Coaches come and go, stars rise and crumble.
The Lakers were humiliated and embarrassed by the Mavericks. Kobe Bryant couldn't close. Pau Gasol turned from Rome to being conquered by the Dallas front line. Lamar Odom was busy filming with Khloe. Phil Jackson was dreaming of his house in Montana.
Lakers fan were furious and upset with losing.
The players didn't have the hunger and desire to continue on.
Fatigue and age caught up to this dynasty.
Pau Gasol underwent a fairytale transformation from Beast to Beauty. His stats dropped significantly in the playoffs, and that hindered the Lakers tremendously, as no one else stepped up to bolster the Mamba.
But you have to give props to the Mavericks. Especially game four, they reminded me of the 1989-1990 Loyola Marymount University, draining 3's from every spot behind the arc -- if you don't know that far back, I suggest you do a little research and you will be astonished of that team.
My gosh, Dirk Nowitzki was the evil villain we couldn't stop from committing more and more demented acts. The German prodigy averaged 25 and 10, and carried the light loaded Mavericks into the next round.
Jason Terry, the true 6th Man of the Year. He came off the bench and demolished the stagnant defense of the Lakers. It was painful to see him draining 3's, left and right. He was at a shooting clinic, and couldn't missed -- why wasn't he in the 3 point shooting contest?
J.J. Barea, this guy impressed me the most, he took beatings from Artest, Odom, and especially Bynum. But he remained poised and classy and contributed points off the bench.
What happened to the glorious purple and gold?
These heartless players lost the will to survive and fight. Their mindset was on a 3 peat, when they should have focused on the present.
The defensive effort was horrific, it was like watching a team of Carmelo's play defense. The rotations were awful, no help defense when the Mavericks would drive. And the thing that killed them the most was not closing out on the shooters -- something you learn at the age of 5 in YMCA basketball. Thus the Mavericks shot a better 3 point percentage than Shaq does on the free throw line.
They could have loss with class, most of us would have still respected the players. But frustrated bullies like Odom, Artest, and Bynum, had to let out the demons inside and punish Dirk, and Barea.
The clothesline on Barea by Artest was uncalled for, and it cost us game 3 with him suspended. Game 4, there was no point in even trying to play, but Odom gave Dirk a cheap shot, which he learned from Manny Pacquiao the night before. Followed by Bynum's elbow to Barea while he was in midair, Which caused Barea to tumble like the buildings in Japan during the earthquake.
Phil Jackson deserved better than this, his final year and his players come out playing like trash. And the Mavericks took the trash out.
Lamar Odom needs to quit basketball and become a reality T.V. star with the Kardashians.
The Lakers need to trade Pau Gasol, he played like he had to throw the games for gambling debts involved with the mafia. His contract is at 19 million a year, and he's not even a top 10 player in the league.
I also think we should get rid of Bynum, he is a sketchy 23 year old, and with his knee he is bound to topple soon.
Then we can get a superstar, one that can replace Kobe when he's done.
Dwight Howard.
It seems to me he coached his career like a candle in the wind, never fading with the sunset, when the rain set it.
His footsteps will always fall here, along Lakers precious courts. His candles burned out long before, his legend ever will.
Farewell Phil Jackson.