Lakers - The Greatest NBA Franchise!

It happens anywhere NBA fans congregate.  My team is better than your team.  Eventually, the discourse evolves into the past successes of the teams involved.  However, when the discussion involves to the greatest franchise the NBA has seen, there are only two teams that can be considered:  The Los Angeles Lakers and The Boston Celtics.

So how do we define the greatest franchise in NBA history?  Titles?  Playoff appearances?  Rivalries?  Overall win/loss records?  There are no standards for this sort of thing.  No guidelines that indicate what should and should not be considered in the discussion of the greatest of all time.  I think it would be best if all were considered.  Disclaimer:  I am an avid Lakers fan.

Most NBA fans are aware that the Celtics hold 17 NBA titles while the Lakers organization sits at 14 titles.  At first glance, the edge here would go to the Celtics with three more championship rings.  However, if you take a closer look, the bulk of their championships came in one fantastic time period with 8 in row in the sixties.  There is one crucial point that is often overlooked.  Winning the initial NBA Finals championship -- which was also their third straight title counting the two previous years in the NBL and BAA -- began a run in which the Lakers would win five of the first six NBA championships.  The Lakers franchise dynasty actually began before the Celtics dynasty emerged, contrary to popular (and reported) belief.

Including this season, the Lakers and Celtics have been staples in the postseason. The Celtics have made the playoffs 46 times in 63 seasons, an amazing 73% postseason appearance rate. They have been division champions 26 times, won 20 of the 31 Conference Finals they’ve appeared in, and currently rock a 17 – 3 finals record.

In comparison, the Lakers have made the playoffs in 56 of their 60 seasons, a 93% clip! The Lakers history (including the Minneapolis years) includes 28 division championships, 29 of 37 Conference Finals won, and a underwhelming 14-15 Finals record.

So with all these numbers crunched, it looks like we may still be knee deep in indecision. I think the final leverage comes in the definition of the word dynasty. As defined by dictionary.com: dynasty – a family or group that maintains power for several generations. The Celts have maintained power at several different stages in their NBA history. The Lakers have maintained power at all stages in their NBA history. Every twenty years or so, the Celtics seem to have a re-emergence – the 60’s, 80’s, and possibly the 2000’s. However, the Los Angeles Lakers were winning titles in the 40’s, 50’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 2000’s. Granted the Celts did win titles in ’74 and ’76 but they were hardly considered the dominant team of the decade. In fact, the only decade for which they can claim dominance is the 60’s. On the other hand, the Lakers can claim the 50’s, 80’s, and arguably the 2000’s as ‘their decade’.

With two teams so close in every way, it is definitely an argument that can go either way. In this author’s eyes, the Lakers are the greatest franchise in NBA history.

Shaq vs Stan Van Gundy

All-timer from an old-timer - CBSSports.com
Ok.  I've tried and tried again.  I've held on to the grudge for nearly five years.  Shaquille O'Neal left my beloved Lakers in a horrible fashion.   His jerseys were thrown into a corner in my closet awaiting my first bonfire.  No one in my household was allowed to call him Shaq for nicknames are reserved for friends and family and he was no longer either.  His commercials caused an abrupt channel change on my remote.   Nothing Shaquille O'Neal related was tolerated in the Xpinionated household. 

Alas, Shaq has worn me down.  No worries, I'm still a Lakers fan and will still call him all sorts of vulgarities should he attack the purple and gold family.  But as it stands, his last tirade against Stan Van Gundy, of all people, has won me over for now. 

I think it started with his formal apology to Kobe indirectly.  This occurred a while back when he finally acknowledged publicly that Kobe had nothing to do with the O'Neal trade admitting it was an executive decision.  Oddly enough, the media whose sources regarding Kobe's involvement in the O'Neal trade were never verified or substantiated have finally stopped including Kobe as a sidenote to O'Neals trade. 

Next was Shaq's slowing down of the Suns offense.   I was pleased to see them slow down though they have since picked it back up.  Add to that the dismantling of a their title contending team and you can see how the grudge could start losing momentum.

Then the all-star game.  The Jabberwockies.  Shaq and Kobe's playful one on one.  The maturity level showed by both. 

Lastly, I read about the war of words between O'Neal and Van Gundy.  This is just funny stuff.  Van Gundy sends a three sentence appetizer to Shaq.  Retorting Shaq gobbles the coach, his brother, his star player, Patrick Ewing, and generally anything loosely associated with Stan Van Gundy in a 537 word (minus the expletives) monologue that rivals anything the WWE/WWF has ever produced.

