For the Lakers, the other shoe never dropped

Outside of Magic Johnson (NBA tv analyst and also a part owner and legendary Laker), so much discussion around the playoff broadcast circles involved predicting a non-championship end for Los Angeles and the reasons for it.

It was either the Lakers “don’t play a full 48 minutes”, or “they should never have went to seven games with Houston” (minus Yao Ming), or “they just can’t be physical enough to go all the way” or “Phil Jackson just shows up, Kobe is the real coach”.Well, we all know how the season ended, as it meant a monkey off the back for Kobe, a record for number of titles for Jackson, and as the Lakers paraded the championship trophy after Game 5 in Orlando as well as in front of a massive rally in downtown Los Angeles; I ask the question, What about Cleveland’s collapse? Did the Celtics really have an excuse? How about the Spurs?

With a much a anticipated Kobe and Lebron James matchup in the NBA Finals gone up in smoke, why do the Cavaliers get a pass for losing in six to Orlando? After a league-best 66 wins, most analysts were predicting that the Finals would need to go through Cleveland. How about San Antonio? Bounced in the first round with all of that playoff experience? What about the defending champion Celtics? Is the absence of KG a significant excuse for losing a game 7 on your home court? Were are all the negative reviews for these teams?

For those waiting for something to happen to L.A., something did. Kobe grew up and became a true, respected leader before our eyes and the window is open for a championship run for the next 3-4 seasons. Let’s see the damage control that is going to be spun when talking about the Lakers now.