Getty Images, I did not read your terms. But you own the rights to this picture. Lawsuit?Last night, the Lakers drubbed the Thunder. After a few months of so-so-for-their-standards kind of play, pretty much everyone could agree that this was the reminder we needed. A reminder that basically told us two things, the Lakers are good and they're clearly head and shoulders above everyone else…if they wanted to be. This game acted as the little nudge that makes you think "it was only a matter of time." And it was. it truly was.
Sure, let's get it out there. The Lakers haven't had a clean bill of health all season. Even with a lot of their players suiting up in games, we haven't seen this team have its players at 100%. It's basically hampered their play. Many have pointed out that this was a jump shot happy team, that the offense was Kobe-centric. This isn't a knock on Kobe, he's kinda good. But we all know the deal! This team needs to get everyone going, even if it winds up in Kobe's hands anyway. If you're not aware, he's more than capable of expertly finishing up plays. But everyone knows what they Lakers have to do. They have to play to their strengths, and they have to play smart. Get that offense going. That means working the ball around, making sound decisions on and off the ball. Most people would give them a pass for not doing that consistently, but hey, their relatively bad play was good enough for….tops in the West, third in the NBA overall. So maybe we shouldn't get on them for playing like that. Sure, but when that inconsistency carries over to the first four games of the postseason – what say you now? The problems showed, and it looked like some new ones developed along the way. Suddenly, the Lakers looked vulnerable. It's as if the thought of an upset went from unlikely, to possible. And then we get treated to a game like this.
It was vintage LA. And by vintage, I meant the past two years. We saw a dominating offensive performance…now mixed in with this newfound defensive identity. The ball was being worked around, sound decisions were made, and match-ups were exploited. All to the tune of 118.1 points per. 56 points in the paint for the Lakers. They also managed 22 points from the line. No surprise, Andrew Bynum bullied his way to 21 points and Pau Gasol versatiled his way to 25. 42 made baskets for the Lakers, 27 assisted. All this happened while Kobe attempted just nine shots, missing five of them. And he still looked good. We saw the savvy; we saw the impact he had on this game. We witnessed the penetration and the playmaking. What should have happened in game four, as Kobe explained in that post-game, just materialized in game five. It was only a matter of time before we saw this. The solution to their problems was simple, mainly because the limitations they've always had came from within. And it goes without saying, despite their injury situation. It's to play the smart brand of basketball their offense allows them. And if that doesn't work, it's still up to them to play to their strengths that most teams at their best still wouldn't be able to topple. I believe that for this team, it's really supposed to be easier said than done.
For most nights, however, that's not the case. So in game six, what'll it be? Will we see the kind of Lakers team that goes for the jugular? Will we instead see an uninspired effort for game six? Will we get to a game 7 where the clichéd "anything can happen" rears its annoying head? Because, really, fuck clichés. And what if the Lakers do end it in six, what of the next series? Will it be the same old song of mailing it in one game, then pouring it on in the next? Right now, the inevitable seems to have happened. I fear its goodbye to the lovable (except in Seattle) Thunder. But really, are you convinced? Whether you are or you aren't, the convincing commences on April 30. Game six.
So what'll it be, Lakers?
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