A Message to Our Laker Brethren

There's really not a lot to say without appearing to be patronizing. One could philosophize about the great record the Lakers have forged on a very consistent basis, but it probably wouldn't do much to nwutralize feelings of the moment.

The only thing I can share that might be of some lasting relevance is that, as much as Celtics successes have done to hone my pride and allegiance, it has been their failures that have ultimately been more meaningful to me as a person. They've taught me to keep the game of basketball in perspective in comparison to the importance of family and my own struggle to be a decent person. They've reinforced my belief that the most appropriate response to adversity is to focus on what comes next because, frankly, any alternative is a waste of energy—a commodity that's all too often in short supply in contemporary society. And they've tempered temptations to get overly cocky during the good times because that's just asking for it during the bad times.

I won't belabor this other than to wish all the best to you and your very important families and to mention how fortunate we are to have you on the board. I personally look forward to continuing posting with you in what I hope will remain a convivial environment.

All the best,

Sam

Sam,

Thanks for the considerate post.
Basketball and this forum is entertainment which if balanced well with our regular lives, can be a great joy to us.
I am not real disappointed that LA got swept but immensely disappointed in their lack of professionalism and what two dangerous, stupid plays will do to the reputation of the Lakers organization. The Los Angeles Lakers legacy is bigger and more important then Bynum and Odom. I bet the Buss Family, Magic, Kareem and LA fans, including me, are livid over those plays. If Magic was at the game, I am sure he would have gone into the Lakers locker room and tore up Bynum and Odom and they would have sat there until he was done saying what he had to say.
The Lakers success has led to a laid back sense of entitlement that was shown all season. They didn't want to do the work that was needed to succeed. Magic Johnson said after game 3 that all of these guys have so much going on in their personal lives that it affected the way they played this year. Magic said they need to blow this up. The only players I don't want traded is Kobe and Bynum. Sure, Bynum could go in a Howard trade, but for nobody else.

Despite the dust ups that occasionally occur from the "Lakers Brethren" (usually me), I still view it a priviledge to be welcomed here.

Thank you!

TJ,

I'm so used to seeing Magic with a smiling face that it was jarring to see him so disconsolate at halftime. In a way, I hoped he'd be on after the game to give his "take" on those incidents. But, in retrospect, it would have put him in an immensely awkward position.

I've often said that, while I'll never find myself rooting for the Lakers to win, they're worthy opponents who deserve respect. Two isolated incidents will not change that feeling one bit as far as I'm concerned, and I believe—long term—they'll reflect on the individuals more than on the Lakers organization.

I've told you before, both on and off the board, how much I think you add to this board and how much your knowledge is respected...dustups notwithstanding. There have actually been many parallels between the Celtics and Lakers this season, and it appears that situation could continue in the off-season (although that will depend partly on how the Celtics fare in the playoffs). I'll be most interested in the opinions of our Lakers fans as to the future course of the Lakers, which will unavoidably influence the future course of the Celtics. Two opponents bound together by their greatness.

Sam

Sam

TJ

As one of the main guys you have had dust ups with let me say to you that I am sorry that you guys lost. I know it hurts. You are handling it with class and very well.

What in the Sam hill you reckon was wrong with Gasol? Keep steepin there TJ. Nothing takes away what you guys did last year and the year before.

Sincere condolences.

Jeb

TJ- I'd be flat out lying if I said that I didn't like watching the Lakers lose...but they are a class organization (usually from top to bottom) Dr. Buss and Jerry West are as close to genius as you can get in sports...
Dr. Buss must have been pretty pissed off, not because they lost but because of the way they handled themselves... I can imagine he will have something to say to both Odum and Bynum to get them to reflect on how to handle themselves when they are getting beaten. It's easy to be well behaved when you're winning, tougher to act civilized when you are getting your head handed to you. The Celtic Laker rivalry is the best in sports...IMHO

Dulce et decorum est pro manus. How sweet and beautiful it is to die for your team.

Tough ending to a great run. Certainly not the way anybody wants to go out, not the the sweep, not the cheap shots. The franchise, though, will survive. As fans of a team that was lost in the wilderness for 2 decades before rising up again, we know what we're talking about.

We better win tonight, or we might just be one game behind you. I don't want to be down 1-3 and going back to Miami.

bob

.

Lakers showed us the true definition of "Bush League" last night. If you are a true champion, you lose like a champion too.

