Seventeen: The Elusive Ring of the Los Angeles Lakers

     My how things have changed for the esteemed Purple and Gold,

 the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fox wore 17 in hopes to capture THAT ring

Not that long ago, "we" fans were salivating over the pursuit of that "next" ring.

Number 17

Spoiled? No doubt.

For as long as I can remember, the Lakers have been on top of their division under the watch of the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss.  Sure, there was a mediocre season here and one there but the Legacy of Dr, Buss also left us accustomed to winning a championship every other year.  Or so it seemed, just ask Magic Johnson who was drafted by the Lakers in 1979 (the year Buss acquired the team):

"The Lakers won five championships-including two straight in the 1987 and 1988 seasons-and reached the NBA finals eight times during the 1980s,  Magic's first ten years as a pro and the leader of our team.  So our success was no coincidence.  I once told a friend that when Earvin Johnson Jr. was born, he was sprinkled with Magic Dust." _ Jerry West , Foreward "Magic's Touch."



From the beginning of Buss's tenure "we" were spoiled.  We were spoiled with players like Kareem, Wilkes, Cooper, Magic, Nixon, McAdoo and Worthy...

#1 pick overall gave "US" the Worthy Glide

...that helped birth the Showtime Era.  Others like Mychal Thompson, AC, Byron and Rambis helped along the way.  And then later with Kobe, Shaq, and Phil (1.0 AND 2.0) along with Fox, Horry and D-Fish "We" seemed to always have the talent to take on ALL comers and usually end up on top.

It became almost silly to watch as the Lakers won THREE Rings in a row from 2000-2002. Then The Logo, Mr. Clutch, Zeke from Cabin Creek left the Lakers after 40 years.

That was then.

Today's story is much different.  Today's story excludes both Jerrys (Buss AND West).  And, the ONLY name from Laker Lore is an aging and breaking down Kobe Bryant.  A fan said to me recently, "Next year is Kobe's last season," and I replied, "No, two years ago was Kobe's "last season."  For the generation that has been blessed to have born into and have been raised during "Kobe's Reign."  To ALL those that have named their animals "Kobe," "Bean" or "Mamba," rest assured that he IS one of the Greatest of All-Time.  It's just, well, he played 78 games in 2012-13 and a total of 41 between this season and last.

We ALL know THAT story.  And "this" might help get us to where we are now:

1) December 7, 2011:Commissioner Stern vetoes a trade that would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers

2) August 10, 2012: The Lakers mortgage future picks (2 conditional) to acquire DH12 and HE Did NOT stay.

3) July 5, 2012: The Lakers pull a sign and trade for Steve Nash, which included Four Draft Picks (2 first-rounders and two second-rounders).  And he never REALLY arrived.

4) February 18, 2013: Dr. Buss passes _ ownership changes hands to the Buss Family (Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse).

5) April 12, 2013: Kobe Bryant tears his achilles.

6) 2013-14 Season: 319 combined games missed which led the NBA, including the loss of Kobe Bryant from the start (Achilles Injury) and Kobe Bryant after breaking his knee (December 17, 2013)

7) July 18, 2014: Pau Gasol decides to take less money to play with a better team and he returns to All-Star form

8) June 26, 2014: The Lakers Draft Julius Randle with the number seven selection. This was the first time since 1982 that the Lakers had a top ten pick (#1 overall, James Worthy).

You Can't Handle Randle. JR came in with high hopes

9) 2014-2015: Another injury riddled season including Kobe Bryant (shoulder) and top draft pick Julius Randle (leg)


"We" are now left with a collection of guys that are still trying to find their way in the league, including recent NBA D-League "call-up" Jabari Brown and second round draft pick Jordan Clarkson who were teammates at Mizzou.  Peeler?  Peeler? Anyone?

The "Magic" seems to have left.  Could this be more of a result of losing both Jerry's? Could it be bad luck?  OR, perhaps it is a little of both.

Some, well, MANY fans, including Magic, blame Jim.  Jim Buss, the current executive of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, said last year in a family meeting,

"I was laying myself on the line by saying if this doesn't work in three or four years, if we're not back on top- and the definition of  top means contending for the Western Conference, contending for a championship- then I will step down because that means I have failed."  


