2011 NBA Season: Why the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty Is Finished

The book is now closed on the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty.

An ill-fated postseason, departure of a legendary coach, restlessness within the dressing room, hiring of a new coach, and the emergence of the Dallas Mavericks have all placed a halt on the dominance that the Lakers have adjourned. 

The age-old saying that serves as the compensation for a tough defeat, "there's always next year," doesn't necessarily alleviate the proverbial injuries suffered from the Laker organization. The last time we all saw the Lakers without the legendary Phil Jackson—the 2004-20005 season—is one that a diehard Laker fan would love to forget.

Sure, Rudy Tomjanovich was a great coach: a 24-19 record in 43 games, and the Lakers looked like playoff contenders; however, health issues stepped in the way and Frank Hamblem led the Lakers to an ill-fated and abysmal 10-31 record. Mike Brown does prove to be a very qualified candidate: 272-138 and five playoff appearances in five seasons coached--a great track record going into a very reputable city.

Sadly, he's facing a downtrodden team.

Coming off the heels of a very pathetic loss to Dallas, where the Lakers played more like thugs towards the end, Mike Brown will be in charge of revitalizing a franchise that is now broken, confused, and hopeful for a pivotal person to add to their lineup. Will the team be able to rebound and win a NBA championship in their first year? It would be a very valiant challenge. Many questions lie for the Lakers coming into the season; the spotlight will not be shining on them quite as much as it did on the Miami Heat this time period last year, but there will be an air of curiosity when it comes to how this team will function:

• The Team Chemistry
  • Oh yes, the question of whether or not Kobe will get along with Mike Brown. Now, this isn't generally your match-made-in-heaven ordeal; these two have no prior experience around each other and at this rate, the success of the franchise depends on whether or not Mike Brown and Kobe are on the same page. However, I do beg to differ in this category. In Phil Jackson's first run, we saw a total conflict between Jackson and Kobe. In his book The Last Season, Jackson openly criticized Kobe and recants on his experience coaching him very negatively; granted, this was during a time period where the Lakers were going through the early 2000s three-peat. Whether or not Mike Brown and Kobe are a great pair, the Lakers will put up great numbers--however, with an aging staff, the stretch for the Larry O'Brien Trophy will be a tough one.
• The Motivation
  • Lamar and Khloe. Pau Gasol and his girlfriend. Kobe and...well, the rest of the team. The Lakers lacked the motivation and intensity they are known for throughout the playoffs. With Phil Jackson's retirement imminent, it seemed like the Lakers were more concerned with what to do during the offseason rather than give their coach a graceful exit. Factual or not, Pau Gasol was being known more for his personal problems with his girlfriend than how many points he was scoring in a game. Kobe showed more angst and frustration (which, of course, got him in trouble in one instance) during games and the rest of the team seemingly had their head in the clouds. It was a destruction that could only be done L.A.-style: lots of drama, not much explanation.
• The Opponents
  • The power rankings of the Western Conference are now changing. With the NBA title victory, all eyes are on Dallas to making a strong run towards a repetition. Oklahoma City, who fell short in the Western Conference Semifinals, are also under the radar. Even the Memphis Grizzlies are now being involved in water cooler conversations as they made a strong, unpredictable run during the NBA playoffs. If these teams continue to make strong runs during the season and postseason, the Lakers could see themselves in a serious hole as other teams are now starting to be in contention. This, in tune, could raise interest in the conference as it is not simply "Laker-dominated."

If the Lakers can get their act together and defy the odds to make a strong run towards the NBA title, then they will prove that they are truly a team that can battle adversity and make a great comeback. Just remember, it doesn't take a good coach to bring a championship to a team. (Does Larry Brown ring a bell?) It takes a strong-willed, prepared, and humble team to win championships.