And the Lakers' Season Ends

The Lakers did not deserve to win any more games in this latest NBA season and the Dallas Mavericks were the better team and deserve to be in the NBA western conference finals. I wonder somewhat if Phil Jackson will rethink his planned retirement from coaching with such an ugly exit from a playoff series. For all the reasons being mentioned, the bottom line is that they were simply not good enough this time. The Lakers did not play well, they did not defend well and certain players clearly buckled under pressure and acted in ways that are completely inappropriate.

Ron Artest, there wasn’t much surprise there. As for Andrew Bynum, he is clearly immature and his strange interview in which he spoke of team trust issues as though he was on Oprah’s couch could have been foreboding of the ridiculous foul that he committed yesterday. As for all those that want to label Bynum as some sort of criminal for his action, the player he fouled was unharmed. Pushing what-ifs calling the foul possibly career-ending is hysterical know-nothing conjecture and irresponsible. Bynum has harmed his reputation in an unmistakable way that may negatively affect his future. There is no doubt that he has hurt the Lakers as his trade value will be severely diminished throughout the off-season. What he did was uncalled for, it was a cheap shot, and he will face consequences, playing make-believe and making fantastic claims is not needed.

It’s always tough to see one’s favorite team lose in the playoffs, but at least they were there and the Lakers have been so successful over my lifetime that it would be greedy to expect even more. Kobe Bryant, he of so-called old knees and becoming an elder statesman in the NBA may see his window for championships closing; it’s difficult to empathize with that. I can think of having poor job security but there is always another job, so long as you’re willing to work. But there is no championship in the real world so the only way I can compare with Kobe is the fact that I’m four months younger and my knees need ice after playing basketball too.

As for the Lakers as a team, this loss may lead to many changes. Phil Jackson is planning to retire. I think he may re-think it, but maybe not. Behavior and tensions in the series illustrate rather acutely that there likely will be roster changes. On to next year.