For the Record: A Dispatch of Despair
- That was the biggest stomach punch game for the Lakers since the Tim Thomas three. In fact between those two losses I can’t figure which is worse. When Thomas hit the three it pretty much sealed the Lakers as being the hopeless, 1st-round-exiting team that almost made Kobe Bryant wear another jersey. In this game the stakes were higher, but since the Lakers future is so bright the Tim Thomas punch to the balls is probably worse historically speaking.
- The better team is winning (and will win) this series. Game 2 was still an abortion, but ultimately it doesn’t matter. The Celtics are more aggressive, hit shots when they need to, rebound better, play better defense and clearly have the psychological edge. I can only hope to see a rematch next year. In fact, who DOESN’T hope to see a rematch next year?
- This game, and this series has really been catastrophic for Lamar Odom, Luke Walton and POSSIBLY even Jordan Farmar (in Farmar’s case the Utah series was pretty bad for him as well). Radmanovic is probably too oblivious to realize how bad this series has been for him psychologically.
- Gasol will need to undergo some sort of aggressiveness training program in the off-season. That or Lakers fans can hope that Andrew Bynum comes into next season with a serious attitude. Bynum has it in him, but I think it might be a few years away before he really displays it.
- Vujacic has fuel for life. If I’m his coach I put that play on in the locker room before he plays every game next season. In fact, the Lakers should buy him a video iPod loaded only with that play. Where was the help though? That was atrocious.
- Mitch Kupchak’s primary focus this off season should be a veteran forward who is either borderline psychotic or is a certified pugilist. Somebody really, really mean. This team needs an attitude on it that goes beyond Kobe Bryant’s brand of disappointed scorn. They need a player who will make the opposition pay when driving the lane, getting lippy or generally punking this soft Lakers team. I have no idea if Ron Artest is even a realistic option contract-wise, but this team NEEDS him.
- The entire series (from the Lakers point of view) is encapsulated in the play in the 3rd where Gasol goes up against KG for what should have been a gimme-dunk and blows it. If he’s even remotely pissed he makes that shot.
- The question for Lakers fans now becomes what tweaks will be made in the off-season and exactly how many games will be won in the regular season. 65? 70? 81?
