Lackluster LA Lakers Exit on Low Road from NBA Playoffs

The defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers exited this year's Western Conference Semi-Finals on perhaps the organization's lowest road.

Arguably the league's most celebrated franchise for the past 25 years, the Lakers succumbed yesterday to the surging Dallas Mavericks 122 - 86 in stunning lackadaisical, classless and thuggish fashion.

Lackluster play and frivolous, flagrant fouls marked the departure of the NBA's most successful coach, Phil Jackson, and ended his unparalleled fourth attempt at an NBA three-peat.

The Dallas Mavs' dismantling of his listless Lakers rarely resembled a Phil Jackson coached team. The Zen Master's squad displayed little passion, less poise and no class; as:

a) superstar Kobe Bryant's normally scintillating Black Mamba game lacked sting. Bryant was unable to slither through the lane for uncontested lay-ups or pounce past defenders for pull-up jumpers.

b) 7 footer Pau Gasol's highly skilled repertoire appeared as if it had already started its season-ending siesta on a Costa del Sol beach.

c) Jackson's vaunted triangle offense seemed caught in a cul-de-sac.

d) Bad Boy Ron Artest's lock down defense barred no one from the basket and failed to stop the unfettered barrage of wide open Dallas 3 pointers.

e) shameless, unnecessary cheap shots from Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom—normally classy, passive players—marred the closing chapter of Jackson's Hall of Fame coaching career. Certainly, not the low road the Zen Master would have scripted, exiting after 21 stellar NBA seasons.

The off-season will be a busy one for the Laker franchise. Jackson will remain retired. One of the expendable Purple and Gold twin towers will find employment elsewhere. Aged point guard Derek Fisher will more than likely be found flopping poolside (and not in the lane) on a lounge chair somewhere in Southern California. And the always resilient Kobe Bryant will likely be surrounded next season with a revamped squad featuring a marquee free agent signing or two.

Expect the NBA's elite West Coast power to return once again as a competitive, classy franchise that quickly regains its footing on the high road to next year's NBA Playoffs where the deafening choruses of opposing teams' fans, "Beat LA!" will be heard. 

Straight talk. No static.

MIKE - thee American made voice on sports!

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