| 14 June 2010
Fret not, Lakers fans - all is not lost. I know things are looking pretty grim right now, but no need to panic. Which might sound like a weird thing to say, what with the Boston Celtics leading the Los Angeles Lakers 3-2 in the NBA Finals, but it all depends on how you look at things. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? That's your call. The half-full argument is that all the Lakers needed to do during the three games in Beantown was to win one of them, which they accomplished in Game 3. Now they just have to go home and handle their business, which they have done perfectly throughout the playoffs other than Game 2 of these Finals. Can the Celtics really beat the previously-unbeaten Lakers at home twice in this series?
And if that doesn't give you enough comfort, Lakers supporter, then remember the historical stats I spit at you last week. Plus you've got the biggest playoff assassin in the game, Kobe Bean Bryant, on your side. Kobe won't let you lose another home playoff game, right? Right?!
Now, for the half-empty argument - Kobe can't do it alone. As stubborn and egotistical as he is, he even realized this fact a few years ago. One man can not win a NBA title on his own (you feel me, LeBron?!). Which is the real problem with this Lakers team, especially last night. The players that the Lakers are counting on stepping up aren't the "stepping up" type. Lamar Odom has done his trademark disappearing act. And they should have known when they signed him that Ron Artest isn't the type to be relied upon. Meanwhile, Kobe's 'Robin', Pau Gasol, isn't the assertive type. Gasol is one of the best big men in the NBA, to be sure, but his game is subtle; more finesse than force, and he isn't the type to stand up and take over. Which leaves us with Kobe and Kobe on his own. But Bryant really doesn't need someone to take over - he's got that covered himself. He just needs someone he can rely on to do their role so he doesn't have to try to do it all himself. Like, if Andrew Bynum could grab more than one rebound in over 30 minutes of play it would probably help the cause. Or if someone - anyone - could come off the bench and score in double-figures (I'm looking at you, Lamar). Or if Artest could finally realize that he has no business shooting the ball - EVER. Nothing too drastic is needed for the Lakers to return to form. Maybe Kobe can post a Craigslist ad: "Wanted: Competent Teammates".
But does any of this matter really in the end? From the looks of last night's game, it appears like the Celtics have some of that fabled "luck of the Irish" on their side.
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