I Told You So

Derek Fisher keeps his wife in check: "get under that rope!" (Image courtesy: Wally Skalij / L.A. Times)

I told you so. You don’t remember? From my season preview of the Los Angeles Lakers that Paints in the Point did before the beginning of the season:

This past season, the Lakers won its fifteenth NBA title, defeating the Orlando Magic in five games. Will the Lakers successfully defend their championship this season? Many experts seem to think so, and I’m inclined to agree. The Lakers have only gotten better, and will advance to the Finals, unless something terrible happens, like a meteor colliding with the Staples Center or something like that.

A meteor didn’t collide with the Staples Center this year (though it might have caused less damage than the riots that ensued in Los Angeles after the Lakers won — read on), and subsequently, the Lakers won another title, their sixteenth.

I reiterated my thoughts that the Lakers would win the NBA Finals in Paints in the Point’s “Season Preview” of the Final Standings, not only picking the Lakers to win, but the only Paints Dude to also to have their opponent correct, the Boston Celtics. (Sidebar: A future post will summarize the predictions we made at the beginning of the season, as well as declare one Paints Dude the best for this season.)

This is not to say that I enjoy the Lakers winning the title. I don’t. I hate the Lakers (as does any person who is remotely sane).

Authentic, Unpredictable, New Single

Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

I’m happy for Ron Artest.

Its just that, we judge Ron to be authentic. He doesn’t act “crazy” or anything like that for the betterment of his career, because reality would be quite the opposite. He doesn’t play up his character with the prospects of endorsement deals and bigger contracts tattooed on the back of his mind (like, say, Dennis Rodman).

It Always Goes In

MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Who is the hero? Is it Ray or is it Rajon? Or do they split it? Does it matter? Not for Boston. Not after they were able to split the first two games on the road with the Lakers.

Ignore It Like Kobe

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

That game got physical real fast. I didn’t expect Paul Pierce to be the initiator, but whatever works (or doesn’t, in this case). Boston looked to try to duplicate past successes against Los Angeles by being tougher, both physically and mentally. They proved neither in last night’s game, but by all rights still may in the approaching games.

Let’s Cut a Groove

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Settle, everybody settle. Slow the talk of outcoaching and confusion. So far, nothing has happened but was designed to happen by the playoff format. Believe me, I hope this is a trend that will continue for the Suns, but I just can’t see it, not for game 5 at least.

Comfort and Coaching

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Believe me, I really want the Suns to win. But, one game doesn’t shift this series. The same things that were said about the Lakers are still true, even if not for one night. Can the Suns win game 4? Yes. Game 5? Maybe. I just don’t know. The Lakers were still well in this game despite Amar’e going into that mode that makes you think he deserves a Max deal.

Mission Statement

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The key thing to remember is that all hope is not lost. Hey, this game was tied 90-90 going into the fourth quarter. The Suns were riding a tidal wave of momentum with Grant Hill routinely draining the very mid-range jumpshot while Kobe or any of his backups relaxed their defense on the senior citizen of the NBA world.

My Machines are Oiled

Harry How/Getty Images

With about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, backup guard Shannon Brown for the Los Angeles Lakers jogged up the court, saw a partially open lane, and took off. He leapt with the intent to do harm. He was trying to suck the gravity out of the building.

He nearly jumped over a cowering Jason Richardson who was called for a block. He missed the dunk, his fingers just edging the rim/net. However, he made everybody stand up out of his or her seats in amazement. That was the kind of night the Lakers were having, even their misses were spectacular.

Are the Clouds Closer?

First off, this isn’t surprising and quite frankly is expected. Everyone knew or believed that the Thunder would take at least one game and everyone knew that Chicago would be competitive, especially after the first two games. And I wouldn’t consider either of these games a “steal” by the 8-seed, they were most certainly victories.

Yeah

This seems right.

AP Photo/Alex Gallardo

Really?

Ron Artest is channeling his best Dennis Rodman by dying his hair funky colors with the added sprinkle of language emblazoned across his dome. Maybe he thought this could snap the Lakers’ funk recently, however it did little to prevent another Lakers’ loss, brining the streak to a surprising three games.

The Myth

There is a myth circulating around the league that the Lakers are far and away the best team in the league, a virtual lock to win another championship. It almost seems as if they are unbeatable. And in fairness, they are the toughest team in the league to beat, especially if they are playing anywhere near what they are capable of.

I’ll Be There

Kobe Bryant is the tragic hero of the NBA.

The Collapse of Immortality

Going into this season, there were at least four and possibly five teams that were seen as head and Dwight Howard’s shoulders above the rest of the league. Those four/five teams were, in no particular order: the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and possibly the San Antonio Spurs. These teams had the right combination of talent, coaching, and offseason moves to move them into the pantheon of championship contenders for at least this season. Well, something has changed, at least a little bit.

Big Game James

Perhaps it is appropriate to characterize James Worthy as one of the luckiest players ever to play in the Association. Drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982, the 21 year old Worthy immediately became a member of one of the top two teams in the NBA. Imagine if Worthy had been selected second by the San Diego Clippers, we probably wouldn’t be calling him “Big Game James.” Imagine coming into the league right out of college and trying to establish yourself as a talented player while playing under the likes of Bob McAdoo, Norn Nixon, Magic Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It is possible that Worthy might not even be in the Hall of Fame today if it weren’t for the fact that he was drafted by the Lakers.

During his three seasons at North Carolina, Worthy played with one of the greatest collections of talent ever assembled by a collegiate program. During the 1982 season, Worthy stared for the Tar-Heels alongside Sam Perkins. Joining them was a curiously talented freshmen guard named Michael Jordan. This trio carried the Heels to the 1982 Final Four, and eventually to the NCAA Championship game. Worthy and the Heels squared off against Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas, with the Tar Heels prevailing on a late jumper from none other than Michael Jordan.

That year, Worthy was rewarded for his exploits in Tar-Heel blue; he shared National Player of the Year honors with Virginia’s Ralph Sampson after averaging 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Worthy was also a consensus first team All-American. As always, Worthy was at his best in crunch time; he scored 28 points on 13 of 17 from the field and provided a key steal that helped seal a Carolina victory in the 1982 NCAA Championship game. The legend of “Big Game James” was born.