The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the Western Conference title last night when they defeated the Spurs in L.A. That's right, you read it correctly. The same Lakers that were battling mediocrity over the last three seasons, were hoisting the Western Conference crown. As I was watching the award ceremony transpiring on the television screen at BJs in Brea, I thought to myself, how did this all happen and come together?
Well, it took some rebounds, a steal, and a slam dunk.
One of the rebounds this season came from reacquiring Derek Fisher. Fisher was a critical piece of the three-peat champion Lakers of 1999-2002. Whenever opponents would double-team Kobe Bryant driving to the lane, or double-team Shaq in the post, Derek Fisher was the one who the ball was kicked out to. The Lakers have lacked a starting point guard ever since he left in 2004.
Does Smush Parker ring a bell? I mean please, he couldn't even get any playing time for the Clippers this season. Hey, don't forget about Chucky Atkins, who could probably be considered to be one of the worst defensive guards in the history of basketball.
Derek Fisher anchored the point guard role for the Lakers and provided valuable leadership to one of the youngest teams in the NBA.
The steal of the season was perpetrated by the often-maligned General Manager of the Lakers Mitch Kupchak.
He literally stole Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies by giving up no core pieces of the Lakers. In a couple of years it might be known as the "Brothers Trade" with Marc Gasol going to the Lakers, but who knows if he will ever develop.
For now, it's one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, and it literally sent an earthquake through the entire Western Conference. Phoenix traded for Shaq, and yeah that didn't really turn out to well, did it? Dallas traded for Jason Kidd, and they found out just how old his game has become. The Paul Gasol trade was phenomenal for the Lakers, but the trade's impact left the Western Conference weaker with the panic moves made by GMs Steve Kerr and Donn Nelson.
It was truly surreal to see Mitch Kupchak holding the Western Conference trophy after all he has been put through by the media and fans. After all, Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, and Luke Walton were all late draft picks. The man deserves all the credit in the world for making this a championship-caliber team. Just don't tell Jerry and Jim Buss that. I'm sure they want some, if not all of the credit.
Another rebound this season came from Lamar Odom.
Lamar Odom was never a consistent No. 2 option behind Kobe Bryant. His game along with Kobe's would often collide on the court, and he would have a knack for disappearing during stretches.
However, as soon as the Gasol trade was made, he became more comfortable as the No. 3 option on the team. He flourished in that role, becoming more aggressive and assertive with the basketball. Odom actually finished on the break, and made lay-ups! Hallelujah! He now realizes the importance of dunking and pumping up the crowd! He is the most important Laker heading into the Finals.
Finally, the slam dunk of the season came from none other than the MVP Kobe Bryant.
After a hellacious off-season with Kobe asking to be traded. No one could have expected Kobe Bryant to lead his team to promised land when the season started. He immediately found solace on the hardwood, immediately noticing the impact that Derek Fisher had on the court.
Lo and behold, Kobe and the Lakers found themselves with a 19-12 record through the end of December. Much of the improved play coming from Andrew Bynum who emerged as a rising new big man in the West. Finally Kobe had someone who would complete his alley-oops to the basket, instead of fumbling them out of bounds like that scrub Kwame Brown.
Sasha Vujacic also became the consistent outside threat that the Lakers lacked. Sasha and Jordan Farmar had a little bit of Kobe's black mamba machismo rub off on them, as they proved that were willing and able to hit shots in the clutch.
Finally, Kobe had his full trust in his teammates and the Lakers finished with the best record against the best Western Conference any one has ever seen.
It took a steal of Gasol, some rebounds by key players like Fisher and Odom, and a slam dunk by the league's MVP to put the Lakers where there are at now: An opportunity for them to be crowned in purple and gold as champions.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
NBA Smoke and Fire
As we all know by now, the Los Angeles Lakers will be taking on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals tonight. The Lake Show will have a chance to clinch the Conference Championship with a victory tonight, but it won't come without controversy...
