Los Angeles Lakers Show No Emotion after Winning Western Conference Finals
On Friday, the Boston Celtics advanced their way to the NBA finals after eliminating the Orlando Magic in Game Six The Eastern Conference Champions celebrated in their home at Boston Garden while surrounded by fans, friends and family.
"When we have this starting five, we have never been beat in a series," Boston Coach Doc Rivers stated as he addressed the capacity crowd. The team screamed with excitement while wearing their Eastern Conference Champions shirts and hats. The entire city of Boston was in an uproar with parties and chants of "beat L.A." reported throughout the city.
The same could not be said for the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers after surviving a near-fatal fourth quarter comeback by the Phoenix Suns. Dominating most the way through the game, a flagrant one foul against Sasha Vujacic against Goran Dragic in the fourth quarter seemed to alter the games momentum. L.A. was able to recover and put the Suns out with a 111-103 victory.
Shortly afterward, the presentation of the Western Conference Trophy was awarded to the Lakers by former five-time Laker Champion Michael "Coop" Cooper. While the trophy was awarded, not a Western Conference Champions shirt, hat, or smile was worn by any of the members of the Lakers staff or its players.
Coach Phil Jackson was interviewed, followed by Laker team co-captain Derek Fisher. Neither individual talked about the team’s excitement about winning the title for the third year in a row. Neither discussed the honor it was to be officially advancing to the NBA Finals for the 31st time in team history. The focus was squarely on knowing they had lost to the Celtics two years earlier and how they would not let it happen again.
Michael Cooper (who faced Boston three times in the '80s as a ShowTime Laker, losing only once in the 1984 finals), was quoted as saying, "Boston you want us? Well here we come!" Which was followed by no smile or emotion by any member of the team, including Coop himself. Zen Master Jackson only stated it would be a different series, which Derek Fisher restated moments later.
So is the lack of emotion for their achievement motivated by their hopes of revenge against Boston? Maybe it is the fact Vujacic was not the team’s favorite person at the time of the trophy ceremony. Maybe the Lakers are using an intimidation factor conjured by captain Kobe Bryant.
Whatever the reason for the lack of enthusiasm at the ceremony, one thing is very clear: Kobe is not the only player who is focused solely on the task at hand.
Pau Gasol seems more determined than ever to redeem himself against Boston's Kevin Garnett. Andrew Bynum will get his first shot to play against Boston this year, in hopes to remain healthy throughout the series. Derek Fisher and Shannon Brown need to focus on containing Rajon Rondo, who seems to be the spark keeping the Boston Celtics rolling.
One fact is for sure—the NBA's oldest, longest, and best-known rivalry has been renewed for at least one more time, and it is going to be a hell of a ride. It does not matter if you are a Laker fan or a Celtic fan, this is what both sides have wanted for two years.
In the words of Laker great Ervin "Magic" Johnson, "They won the East and we won the West! So let's sit back and let's enjoy it!"
I make no apologies to anyone when I finish by saying LAKERS IN SIX! Let’s go Lake Show!
SWEET 16 and redemption starts on Thursday!
