Every Great Team Had To Learn To Lose First

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It seems to be a rite of passage, one in which every great team must undergo. You know, that painful loss deep in the playoffs that can cripple even the most hardened team.

But, some teams come out more resilient than ever. It strengthens their resolve. Brings guys together. Gives them a purpose. Feeds their hunger.

Let us take a look at some of the great Laker squads who had to go through heartbreak before they could come out on top.

The 1971-1972 squad was built around three hall of famers: Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich (Elgin Baylor retired only nine games into the season).

West made it to the Finals seven out of 10 years, losing all seven. Even Chamberlain had to suffer through three grueling years with the team, before learning how to win the big one. They finally won the 1972 championship.

That was Bill Sharman’s first year coaching the Lakers. Years later, Paul Westhead took over the helm 15 games into the 1979-1980 season, when they won with the help of rookie Magic Johnson.

Pat Riley took over 12 games into the 1981-1982 season before going on to win it all that year.

Phil Jackson, of course, won his first ring with the team during his first campaign in 1999-2000. I am sure you all see the trend here, but that is actually not where I am going with this. Bare with me.

It wasn’t easy for any of those teams. Before Westhead, the Lakers had to lose in the Western Conference Finals, the first round, then the second round. 

Before Riley, the Lakers got knocked out in the first round. 

Before Jackson, the Lakers had to endure three losses in the second round, once in the first round, and then we even got swept by the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals in 1997-1998.

This year’s Lakers squad was of course dealt a crushing loss last year in the Finals to the Boston Celtics, our long time rival of yesteryear.

Was it the loss we needed to mold the guys into champions, or, was it simply a sign of things to come?

I am a glass half empty kind of guy, and believe me, if I were a betting man, I would put my money on the Lakers.

Read the rest of this story at Lakers101.com.