For all my grudges, loyalties, and misgivings I have to admit the guy is classic.  In his words:  "It's what I do.  I've been doing this since 1992.  If you don't believe it, Google me."

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Xpinionated Sports Recap

As some of you may have noticed if you've looked at the tags, my Redskins, Hokies, and Lakers blogs are now residing here.  My time and effort to those blogs had become minimal, not to say I've been a workhorse on this blog either but whatever.

Up first, we'll go with the Lakers.  The Lakers had three games this weekend with double digit wins over Phoenix (thurs), Denver..again (fri), and Sacramento (Sun).  At 11 - 1, there's a feeling that something special is a-brewin'.   Everyone knows their role, and does it well.  A coming out party for Trevor Ariza this season has been an unexpected surprise.  I am still looking for a bit more from Sasha Vujachic but Farmar is showing signs as being the successor to Derek Fisher.  Luke Walton has spiralled to a position on the end of the bench.  I'm not even sure he has trade value at this point.

The Hokies squeaked by the Blue Devils of formidable Duke.  As this game wasn't televised, there's not a whole lot I can say about the actual game.  Turnovers seemed to be what made it a tighter affair than what was expected with four turnovers from T-squared in the first half.  That still doesn't explain the inability to score against Duke in the second half save for a pick six.  A win next week and the Hokies have managed to limp into the ACC game.  Still not so sure that's a good thing.  I never want to wish bad luck on the Hokies, but part of me needs Bryan Stinespring fired.  And success does not act as a catalyst for severance.

The Redskins finally won a game in Seattle.  I believe Seattle has put the 'Skins out of the playoffs in 2 of their last 3 meetings and beat them in a regular season matchup as well.  The 'Skins were able to move the ball well 30 - 30 but had trouble translating that success into touchdowns.

Down 3-2 and Holding Steady

As the series heads back to Boston, the Lake Show finds itself in a 2-3 hole in the quest for a title.

There are several problems that I've seen with our game this series.  Our lack of consistent aggression is our number one problem.  Our inability to play a complete game has cost us one if not two games.

Reading the internet (something I should seriously consider giving up), you would think that the Lakers are some last place team that's lucky to be in the finals.  All the talk is of the vaulted Celtic defense (a bit touchy grabby for my taste but I'm not an official).  Oddly enough, though our screen and roll defense leaves much to be desired, many of the stats that are a reflection of the defense are not that underwhelming. 

Lastly, there's a simple statement I want to make for all the newly diehard Celtics fans claiming greatest basketball franchise -- the Celtics are relevant every twenty years, the 60's, 80', and currently.  The Lakers have never gone 22 years without a championship......the Lakers have played for a championship in every single decade. 

Let's go Lake Show...let's win Game 6 and move on from there!

Technorati tags: Finals, Lakers, Celtics

Conference Finals

After a tough series against a very physical and game Utah Jazz squad, the Lake Show is preparing to square off against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.  It's only right that if the Lakers go on to win a championship this season, they should have to go through the Spurs to do so. 

The key factors going into game one:

1. Kobe's health:  He says he's 100%, that's good enough for me.
2. Manu Ginobili:  Starter?  Bench?  Does it matter?  Containing him will be one of the keys to our defensive effort.  I'm not as worried about Tony Parker as we are coming off a long series against Deron Williams who I would place ahead of Tony Parker in terms of causing defensive problems.  And D-fish held his own against D-Will so the focus in my mind will be Manu.
3. Pau vs Tim:  After facing a Utah team without a true center, I wonder how Pau will matchup with Tim Duncan.  On one hand, I don't think Tim is nearly as physical as Carlos 'Bruiser'.  On the other hand, Tim is better.  However, this year's playoffs have seen Tim disappear for stretches. 
4. Role Players:  Starter for starter, the Lakers look good in this series.  Even going down the rotation, I give the Lakers the edge.  The wild card?  Experience.  This Spurs team knows how to win regardless of circumstances.  Keeping the Bowens and Finleys under control will go a long way to reaching the Finals. 

Numero Uno

1st in the Western Conference.  It feels right.  This is what the Lakers organization is about.  This is where we are supposed to be.  Now to finish the deal. 

It looks like we'll be facing Dallas or Denver in the first round.  We went 6-1 against those teams combined going 3-0 over Denver and 3-1 over Dallas (though all games seem to be a battle at the end). 

I have never really been the kind of fan to prefer to meet one team over another.  By so saying, it indicates a fear of the less preferred team.  I do not like fear.  I like to think, nay, I know we can beat any team in the league in a seven game series.  Perhaps I'm blinded by the Purple and Gold, but if so let me remain in that manner. 

