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Lakers Collapse Against Celtics (06-13-2008) |
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Friday, 13 June 2008 |
Kobe Bryant has tried to mimic Michael Jordan in almost every way from his strut, mannerisms, and pure will to win, but Kobe will never be like Mike. The Lakers choked in Game 4 against Boston, which means that they choked away the series. In doing so they also put a chink in both Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson's legacy.
You see, Michael Jordan wouldn't have let his team blow a 24 point lead, at HOME no less, in a game that his team absolutely had to win like Kobe did last night. The term "must win" is an overused term in sports, but any team playing at home in a Game 4, while down 2-1, is legitimately in a "must win" situation.
The Los Angeles Lakers led the Boston Celtics by 24 points in the first half of Game 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, but the Lakers somehow blew the game. This is going to go down as the greatest playoff collapse in NBA history, even with the supposed best player in basketball on their team.
I don't want to take away from the Celtics, who played well and deserved the win. James Posey was a nice surprise and reminded everyone that he played a role in the Miami Heat's 2006 Finals games. But in a microcosm of how badly the Lakers blew this, Derek Fisher responds by hitting a two pointer...with one foot on the three point line, about 12 seconds later. For no matter how well a team plays down the stretch, championship teams and immortal coaches do not give up a 24 point lead, at home, in the NBA Finals in a game they must have. The season for the Lakers effectively ended tonight. With 17 seconds left, after a Ray Allen layup extended the lead to 5, the Lakers inexplicably inbounded the ball, ran time off the clock and THEN called timeout, bringing them back to underneath their basket. With 15.7 seconds left. I'm sorry, but well coached and well led teams do not do this. Why did these things never happen to Michael Jordan teams? You'll remember, with Michael Jordan playing baseball, Scottie Pippen basically told Phil Jackson to take a hike when asked to go into the final seconds of a game with the play not designed for him.
Much has been made of Phil Jackson and his zen like approach in all games, be they big or small. Much has been made about Kobe Bryant being the 'next Michael Jordan'.
Both of these people are undoubtedly going to the basketball Hall of Fame someday. But both of their legacies took an irreparable hit tonight if they don't manage to come back and win this series. And really, who could expect they would?
Kobe: You'll never be like Mike. And I'd bet Phil Jackson would agree.
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