Kobe - Phil Jackson - Derek Fisher - someone with a level of respect on that team should have sorted that out ON THE SPOT, as soon as Odom lost his cool. Instead, they sat there and watched it happened and then came out with some BS statements after the fact.

Sad day for the Lakers franchise. They got beat like a drum and then acted like spoiled brats. This is a mark that will linger for a long, long time.

It may linger, Mrkleen...but for the two individuals involved, not the franchise. The scope of the Lakers franchise is far too substantial to be impacted seriously by the actions of a couple of loose cannons. I don't recall any long-term detriment to the Celtics franchise when McHale clotheslined Rambus.

Sam

sam wrote:It may linger, Mrkleen...but for the two individuals involved, not the franchise. The scope of the Lakers franchise is far too substantial to be impacted seriously by the actions of a couple of loose cannons. I don't recall any long-term detriment to the Celtics franchise when McHale clotheslined Rambus.

Sam

Guess we will see.

As for the McHale incident....it was apples and oranges to this one. Just commented on it in the other Lakers thread: https://samcelt.forumotion.net/t2651-neither-odom-or-bynum-remorseful

Maybe Adam's apple.

Sam

Sam, Actually I do see a long term impact from the actions of Odum and Bynum in this specific regard:
If the Orlando Magic were looking to trade Dwight Howard to LA in exchange for Pau and Bynum or Odum and Bynum, I doubt the the Magic ownership, specifically the DeVoss family, would stomach such a move given the anti-pathy that now swirls around Odum and Bynum. Sometimes for want of a nail a kingdom is lost. Such might be the case here.

TJ, MG and the rest of Laker nation that cares to be here -

what those two men did yesterday, completely reprehensible as it seems to me, does not to me represent the Lakers i've come to know and hugely respect them as competitors and recent champions.

i wasn't rooting for them to lose - yet. we can't have a Celtics-Lakers Final without the Lakers there !!

now we'll see how OUR series plays out. tonight's game is HUGE and likely will tell a large part of the tale.

Michael

Sam,

You have always been a class act. I thank you again for your kindness when it would be real easy for any Celtic fan, including you, to get your digs in. I can't say I would blame you at all. I would just have to sit here, smile, nod yes, and say nothing other than yes sir.

I knew the Lakers were in trouble after they dropped the first 2 at home. More than the obvious of being down 2 games. Actually, I thought they were in big trouble during the New Orleans series. Too me, I saw an old team, no heart, and a team that didn't seem to be a team. It jsut felt weird watching them to me. No motivation what so ever. I was just a casual observer in game 3. I didn,t even watch game 4. I felt I owed it to my wife to spend Mothers Day yesterday than wasting my time watching a team that didn't care. I wasn't even home during the game. I still have only seen the Bynum clip briefly, but not the Odom foul. Bynum definately should be fined and suspended. Dallas just flat out wooped the Lakers and were the better team, period.

Right now I am watching the C's and actually pulling for them. Anybody but the Heat, Please.

MG

Sam continuing......

Donald has bowling every Monday afternooon. My wife drops him off, but I pick him up on my way home from work. This afternoon I was waiting in the parking lot for him to come out. I looked up and here comes Donald strolling out wearing his Celtics Jersey. I am still trying to come to grips with having a Celtics jersey in my house and a son who roots for the Celtics, LOL.

Also, my wife has a high school friend who has family from the Boston area. He grew up as a huge Celtics fan. He recently returned from vacation in the Boston area, saw a Celtics game, and brought Donald a Celtics hat. Yes this friend of my wife does know that I am a Lakers fan. I just get no repesct around here.

Good luck tonight. Close one, Celtics by 1 in the 4th.

MG

I'd like to add my best wishes for our Laker friends.

A couple of ill-advised plays might grab some attention now, and I do agree that Phil Jackson deserved a better ending than to watch that, but this will not define the team, what it has done or Jackson's tenure.

The Lakers are a team that doen't need to re-tool, the lineup is solid and might even improve; who knows? They won't have a problem attracting a new coach and the run might just continue.

We'll see you out on the hardwood again soon.

Regards

MG,

Well you're loaded with class yourself. I've often wondered what the effect of Nate's trade would be on Donald and that jersey. It's good to hear that he's still wearing it.

I hope Kelley had a great Mother's Day.

All the best,

Sam