Well, The Lakers and Spurs were on their way to having an epic Game 4 ending, with the Lakers almost blowing a 7 point lead with :47 seconds left to play.
As the old saying goes, whenever there is smoke (Crawford) there is fire (no call)
All everybody wants to talk about is how Brent Barry was "fouled" by Derek Fisher. How he should have had two free throws at the end of regulation to try and force OT, but nah-uh! Joey Crawford didn't see it that way.
You see, The NBA league office decided to have Joey Crawford officiate the game, knowing that he has had a colorful history with the Spurs. After all, he's the guy who actually kicked Tim Duncan out of the game for laughing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOqnqRgiYaw
If the association didn't want any controversy, with the conspiracy already running wild over a possible Celtics-Lakers Finals matchup, they should not have had Joey Crawford officiate this game. I can understand that the NBA was trying to put the kebosh on last year's situation, seeing as how Crawford is one of the most respected referees in the game. However, he should not be allowed to call Spurs playoff games because of what happened last year.
As fate would have it, Crawford was the one to decide the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQKhBnv8Mt4
The smoke was in the post-game, with news trickling out of San Antonio that Joey Crawford was indeed calling the game, and the fire started as soon as the final buzzer sounded, giving the Lakers a 3-1 series advantage.
Was it a foul or wasn't it? The media and fans have their own opinions, but the opinions of the people who actually matter all were in agreement that there was no real foul. Even Brent Barry and Pop weren't complaining. If there was a foul, Crawford decided not to call it because of the critical juncture in the game.
There has been talk that if Barry sold the foul like his famous flopping teammate Ginobili, he would've go that call. Also, there has been more talk about how Barry isn't an elite player in the league, so only the Kobes and the Wades would get that call.
There might be a little bit of truth in those arguments, but there is no way to reverse time and replay the last seconds of the game. What's done is done, and the Spurs need to focus on winning three straight games over the Lakers like the Suns did in 2006, or their championship reign is OVER.
Well, The Lakers and Spurs were on their way to having an epic Game 4 ending, with the Lakers almost blowing a 7 point lead with :47 seconds left to play.
As the old saying goes, whenever there is smoke (Crawford) there is fire (no call)
All everybody wants to talk about is how Brent Barry was "fouled" by Derek Fisher. How he should have had two free throws at the end of regulation to try and force OT, but nah-uh! Joey Crawford didn't see it that way.
You see, The NBA league office decided to have Joey Crawford officiate the game, knowing that he has had a colorful history with the Spurs. After all, he's the guy who actually kicked Tim Duncan out of the game for laughing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOqnqRgiYaw
If the association didn't want any controversy, with the conspiracy already running wild over a possible Celtics-Lakers Finals matchup, they should not have had Joey Crawford officiate this game. I can understand that the NBA was trying to put the kebosh on last year's situation, seeing as how Crawford is one of the most respected referees in the game. However, he should not be allowed to call Spurs playoff games because of what happened last year.
As fate would have it, Crawford was the one to decide the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQKhBnv8Mt4
The smoke was in the post-game, with news trickling out of San Antonio that Joey Crawford was indeed calling the game, and the fire started as soon as the final buzzer sounded, giving the Lakers a 3-1 series advantage.
Was it a foul or wasn't it? The media and fans have their own opinions, but the opinions of the people who actually matter all were in agreement that there was no real foul. Even Brent Barry and Pop weren't complaining. If there was a foul, Crawford decided not to call it because of the critical juncture in the game.
There has been talk that if Barry sold the foul like his famous flopping teammate Ginobili, he would've go that call. Also, there has been more talk about how Barry isn't an elite player in the league, so only the Kobes and the Wades would get that call.
There might be a little bit of truth in those arguments, but there is no way to reverse time and replay the last seconds of the game. What's done is done, and the Spurs need to focus on winning three straight games over the Lakers like the Suns did in 2006, or their championship reign is OVER.
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