The Lakerhead

Lakers Win It All

The Lakers are the 2008-2009 NBA Champions.  It still feels surreal as I type that.  Were Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol really celebrating with those newly minted Laker hats?  Was ultimate champion Bill Russell really handing over the Finals MVP trophy to Kobe and then having a chat with Pau Gasol and Phil Jackson on the podium?

Kobe With Larry O'Brien and Bill Rusell Finals MVP Trophies. Oh Yeah...He's Happy.

And did Kobe Bryant just lead a team to a title?  Why yes, yes he did.  And he proved this year, once and for all, that he makes players better around him.  From taking part-time coaching duties to leading by example, Kobe Bryant was a Finals MVP, averaging 32.4 Points, 7.4 Assists, and 5.6 rebounds.  4 championships.  Countless fingers that are dislocating and falling apart.  One big heart of a champion.

It was a very official night.  It was as if the basketball gods were crossing off a checklist: Kobe Bryant will now be considered right there with the greatest players of all-time.  Check.  Phil Jackson will now be considered the greatest coach of all-time with 10 championships to his credit: Check.

Trade Brian Cook and Maurice Evans and You, Too, Can Get a Champion Like Trevor Ariza!

Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom will net some serious money in the offseason.  Gulp…Check.  It is looking like the first great challenge of the champion Lakers will be bringing everyone back.  With Jerry Buss’ boys at the podium excited to the point of random screaming outbursts, I’m going to go ahead and assume the Laker ownership will pay to keep this team intact.

Trevor Ariza befuddled two of the greatest scorers of the playoffs (Carmelo Anthony and Hedo Turkoglu) with his quick hands and pesky defense.  Then he acted like he was fellow UCLA alum Reggie Miller on the other end of the court, nailing over 48% of his 3-pointers throughout the playoffs.  In the irony of ironies, the Orlando Magic practically gave away Trevor Ariza for Brian “I’m a Power Forward That Can’t Jump And Only Shoots Threes” Cook and journeyman  Maurice Evans.  Ouch.

Please Come Back Odom! Candy Tastes Sweeter With Gold!

Ariza was a giant reason the Lakers won the championship, and Lakers’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak is highly advised to do whatever is necessary to keep him in L.A. (Yes, even if it means getting rid of my local favorite candy-man, Lamar Odom.  You know, the guy on the Lakers that makes every other team go “Well if Odom is making his three-pointers, there is no way we are beating this team”.  He did exactly that in the championship clinching game, going 3-3 from downtown, and reminding the Lakers what they would be missing.  I have a sneaking suspicion both he and Ariza will be back at around $6-8 million a year.  )

The most significance storyline internationally will be Pau Gasol getting his NBA championship.  The Spaniard’s professional career has been completed, with a ring in this most difficult basketball league around, this little American League called the NBA.

World's Best Player Or Best World Player? Gasol is King Across the Seas.

Gasol’s evolution as a player has been nothing short of miraculous.  He went from being pushed around by an intimidating but skinny Kevin Garnett and brute Kendrick Perkins of the Celtics in last year’s Finals to defending NBA man-child Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic with surprising success.  Howard delivered punishment through elbows and muscles, but each time he did, Gasol came back for more, his floppy hair stating “Thank you, may I have another?”

Derek Fisher immortalized himself into the Laker history books, etching himself in stone even deeper.  At 34 years old, I would not blame him one bit for going off into the sunset on top.  If he wants to come back, he’ll get less regular season minutes with Shannon Brown and Jordan Famar coming on strong, but he’ll be there in the most clutch plays of playoff moments.

Phil Jackson, 10 Championships. 'Nuff Said.

Phil Jackson really has nothing left to coach for.  He has the most championships as a coach, along with the best winning percentage in the regular season or the playoffs.  He also has the most playoff victories ever.  At this point, if Phil comes back, it is simply for “being in the moment.”  He now has only himself to challenge to win 5 rings with Kobe Bryant.  That would be so Zen of him: Kobe would want nothing less than his coach back.

It's Official: My Championship Shirt Rules!

As the Lakers celebrated, I quickly ran through my head on which hat and t-shirt I wanted.  These kinds of decision are very important for us Laker fans.  I went to the NBA store and settled on this gold shirt.  Classy, because the banner in the back reminds you it’s only 1 of 15 for the Lakers franchise.  And with a cool gold shirt like this, onlookers will be assured that I enjoyed all of them.  Thanks for being part of the ride.