Every Great Team Had to Learn to Lose First

It seems to be a rite of passage, one in which every great team must undergo. You know, that painful loss deep in the playoffs that can cripple even the most hardened team. But, some teams come out more resilient than ever. It strengthens their resolve. Brings guys together. Gives them a purpose. Feeds their hunger.

Let us take a look at some of the great Laker squads who had to go through heartbreak before they could come out on top.

The ‘71-’72 squad was built around three hall of famers:  Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich (Elgin Baylor retired only nine games into the season). West made it to the Finals seven out of 10 years, losing all seven. Even Chamberlain had to suffer through three grueling years with the team, before learning how to win the big one. They finally won the 1972 championship.

That was Bill Sharman’s first year coaching the Lakers. Years later, Paul Westhead took over the helm 15 games into the ‘79-’80 season, when they won with the help of rookie Magic Johnson. Pat Riley took over 12 games into the ‘81-’82 season before going on to win it all that year. Phil Jackson, of course, won his first ring with the team during his first campaign in ‘99-’00. I am sure you all see the trend here, but that is actually not where I am going with this. Bare with me.

It wasn’t easy for any of those teams. Before Westhead, the Lakers had to lose in the Western Conference Finals, the first round, then the second round. Before Riley, the Lakers got knocked out in the first round. Before Jackson, the Lakers had to endure three losses in the second round, once in the first round, and then we even got swept by the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals in ‘97-’98.

This year’s Lakers squad was of course dealt a crushing loss last year in the Finals to the Boston Celtics, our long time rival of yesteryear. Was it the loss we needed to mold the guys into champions, or, was it simply a sign of things to come? I am a glass half empty kind of guy, and believe me, if I were a betting man, I would put my money on the Lakers.

ESPN analyst, Scoop Jackson, said it best. The 1st and 10 crew were trying to focus on a trend that shows the teams that dominate another in the regular season tend to continue that success in the postseason (Boston over the Lakers last year, Lakers over Denver this year, Orlando over Cleveland, and Orlando over the Lakers?). He came out and said that the Lakers having lost last year in the Finals trumps all of that. This team is hungry, especially Kobe Bryant and I am with him when he says that Kobe will not lose twice in a row in the Finals. This team has been waiting for this moment, ever since the Celtics left that bitter taste in our mouths last year.

This team’s energy, their drive, their desire, have all come into question during the course of the regular season, and again in the playoffs. But, I guarantee you that if the Lakers overlooked anyone in the past, those days are long gone. They overlooked them because they were waiting for this moment. This is their time to shine and I dare anyone to try and argue that this team is not outright unstoppable when they play to their capabilities and play as hard as they can. Anyone? I didn’t think so. This team only beats themselves, but no longer. Not when a ring is on the line.

So Laker fans, you and your friends need to grab your chips and dip, fill up your glass with your beverage of choice, find a nice spot to watch the game, be it in the comforts of your own home, at a bar packed to the rim, or maybe you’re one of the few lucky enough to enjoy the games at STAPLES Center, because this series is going to be a shoot out!

Revenge against Boston will have to wait. The Orlando Magic are up next and nothing will stop us from getting championship #15.

I can’t wait!