The Western Conference leading 50-18 record or a team strifed with complacency that will cost them down the stretch? The truth, I believe, falls in between.
My favorite part of winning a championship actually comes the season after gold is struck–when the team gets to defend it. I love knowing that my team is going to get the other team’s best shot every single night. I love seeing how my team handles having a bullseye on their back. With the Lakers, I enjoy seeing if a team is satisfied by one championship–or if they’ll strive for eternal glory that will put them in place next to the all time greats. (Showtime Lakers, Jordan’s Bulls, The Kobe-Shaq Lakers at the turn of the millenium, etc).
I would have loved seeing the Lakers re-enact General Sherman’s March to the Sea to this year. Just eviscerating everything in their path and leaving in their wake teams that had no doubt as to who was the best squadron in the league. This team, I believe, has that kind of talent. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. It became apparent early in the season, (the back to back losses to Denver and Houston in November), that these Lakers didn’t have that kind of focus. And that’s fine. After all, the Kobe-Shaq Lakers (and to a lesser extent, the Spurs) taught us that teams don’t have to be alpha males in the regular season to be alpha males come the playoffs.
While I wasn’t pleased with the recent three game slide, and remain troubled with our defensive intensity (at times) and our offensive efficiency (which has secretly been our true Achilles heel), I can’t help but feel that this is a team coasting on cruise control. Despite people calling for urgency–the playoffs are still over a month away. And, as was proven during the three game slide, these games during the Dog Days of March simply mean more to the other team.
Next: Should the Lakers demand more of themselves?
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