The Lakers Sweep Brightens up a Dreary Spring

It’s been a dreary spring, with the RedSox unable to play .500 ball, and the Celtics making an early exit from the playoffs. The latter was especially disappointing because it’s unlikely that the big three will have another chance at a championship. John felt that Danny Ainge closed the door on this year’s playoff run when he traded Perk away mid-season. But Perk was not going to add any offense those last two games against Miami, when the Cs just could not score in the fourth quarter. (Of course, Perk gets to play later today for another chance to go to the conference finals, while all the Cs get to sit home and watch on TV.) I didn’t like the Perkins trade either, and I agree that it was dumb to break up the starting five that had won in 2008, and had almost won again last year. But the sad truth was that, all year long, the Cs were vulnerable in the fourth quarter. Too often they played that fourth quarter like they were old. And that’s certainly how they looked in the final two games against the Heat.

Plus, because they still relied so much on the big three, and those guys just haven’t gotten any younger since 2008, I’m afraid they will get worse before they get better. And unfortunately, Danny Ainge is not Red Auerbach. Other than Rondo, the team doesn’t have any young stars, so it’s probably going to be a few years before they have a championship caliber team again.

Still, the playoffs gave Boston fans one thing to cheer about - the Lakers’ meltdown. Not just that they lost; not that they got swept; and not even that they lost so badly, getting thoroughly embarrassed in Game Four against the Mavs. But wasn’t it great to see the Lakers’ true character revealed in that final game? Artest always plays like a bit of a thug, although I’ve never hated on Artest; I’ve actually liked the way he plays tough D, and contributes occasionally on the offensive end. And, I didn’t think his flagrant was all that flagrant. But Andrew Bynum distinguished himself with a punk-ass cheap shot that will define his career, at least in the near future. Plus how do the Lakers seem to end up with all these bitches? Remember Sasha Vujacic in 2008? He even has a girl’s name. And now, Pau Gasol. Who doesn’t hate Pau Gasol? There are rumors about Gasol or his wife stirring up trouble on the team, so maybe the rest of the Lakers hate him as much as we do. Hate; Hate; Hate.

That’s one of the fun things about being a sports fan. First, you get to root for your own team. But then, regardless of how your team does, you get to root against your rival. So this spring, I was pulling for anyone who played the Lakers. For a week or so, I was a New Orleans fan, although I really know no one on the team other than CP3. Then I became a Mavs fan. And then, I got to watch the final episode, where the Lakers got blown out, and everyone in the country, even including Magic Johnson, trashed them. As good a player as Kobe is, he’s never been likable, and has always appeared to be a punk at heart. And they seemed to get a bit of a pass in my mind, because Phil Jackson is supposed to be the Dalai Lama of basketball, staying all zen while his players whine and cry on the floor. But now the truth has been exposed for everyone to see: the Lakers have no class. Even if the summer stays dark and dreary, we can always think back to the end of their season, and remind ourselves that the Lakers suck.