As to the Lakers... well, they looked brilliant at times. Then again, this was against a team that is even worse at defense than they are. The Lakers can play competent D – when they really decide to. But as a rule they are soft.
As much as I love Pau Gasol, he is a "typical european" player in some ways. He doesn't body up and he doesn't play tough. Of course, most euros don't even play D at all, and Pau can at least move his feet and block shots.
If you've been paying attention, the reason Sasha V. has gotten lotsa playing time this year is because he's worked on his D. Phil Jackson's attitude is that if you don't play D, you don't play. It doesn't matter how much you can score. It's the only reason we're seeing Vlad-Rad out there. It's clearly not because of his scoring.
Anyway, if it wasn't for Lamar in the middle, we'd get torched in the middle each and every time! And even Lamar is not exactly what I would call an enforcer. I like him, and I love his rebounding. But he's no Bill Lambeer, that's for sure.
Once Bynum comes back, the weak center problem that will go away. We saw that earlier this season. But it's looking more and more likely that we won't see him back this post-season, and even if we do, how effective can he being having missed most of the year?
Which leads me to my big concern in the next round. As good as the Lakers are, and as good as they have been over the years, they've always been soft on defense! Even with Shaq, they were soft as a team. Individual players played tough D. Shaq, Robert Horry, Kobe and D. Fish (of course) all did their part individually. But the team defense was not very good. Now, they don't even have a memory of Shaq, and they don't have Drew. Uh-oh!
Being soft on D is not going to get it against the tough-as-nails, tried-and-tested Spurs, should we be fortunate enough to meet them in the Conference Finals. Because they will be there. Mark my words and your calendar.
Hell, it's not going to get it against the Jazz, particularly at the Salt Palace. It looks as if we're going to play them in the next round (they're up 3-1 vs. the suprisingly tough Rockets), and they are brutally tough at home. Sure, we beat 'em there in the "first" season, but that was then, this is now. Need I point out that "now" is the playoffs? Jerry Sloan teams are always like the man himself, especially on defense. That is to say, tough as nails.
But for the moment, it's time to celebrate. At least for a few days. The Lakers have done it! They've advanced to the second round, and they did so convincingly – just like we expected them to. In fact, for the first time in NBA history, a 50 win team has been swept from the playoffs and "we" did it! Though it was bound to happen eventually, and it was bound to happen in the West, that it happened at the hands of the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers is particularly sweet!
As Shaq's new team flames out, and he drags a third organization down into the mud with him, the Lakers are teasingly close to greatness. In fact, you could say the Suns are setting and the Lakers are rising at just the right time.
We're proud of you Lakers. Keep it up!