Los Angeles Lakers’ stunning 103-109 Game One Western Conference first round loss to the seventh-seeded New Orleans Hornets on Monday (Sunday night in the United States).
Pau Gasol was a non-factor in the Lakers’ series-opener, scoring a quiet eight points and hardly making any dent on the defensive end.
On the other hand, Chris Paul, the Hornets’ diminutive playmaker took advantage of the lack of speedy backcourt men from the Lakers, scattering 33 points and 14 rebounds in a herculean effort that humiliated Los Angeles before a shocked LA fans at the Staples Center.
With that kind of a psychological disturbance caused by the Hornets’ win, it’s up to the Lakers to get back strong in Game 2 at the Staples Center.
Pre-Playoffs analysts are vocal of the Lakers’ capability to score a four-game sweep over an undersized and David West-less New Orleans squad. But with that Game One loss, it only shows that the Hornets won’t just allow themselves to be a minor speed bump for Los Angeles’ three-peat aspirations.
Just a few thoughts the Lakers ought to do if they plan to finish the series early and advance to the next round:
- Put the clamps on Paul. LA team skipper Derek Fisher is definitely a step slower considering that he’s now in his mid 30s, but perhaps, somebody else from the Lakers ought to put a body on CP3 to make sure he doesn’t set the tempo of the game with his playmaking.
- Pound the ball inside. Without West in the painted area, Emeka Okafor has little help inside. Gasol, Andrew Bynum as well as NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee Lamar Odom should start dominating the post. I still believe this series ought to give Kobe Bryant more opportunities to score from the perimeter because the Hornets will be forced to play defense more down low.
- Maintain their killer instinct. The Lakers have shown their ability to dominate – and disintegrate during the regular season. But now that they are in the Playoffs, they just simply can’t afford to play complacent basketball. Doing so could be fatal in their drive for a three-peat this season.
Photo Source: http://thestartingfive.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Could-Paul-bring-this-face-to-the-Staple-Center.jpg
Lakers Eye Redemption
Bye Phoenix, hello Boston.
The Phoenix 2006 to 2007 “ghost” has been exorcised completely by Los Angeles following its 111-103 Game 6 win to clinch the Western Conference Finals series.
Now that the Lakers have returned to the NBA Finals for the third straight year, the last big hurdle they will have to overcome are none other than the Boston Celtics.
The memory of that 39-point Game 6 NBA FInals loss to the Celtics are still fresh in their minds–a humiliation the Celtics essayed before their home floor in Boston during the 2008 season.
However, now, the Lakers, after waiting for two years for the rematch, are in a position to erase that Finals stigma that has stuck by them after 2008 season’s final buzzer sounded.
Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom–all members of that ill-fated LA squad that fell at the hands of Boston have a chance to redeem themselves with the help of defense specialist Ron Artest and a determined center Andrew Bynum this time.
Artest reserved his best playoff performance in Games 5 and 6. In Game 5, he delivered the killer blow to the Suns after banging in a point-blank shot off Bryant’s airball attempt from beyond the arc to give the Lakers a two-point win.
Then in Game 6, he scored 25 points to supply the added scoring ammunition for Bryant, who finished with a game-high 37 points that all but ended the Suns’ hopes for survival.
Bynum, meantime, has been providing quality minutes for the Lakers, though he has been on and off due to various knee injuries.
His size and height though will be an added factor for Los Angeles, who looks to win back-to-back titles and give coach Phil Jackson his 11th NBA ring, the most by any coach in league history.
Photo Source: http://blog.thekobecollection.com
Will Orlando “Magic-ally” Catch Up Boston?
The Los Angeles Lakers are now one win away from their 16th NBA Finals trip in franchise history. Thanks to Ron Artest’s buzzer-beating follow up off Kobe Bryant’s missed desperation three-point attempt.
Boston is also up, 3-2 in its own Eastern Conference Finals series versus Orlando.
However, the Celtics have given the Magic an extra boost of confidence going into Game 6, where the blue-and-whites, led by the resurgent Dwight Howard, are looking to steal another one at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.
The Magic have done that in Game 4, behind Howard’s monster 32-point-16-rebound effort. They also followed it up with an emphatic 113-92 Game 5 win in Orlando, Florida.
Now, even though no NBA team in history has ever come back to win a series after being down, 0-3 in the series, the Magic are trying to become the first one to do the improbable.
Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy was quoted in Yahoo! Sports as saying, “I didn’t like being in a 3-0 hole, but it’s still doable. I don’t think we’ve had a lack of belief.”
Well, the Magic were simply, magical in their last two games. Overcoming tremendous pressure considering that one loss would mean elimination.
However, Boston will have to operate with just one legitimate guy who’d try to bang up Howard in Game 6. Glen Davis is ruled out to play in Game 6 because of concussion, while Rasheed Wallace is also slowed down by a bad back.
Only Kenrick Perkins will be around to play physical against Howard after ducking a potential suspension after being thrown out in Game 5. His first of two Game 5 technical fouls, was rescinded by the league, giving him an opportunity to suit up for the embattled Celtics.
The momentum has no doubt shifted to Orlando after its last two wins. But Boston still has the lead and the home crowd to support the Celtics in Game 6.
But can the Celtics translate these advantages into a W?
Photo Source: http://imgsrv.wbz.com
