OK....I know what you're saying:
"How can the same team that fell behind on Sunday in Houston by 29 points, turn around and beat the exact same team by 40 on Tuesday?"
I've learned over the years that the answer is simple, but one that most fans won't like.
A lot of championship teams, not all--but a lot, don't show up every game. Don't believe me? We had AC Green in studio today, and we talked about that on two of his championship teams...the Lakers took games off. In 1988, with a chance to finish off Utah in game six of the second round, they instead got blown out by 27 points. It forced a game seven, which the Lakers won. They also needed seven games to beat Dallas in the next round, and seven more to beat Detroit in the Finals.
In 2000, when AC returned the Lakers to finish his career, the Lakers needed all five games in round one to beat Sacramento, an eight seed. After beating Phoenix in round two, they needed seven games to get past Portland. In that series with the Blazers, the Lakers blew a three game to one lead, and fell behind by 15 in the fourth quarter before pulling out game seven. In the Finals, they had a chance to finish off Indiana by winning game five, and instead lost by 33 points. They won the title in game six.
The bottom line is that I don't know why, but teams take games off. I can't tell you how many people have called the show lately and said:
"the Lakers have no heart"
"Championship teams don't take games off"
"This never would have happened in the Magic era....or the Shaq era"
Wrong, wrong and wrong. The Lakers will probably beat Houston, beat Denver, and meet the Cavs in the Finals. And guess what? They'll lose some games along the way--and look terrible doing it. Just don't tell me that because they do, they won't win it all. I've seen happen too many times before.
Well said. Great interview with AC Green. Most analysts seem to swing decidedly with a win or a loss. Before last nights game, the Lakers were in trouble, horrible, etc. Last night after the game, the Lakers are great, multi-talented, championship caliber, etc...no wonder the fans in LaLa land tend to panic with a loss.
Keep up the good work! Keep Tweeting too!
Posted by: K.Lani | 05/13/2009 at 07:52 AM
Brilliant commentary and it's true, the lakers know when they need to turn it on. They are smart and conserving energy. Go Lakers!!08-09 Champs!!
Posted by: B. Mervis | 05/13/2009 at 02:03 PM
Nice work John. I've heard a lot about Lakers flipping the switch the past few days on 710. I've been a fan of the pistons the past few years and I can tell from experience that flipping the switch can take you only so far. Sometime, it's too late to turn on the switch and realise that you've been robbed already. I am not worried about Lakers in this series.. Don't sleep on Denver though. How about Billups.. 7 straight conference finals.
R.I.P. Chuck Daly
Posted by: Mohammed | 05/13/2009 at 09:46 PM