Frustration has filled the Lakers organization, as they get swept by the Dallas Mavericks, a team that has been labeled “soft” over the past ten years.
“It’s going to be a long f…. summer,” said Ron Artest. It surely will be a long summer for the Lakers and knowing Dr. Buss, changes will be up in the air, that much I can guarantee. “Dear Laker Fans, thanks for a great season. We will be back. Dr. Buss knows how to fix things. See you soon-you are the best,” says Jeanie Buss, the executive vice president of business operations for the Lakers.
But let’s get back to the series, something no one wants to discuss. The Dallas Mavericks continued to shoot the lights out from beyond the three-point line, as they shoot 62.5 percent in Game 4, which is better than their overall shooting percentage (60.3 percent). They eventually go on to win the game 122-86, the biggest margin of win in the series.
The series has been a game of outside shooting, something the Lakers simply could not execute. The Lakers just couldn’t connect on any outside shots and in turn, threw their biggest advantage away, which is their inside game. Andrew Bynum finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds today, something that should never happen–let alone being ejected for checking J.J. Barea.
“It’s like the Lakers are already on vacation and they didn’t want to play this game,” said Magic Johnson, someone who won numerous championships with the Lakers, and he couldn’t be anymore correct. After losing Game 2 at the Staples Center, the Lakers seemed to shut off as a team and they simply hit the cruise control button. Is it because they already won two championships in a row? I don’t know, you tell me.
The Lakers shot a dismal 37.8 percent in Game 4 and sadly, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. “It happened. Hopefully, we’ll learn from it,” said Pau Gasol. Yes, Gasol, please do learn from this season, or better yet, take some game notes on your brother (Marc Gasol) because he obviously knows what it takes in the Playoffs. Sorry, but he just has to be let known.
After the game was over, Bryant approached both Coach Carlisle and Mark Cuban and said, “Good job.” It has really come to this; congratulating the opponents’ owner and coach for getting your (you know what) handed to them. Today is truly a sad day for all Laker fans around the globe.
This is far from the end for the Lakers organization, but just remember this: we got Gasol for Kwame Brown and a draft-pick. So why can’t we get Dwight Howard or Chris Paul?
Seems farfetched, but anything can happen in the span of a year–and if the Lakers want to bounce back (like they usually do), changes will be the key, especially finding a starting point guard and one solid shooter–two things the Lakers desperately could have used this series.
Don’t hang your heads Laker fans, this is not the end of an era, this is just the start of a new one. Hopefully it begins with a certain super hero, if you know what I mean. So hope and pray that the Heat, Celtics, or Mavericks don’t win because that’s all we can do at this point.
