What now for the Los Angeles Lakers?
Karl Malone and Gary Payton joined Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in the Lakers' lineup this year, in what was supposed to be the perfect Hollywood ending -- another NBA title. Too bad no one showed the script to the scrappy quintet from "Motown."
There is a lot of sadness in Los Angeles today.
No, a politician didn't die.
The reason is because the Detroit Pistons defeated the Lakers in five games to win the 2004 NBA title.
Some Lakers fans actually saw this coming, given all the trials and tribulations for the team this season.
They knew if it wasn't for the overtime win in the second game of the series, the Lakers would have been swept.
Did anybody expect the parade to go through the streets of Detroit though?
No, how could they?
On paper, the :Lakers had the "big four" -- Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Gary Payton.
The Pistons had Chauncey Billips, Tajaun Prince and the Wallaces, Rasheed and Ben, who was making a fashion statement with his afro.
To go along with the Wallace's, who aren't related, the Pistons gave had Richard, "Rip" Hamilton, who must have thought he was still at the University of Connecticut winning another NCAA basketball title.
On paper, the Lakers had the better lineup and they were built to win.
However, looks can be deceiving.
Who knew Malone would be injured for the first time in his career?
Who knew that Kobe would spend more time in a courtroom in Colorado than on a NBA court, or that Payton had no clue on earth what coach Phil Jackson's "triangle offense" was all about?
Speaking of Jackson, what will he do now?
Will he retire to his ranch in Montana or will he come back next year to coach the soap opera that is the Lakers?
As for the Lakers' owner, Jerry Buss, will he dismantle the team the same way the Florida Marlins were dismantled after they won the World Series?
What will happen to the Lakers as we know them?
Shaq will be back for sure, but what about the others?
Will Malone and Rick Fox call it a career?
Will Payton go to a team that doesn't have a triangle offense.
What about Kobe? Will he even be playing basketball this time next year?
What about the Lakers bench, which was so outplayed not only by the Pistons, but the entire league this season?
What's next for the team that was built to win it all but didn't?
Stay tuned, as I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
No, a politician didn't die.
The reason is because the Detroit Pistons defeated the Lakers in five games to win the 2004 NBA title.
Some Lakers fans actually saw this coming, given all the trials and tribulations for the team this season.
They knew if it wasn't for the overtime win in the second game of the series, the Lakers would have been swept.
Did anybody expect the parade to go through the streets of Detroit though?
No, how could they?
On paper, the :Lakers had the "big four" -- Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Gary Payton.
The Pistons had Chauncey Billips, Tajaun Prince and the Wallaces, Rasheed and Ben, who was making a fashion statement with his afro.
To go along with the Wallace's, who aren't related, the Pistons gave had Richard, "Rip" Hamilton, who must have thought he was still at the University of Connecticut winning another NCAA basketball title.
On paper, the Lakers had the better lineup and they were built to win.
However, looks can be deceiving.
Who knew Malone would be injured for the first time in his career?
Who knew that Kobe would spend more time in a courtroom in Colorado than on a NBA court, or that Payton had no clue on earth what coach Phil Jackson's "triangle offense" was all about?
Speaking of Jackson, what will he do now?
Will he retire to his ranch in Montana or will he come back next year to coach the soap opera that is the Lakers?
As for the Lakers' owner, Jerry Buss, will he dismantle the team the same way the Florida Marlins were dismantled after they won the World Series?
What will happen to the Lakers as we know them?
Shaq will be back for sure, but what about the others?
Will Malone and Rick Fox call it a career?
Will Payton go to a team that doesn't have a triangle offense.
What about Kobe? Will he even be playing basketball this time next year?
What about the Lakers bench, which was so outplayed not only by the Pistons, but the entire league this season?
What's next for the team that was built to win it all but didn't?
Stay tuned, as I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
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