My main concerns going into these playoffs:

1. Consistency:  Save for last night's undressing of the Kings (which five years ago would have been a victory to be relished), the Lakers have shown a tendency in the second half of the season of building big leads and losing big leads by crunch time in the fourth quarter.  That cannot continue. 
2. Health:  Both Kobe and Fish are playing through injuries with Luke Walton and Pau coming off recent injuries.  Though we are a deep team, we must be weary of the injury situation.  Add to that no timeline for the return of Baby Boy Bynum or Trevor Ariza, and our health concerns are not minor.
3. Lastly, assuming Baby Boy Bynum comes back, jelling and working him into the offense during the playoffs could be a tricky scenario.  Combining that with not knowing how the young man will react or play (aggressiveness still there?) after his first major injury poses some logistical questions for the Lake Show

In any case, getting out of the first round is a must, plain and simple.  The 48 - 17 finish means nothing if we get goosed in the first round.  The Pau Gasol acquisition means nothing.  And the number one seed means nothing.  Perhaps a regular season conference crown is big for the Hornets, or Rockets.  But to teams like the Lakers or Spurs (yes a measure of respect is being granted here), conference championships are but a sidenote to the title.

Technorati tags: Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, NBA Playoffs, Trevor Ariza, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers

Down the wire

It's coming down to the wire in one of the greatest playoff races in recent NBA history.  The Lake Show has locked up it's 55th (out of 60 years) playoff appearance and now focuses on getting a better seed.  Right now, the teams I don't want to play in the playoffs are Golden State, New Orleans, and to a lesser degree Houston.  I'm not talking matchups here.  I'm talking bad feelings.  I just don't feel good running into those teams until we are on all cylinders. 

With Gasol back in the lineup, it looks like we are starting to play to our capabilities rather than to the level of competition.

I fear Kobe may once again be shunned in the MVP race if the Hornets lock up the one seed.  It truly is a shame that the best player in the league has never one the award.

I must give Lamar Odom his proper props for Friday night's game.  I've ridden him quite hard for a few years so when he has a night like he did against the Mavs, it's only right I at least mention it.  Keep it up Lamar, love the way you play when you're relaxed in the third option role.

Who would have thought we were in for a 50+ win season when this roller-coaster began?

Technorati tags: Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol

Random Thoughts

The Lakers are again at the top of the West tied with Houston at 46 - 21.  Pau Gasol is out indefinitely and Bynum is expected back by the first round of the playoffs.  If Ariza can come back as well, the Lakers would be at full strength but would still need a couple of games to gel and play together.  There has been concern that Kobe, Pau, and 'Drew haven't played together yet.  I'll put it like this:  Pau gelled with the team almost immediately playing out of position.  There's no reason that bringing young 'Drew back to a team he's played for at the positions he plays should be a huge cause for concern.  A bigger concern may be finding a way to make sure that the bench players that have stepped up during our bouts with injury don't lose focus like V. Rad. 

Check the following from Charley Rosen (whose book about the 71-72 Lakers is a great read) when asked which two players he would take from today's NBA to build a team around:

That's easy.

Kobe Bryant, because he's a better shooter and defender than LeBron James, and can easily play both wing positions. Not to mention Kobe being one of the game's greatest clutch performers.

Tim Duncan, for his versatility and his championship-attitude. TD is a jack-of-all-trades and master of every one.

Kobe and TD would provide an inside presence as well as an outside one — and would enable a team to play inside-out basketball. Having them both on the floor would also discourage defenses from double-teaming either one.

There's no other possible combo that comes close.

Big win at Dallas last night though we almost blew a 21 point halftime lead.  These are the kind of games where you don't know which team walks away with the most (besides the win of course).  Do the short-handed Lakers realize the accomplishment of coming out with a victory over a playoff bound team or do they realize they lost all but 2 points of a 21 point lead?  Does Dallas hang their heads for losing to a team missing it's two big men or do they realize that each of their past two losses could have gone either way?  I don't know.  But in the competitive West right now, the win is all that matters.  I'll let the Zen Master put together the mental gymnastics!

Congrats Houston on your run!  And bigger congrats to those happily living in Lakers land knowing our streak is still THE STREAK!

Technorati tags: Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Charley Rosen

Nine Game Road Trip - No Problem

7 up 2 down.  That's a helluva road trip.  Two losses by a combined four points.  Easily winnable games too.  The Lake Show is looking good and this is without young Drew doing his thing in the middle.  Kobe is playing with a newfound youthfulness, happy to be on the court.  Pau Gasol fits in like a lego in seven year old's hand.  Everybody is learning and accepting their roles.....

