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There are plays and
games that change a
team, sometimes for
the better, more
often for the worse.
There can only be
one team left
standing after a
playoff series, and
often teams are so
closely matched that
fate steps in and
takes a hand.
I wonder if in years
to come that this
game will be singled
out to be ‘the’ game
where these young
Jazzmen finally grew
up? Where a
franchise’s fortune
and fate took an
unexpected turn, at
the expense of a
bitter rival?
Let there be no
doubt, the Los
Angeles Lakers are
for real. When Pau
Gasol was crucified
in the LA rags for
not showing up when
it counted, he
showed up. He played
great. Derek Fisher
picked up two quick
fouls against Deron
Williams, who looked
simply unstoppable,
on a plane somewhere
unattainable for
mere mortals. Then,
all Derek Fisher did
was hammer in three
critical three point
shots when the game
was slipping away
from the Lakers, and
bring the Lakers
back from the dead,
ably assisted by
Lamar Odom, who
looked terrific and
who’s three point
bomb tied the game
in the closing
minutes? What about
Kobe Bryant, who
despite back spasms,
didn’t complain and
answered the bell
when his team needed
him? When he
couldn’t physically
dominate, he tried
to will his team to
win. He fell short.
I almost feel sorry
for him.
Let me say this as
directly as I can.
Any other team in
the NBA would have
been blown out of
the water by the
Jazz on Sunday
afternoon, but the
Lakers hung in
there, and almost
won the game. I’m
impressed. They
certainly are a
great team, one of
the best I’ve seen
in years. They have
everything. One of
the best coaches in
the game, perhaps
the best player,
experience,
youth….They have it
all.
And yet the Jazz
won.
You may say that the
Jazz won because
Kobe Bryant wasn’t
himself. That may be
true. When his team
needed his
overwhelming
physical talents, it
wasn’t happening,
for whatever reason.
What’s more, he was
gracious and didn’t
complain about his
back after the game.
I’m speechless. I
didn’t expect that.
This series was over
before it started,
according to just
about every
sportswriter and
Laker's fan in the
world. Too much
talent, too much
Kobe, too much
tradition…..
I wonder.
I tried to find a
substantive reason
why the Jazz won,
whether it was Deron
Williams dominating
the Lakers in an
unreal performance
in the first
quarter…..Or old
wobbly himself, Matt
Harpring, staggering
around on knees fit
for a rest home, and
certainly not in the
NBA playoffs. Could
it be the brief, but
incredible heroics
of Ronnie Price, who
does things on the
basketball court
usually reserved for
one a foot taller?
Could it be Memo
Okur, the gutless
goat of the playoffs
last year, who
literally was
hobbling on a very
tender Achilles
tendon? Who sunk two
incredible bombs
while standing on
the three point line
when points were
hard to buy? Take a
step back, Memo.
Then there is Carlos
Boozer, who tried,
and failed
miserably, to
achieve another
disappearing act in
the game. It’s hard
hiding 270 rock-hard
pounds of basketball
player under a hat.
Move over, Bugs. His
rebounding, his
courage, his two
foul shots in the
closing seconds,
when his guts were
churning and he knew
a miss was as good
as a loss?
Swish……...Twice.
Guess what? Carlos
came through. Andrei
and Kyle both hit
foul shots when it
really mattered, and
Ronnie Brewer threw
down a couple of
dunks in the first
that sent the
message that the
Jazz weren’t going
to roll over and
play dead. Not this
time, despite the
best efforts of a
Lakers team playing
an incredible game.
Paul Millsap
contributed when it
counted, as did all
the Jazz players. So
why did the Jazz
win? Was it the
great coaching and
leadership and heart
of Jerry Sloan
willing his team to
win?
No.
Nothing matters
except one small,
minor miracle. Once
in a great while, a
sports team….Be it
basketball,
football, baseball,
whatever……Realizes
that there is
another gear to
shift into. Realizes
that despite the
staggering odds
against it, or the
cold, harsh reality
of losing staring
you in the
face….That you can
win, if you want it
badly enough. Sports
history is full of
similarities, and
the New York Giants
win over the
Patriots last year
is a perfect
example.
Sometimes a team
simply refuses to
lose. Somehow,
somewhere, they can
reach deep inside
themselves and find
a way to win.
I hope Kobe is
healthy for the next
game. I hope Memo is
a hundred per cent.
I don’t want there
to be any excuses,
any naysayer
pointing fingers,
making excuses or
whining about the
officiating.
Just let these two
great teams go at
it, step back and
watch a small
miracle unfold in
the comfort of your
living room. This is
as good as it gets,
folks.
When the dust
settles, there will
be one team
standing.
I think you know
which one it will be. |
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