One has to appreciate the accountability.  And, many would agree or perhaps argue that Jim should step away sooner than that.

In the meantime, Jerry West has taken his "Magic Dust" to the Dubs (Golden State Warriors) and we have seen role reversals of fortunes.  This image, from March 16, 2015, shows GSW with 52 wins which is tops in the Pacific Division and the Lakers stuck on "SEVENTEEN" which has them struggling on this "94 by 50 hunk of wood..." _Chickism, Chick Hearn

"Oh My" how Things Have Changed

Could any Owner, GM, or Coach endure what the Lakers have endured the last three years and been in contention?  Probably NOT.

However, if the Lakers continue to not be able to land key all-star talent in Free Agency, and other moves or decisions do NOT pan out then Jim Buss' statement of stepping down may come to fruition. And, Ring "Number 17" shall remain elusive.

But..

Should the Lakers land serious talent in the draft, sign some top Free Agents in the off-season and really come together as a team, they stand a chance at getting back into playoff contention next season.  Wait, didn't "We" say that last year?

Nothing will be sweeter than to see the Lakers back on top.  After ALL the drama, the misfortune, the conspiracies, and the injuries.

2017?

"It was a very good year..."

Let's hope THIS RINGs TRUE

Path Seekers: What Direction is THIS Lakers Team going in?

  Jerry West said of Lakers Coach Bill Sharman that 

"he was THEIR PathFinder."

 Winning an NBA Record of Consecutive Games at 33 Straight must have been a very nice path to be on in 1971-72.  What Path is THE 2014-15 Lakers on?  Is Byron Scott their Pathfinder?  IS it their veteran shooting guard, Kobe Bryant?  Carlos Boozer?  Currently, Steve Nash may actually fit that bill a little more considering that two other Laker players have followed him to the sidelines and are out for the season (Julius Randle, Xavier Henry).  This is a path that Fans hope and pray ends immediately.  Another course that is quite glaring is that the team leader is leading them through his per-game average number-of-attempts that matches HIS jersey, 24.

Can this edition of the Black Mamba shed his skin?  

Can Kobe Bryant listen to his own philosophy and words that he spoke on Lakers Media Day when he said that, 

"you can't go against nature."

It is absolutely remarkable and almost unbelievable that number 24 has come back from his two recent injuries and is currently leading the league in scoring at 26.7.  THIS is on 9.1 makes per contest versus 24 shot attempts per game.  

This TEAM needs direction.  They have leaders.  One of those leaders is, no doubt, one of the best players to have played the game of basketball.  Is HIS drive sometimes detrimental to the team?  The number of shot attempts and minutes being what they are at a "chronological age 36" and with more miles and wear than what that number represents, Kobe already needs added rest 14 games in.  Can this TEAM find the right path? 

 Is Zen and Tranquility only found through the teachings of Phil Jackson?  

The young disciple now is the elder statesman and should have the life wisdom and basketball knowledge to help HIS team more than ever before.  Can the Black Mamba shed his old ways and become something different than he has?  If the pursuit for point totals and records continue to be in the sights of this Kobe Bryant than we may not ever see that next generation Kobe Bryant.  Certainly, other players on this team have NOT been shooting Lights OUT, but taking more attempts, especially while cold or in questionable moments, that "LEADS" into a shooting percentage of 38% doesn't necessarily SEEM to be the right answer or path either.

The soldier leaves no man, of their own, behind.  The military are disciplined to learn how to self-sacrifice for the betterment of the team and others.  You go back for the injured or the weak.  NOT pass them by.

For whatever reason, this year's Lakers have shown lack of hustle and effort at times.  There is NO excuse for THAT.  BUT, do players lose motivation when the path they currently are on seems to be so self-driven?  Like any relationship there is always some compromise and this one (Kobe Bryant and Lakers) needs help to get there.

"Before a man studies Zen, to him mountains are mountains and waters are waters; after he gets an insight into the truth of Zen through the instruction of a good master, mountains to him are not mountains and waters are not waters; but after this when he really attains to the abode of rest, mountains are once more mountains and waters are waters." (Essays in Zen Buddhism – First Series 24)