Before I criticize the Los Angeles Lakers, I want to say that they had a fantastic season this year. Kobe Bryant had the best year of his career; Lamar Odom played with more confidence than I've ever seen, Sasha Vujacic was the most consistent three point shooter in the league, Andrew Bynum had an impressive start, and Pau Gasal's addition brought them finesse, and agility. Overall the Lakers had a season of perfection, and have gained much respect to be considered as the best in the west.
Everyone claims that the Lakers lost the Finals because they lacked toughness, I disagree. I believe they lost because the lack of experience as a team. Kobe and Fisher we're the only two veterans and you can see the hungry in Fishers eyes when he hit that three in game 4, trying to keep the Lakers in the lead. Game 4 was the truth and it exposed the weakness in the Lakers team. Lamar Odom had a flawless start, probably the best game he ever played in his life; That's when we got the 24 point lead remember, and Fisher was playing defense like he was 20 years old again. All of a sudden, Phil Jackson puts in Chris Mihm…why? I understand that the Lakers we're in control at the time, but Chris Mihm? He was the coldest guy on the bench, and I don't mean hip-hop cold, I mean he hasn't touched a basketball in almost 3 years. I love Phil Jackson, but I didn't see a sense of urgency at half-time when Michelle asked him if everything was ok. What ever Phil was smoking to keep him calm I wanted it, because I was enraged! My wife was even pissed and then took it out me…I thought to myself, “Come on Laker's now your interfering with home.”
Ultimately game 4 was the worst loss in Lakers history, but the true Lakers fans didn't count them out at a 3-1 disadvantage. In game 5 the Lakers had a great start again, and this time Kobe controlled the first half, creating plays and making his team mates better. The Lakers won that game only to say goodbye to the fans, and prolong their death in “Bean Town.” I personally was irate that game 6 and 7 were to be broadcasted in Boston, making it almost a historical mountain or obstacle for the Lakers to win. The Lakers came out in game 6 ok in the first quarter, but every second after that was miserable to watch. It almost looked like “The Battle of Armageddon,” the way the Lakers we're getting killed. Kobe had 6 turnovers, and the way the team was out of sync, everyone knew that it was over by the third quarter. I think that if game 6 was in Los Angeles, and game 7 in Boston, then the Lakers would have had a better chance to win the series. There was no way the Lakers could have beaten Boston twice at home…point blank the NBA set the Los Angeles Lakers up for a miserable defeat.
How can the Lakers be better next season; Get Andrew Bynum healthy, also trade Chris Mihm, and Luke Walton! Chris Mihm is definitely a goner, and I don't see him even putting on a Lakers uniform next season. Luke Walton on the other hand has potential, but it's not like he's young anymore, dude has been in the league for almost 9 years! Advice to Luke, I know who your daddy is, but if you don't improve in your shooting, the fans are gonna start talking. And when the fans start talking, the team starts talking, and when the team starts talking, the struggling player starts walking. Radmanovic makes me nervous also, and sometimes I think maybe he's hiding something. Maybe Radmanovic needs glasses, because if he's not making his shots, then he's shooting five air balls a game! This is not acceptable for a shooting forward. Radmanovic has shot more air balls this season than Manute Bol shot in his entire career!
The Lakers have enough shooters, and can definitely use some more aggressive bodies on the team. If they look into to their trade options, they could get Ron Artest, Chris Wilcox, or even Corey Maggette would bring some aggressiveness to the team.
In my last comments I'll say this; The Lakers need to go ahead and dust there shoulders off with this loss, and say that they gave Boston this chance to kiss the golden ball. After all it has been over twenty years since they got this far in the playoffs. So let the Celtics enjoy their one minute of fame, because come next year…they better tuck their heads in their collars, because the Lakers are coming back with a flaming sword!
