The Lakers were swept from the playoffs this year…what is the big deal? I am disappointed so many so-called Laker fans went so ballistic. Calling the Lakers a team of no heart….too old. People wake up. The Lakers were going to for a three-peat.  Going for 4 consecutive finals appearances. Know how many teams have made 4 consecutive NBA finals appearances in history? 4..the last one and the only modern team to do it was the Boston Celtics in the 80′s. That team had 3 bond fide hall of famers…top 50 players in their prime. They also had a 5 game first round series instead of the modern 7 game first round series. Pro players could not play in international events. That means that when the 1984 olympics were going on in Los Angeles, Larry Bird was at home watching them instead of playing in them right after playing in the NBA finals and right before training camp for the next season. Kobe, Pau and Lamar all played in international events after playing in the Finals. If the Lakers would have made the finals again…based on that achievement alone they would have to be considered as one of the all time teams in NBA history. If they were to actually win a third consecutive title they undoubtedly go down as one the all time best. Think about that for a moment……Would you pick these Lakers against the Magic Lakers?? The Shaq-Kobe Lakers? The Jordan Bulls? Bird Celtics? I would not even come close to picking these Lakers. I love my Lakers…but have a little perspective here folks. It would be hard for any team to make to the finals 4 straight years….these Lakers are a veteran team. THEY ARE TIRED! and although I am not content with 2 back to back title….they HAVE EARNED a little leeway don’t you think….instead of ragging on them appreciate what they accomplished and the respect the magnitude of the achiement they were trying to accomplish. All this complaining ..belittles their achievements and the bigger goal they were in pursuit of.. Kobe has had multiple injuries..messed up fingers, twisted ankles, knee problems….he never had the time to let them heal…and you are calling out their heart? Give me a break…

The comments by Magic are the most distressing….I love Magic but he is way off base when he wants to give up on the Lakers….Let’s review Magic’s career…Lakers win championship in 1980…Lose in ROUND 1 in 81…no talk of breakup. Win championship in 1982…get swept in finals (Worthy hurt) in 1983….Lose in finals in 1984..Magic played terrible and was the Pau of this year..that year…No talk of breakup….To add to the wound…Lakers still had never beat the Celtics in Finals and Bird finally gets revenge on Magic…Win championship in  1985( following the memorial day massacre in Boston Garden) and finally beat the Celtics in Finals…and believe me in LA..that alone was like winning 3 straight titles…Lose in WCF in 1986 in 5 games while having home court advantage (in what would have been 4 consecutive finals appearances)….no talk of breakup…back to back titles in 87-88…swept in 89 with Magic and Scott hurt….Memo to Magic – The only time there was talk of breakup was when Kareem retired.

These Lakers still have alot in them and I expect them to challenge for a title next year. I would not be surprised to see them have the best record in the NBA. Kobe needs to reinvent himself this off season.. Much like Magic and Jordan late in their careers before him…needs to hit the weight room and have more of a post up game. More then ever needs to learn how to be quick..not fast as coach Wooden famously preached.

Have faith Laker Nation…the fellas will be back.

vs

… The Los Angeles Lakers face off against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 finals. Although it will be a tough series I cannot see anything but a Laker victory. Here are the reasons why the Lakers will BEAT the celtics:

• Gasol will eat up Garnett…

You read that correctly. Garnett is not the player he once was. He makes mean faces and grunts and shouts when he grabs a rebound or blocks a shot…but Kendrick Perkins he is not…Not now and not ever. KG has always been an athletic big man who had great footwork, quickness and could hit a 15 footer. Hmmm that sounds like #16 on the Lakers. Only now KG is older and slower…relying more and more on the 15 footer than any inside presence. People always bring up the fact the Gasol got bodied up in the 2008 finals….that is true. Only it was not KG that bodied up Gasol. It was Perkins and PJ Brown that did that. KG is a poor man’s Gasol….and the Lakers have the real Gasol…

• Bynum will be big in the series

I do not expect Bynum to play big minutes or put up monster stats…all he has to do is take up space. Occupy the biggest body on the Celtics that would allow Gasol to work the Celtics other big man.  Bynum just has to make an effort to get rebounds and clog the middle on defense. Points are a bonus.

• Rondo will be just another great point guard the Lakers will face in the playoffs this year

Rondo is playing awesome..no doubt. But the Lakers just finished playing against Westbrook, D Williams and Nash. Where would you rate Rondo among those point guards..Right above Westbrook and below D Williams and Nash. That’s what t I thought. The Lakers have already played the best point guards in the playoffs..Rondo will be welcomed relief. That  is not to say the Rondo will not play great…but he will not have the impact so many in the media are saying he will

• Artest will eat up Pierce

This was exactly why Artest signed with the Lakers and why the Lakers wanted to sign him. Pierce was huge in 2008. Mostly because he was being guarded by VRad…not this time. Pierce saved the Celtics in 2008. It was a younger and hungrier Pierce. It was the Pierce that went toe to toe with Lebron James in the ECF. This Pierce was non factor against Lebron. This Pierce gets tired and becomes passive when another big body is banging him on defense. This Pierce will be swallowed up by the defense of Artest.

• Kobe

Kobe is on a mission…you heard that in 2008. But truth be told that Kobe was just happy to make it to the finals. He was asking for trade the summer before and all of the sudden they are in the finals? It was James Posey…a big guard with quickness that gave Kobe problems in 2008. Posey is gone…along with hope of containing Kobe in this series. Kobe has never played better and he knows what a victory against the Celtics means…he knows what avenging the embarrassment of 2008 means. Kobe gets one step closer to joining the Magic,Bird and Jordan circle.

• Roster changes

The Celtics lost alot of key role players from 2008…Posey, PJ Brown, Eddie House, Leon Powe and they replaced them with Wallace, Robinson and Tony Allen, a much better Rondo

The Lakers lost Vlad, Luke Walton, Ariza, Jordan Farmer…I know that Lakers did not lose Walton or Farmer but they no longer rely on them as much as they did in 2008. They replaced them with Bynum, Artest, Brown and Lamar off the bench.

I will take the Lakers improvements any day…

The Boston fans will witness another championship celebration on their home court….As Kobe joins Magic Johnson in being only the second team to celebrate the championship on the Boston home court…

Lakers in 5