Things are looking good!

Pretty Picture

I wanted to simply past a look at the standings here but oh well.  In a nutshell, the Lakers are tied for numero uno in the West with Phoenix, who we've beaten twice already guaranteeing at least a series split.  

Kobe Happy?

After the turmoil of the Kobe-capades this summer, is Kobe Bryant happy?  It would appear so as the Lakers sit at 15 - 9, fourth in the talented Western conference.

"This [Lakers'] team is the closest I've ever been on," Bryant said. "I feel we have a bond as a group. There are no cliques. We all hang out together. I'm happy with it."

"With trades, you never know what's going to happen," said Bryant, whom Lakers insiders say hasn't mentioned being traded since the Bulls talks ended. "I'm happy to be playing and not caught up in the business. It becomes too difficult for me to be involved. I don't have that great education, so I can't handle that type of stuff. My high school education just can't get it done."

As you may remember, a certain Lakers fan stated that should the Lakers get off to a good start, perhaps Mamba would change his tune.  I don't want to jinx anything and Kobe may not have changed his tune entirely, but he has muted it for the time being!

--

In other observations, I haven't been able to see as many games this year due to circumstances but looking at the box scores I can't but be happy about Sasha's progress this season.  In fact, big kudos to our entire bench and all the youngsters showing up in ways bigger than expected.  Baby boy Bynum is doing his part to prove that Lakers management got it right by keeping him.  Turiaf continues to bring the necessary energy to bring life to the game at any given moment.  Farmar continues to improve, D. Fish leads by example, and V.Rad is playing like we expected when he was acquired. 

Getting excited.....

Handed to us

The Jazz handed us our asses last night.  52 points in the paint -- at halftime.  Yeah, the Lakers had 51 points total at halftime.  Every loose ball, every rebound, every bounce went their way.  Out-hustled, out-played, and out-skilled.  My hats off to the Jazz for their play.

Now, you know I wasn't going to post without some kind of complaint about last night.  After all, I usually post when something's bothering me.  The Jazz fans booed Derek Fisher last night.  I'm assuming they felt slighted that D.Fish wanted out of his contract with Utah over the summer.  Normally, booing a player asking to be released would be acceptable.  But Fish didn't leave because of normal player boohooing - he left to find better care for his daughter.  How a group of fans can put their basketball team -- their title-less basketball team (not that that makes a difference, just an opp for a cheap shot; like the one Jazz fans delivered last night) -- above a player caring for his daughter is beyond me. 

That other reason I love the Lakers

Intentional Lack of Kobe Commentary

I have not posted here in quite some time.  That's intentional.  In keeping up with the Kobe saga -- and unfortunately it has become a saga not a mere distraction -- I have read tons of comments and articles from Kobe haters and lovers.  I am a Lakers lover. 

With that said, I only choose a side in regards to a specific player when I feel the player is causing the Lakers harm as an organization.  I completely understand Kobe's side of things.  Help was promised but the trigger wasn't pulled.  Perhaps management has some undisclosed explanations for caution, outside of the Shaq to the Heat transaction.  The fact still remains that there are teams that have produced franchise helping decisions.  Teams that have gotten better because they had to.  If there is a franchise that needs to get better because it has to, the Lakers are that franchise. 

At this point, I still cheer for Kobe and ultimately hope that he retires in a Lakers uniform.  I hope the relationship between Dr. Buss and Kobe can be repaired at least to the point of coexisting.  I do doubt that.

I don't know, from a Lakers fan perspective, if I want Kobe to get traded so we can move on or if I want him to stay and deal with this (and potentially future) season of doubt.  Normally, I am excited for a new season to start.  But watching the Rockets game the other night, though it was a close game, I couldn't get that sense of excitement, that sense of optimism.  The other players weren't happy.  The faces showed that Kobe's fate is and will be a distraction.  The best I can hope for is a solid enough start to the season to perhaps quell Kobe's desires for a trade.  And who knows...maybe a trade deadline mega-deal that benfits the Lakers......

3-1 Start

Can't complain at this juncture.  Kobe is still finding his legs, Lamar has been playing phenomenal ball (ignoring Seattle on Sunday), somebody different is stepping up every night, and we lead the league in FG % at 51.1.  Second in the league in scoring at over 108 a game.

Tonite Garnett and Co. come to town.  I wish I could say I knew what to expect from this squad but since they became irrelevant, it's kind of hard to get up for the game....and I know, Timberwolves fans,  Minnesota won 3 of 4 last year.  Here's to hoping this game becomes something to care about.