There are plenty of things in life I will never fully understand. It’s a fact I came to grips with it a long time ago, but I still always look for the silver lining in things that I don’t like. That’s why I root against seemingly inevitable consequences that I hate with the hopes that it will somehow make a difference, where things just might go my way.
That’s how I treat the NBA, where my life as a Los Angeles Clippers fan has mostly been filled with the crappiest of feelings. We never win, we lose. Not just a little either, a whole lot.
To add to the suffering, I’ve never liked the Los Angeles Lakers. They have all the championships, all the glory, all the fame and all the attention.
Sure the path to that mountain top has had its fair share of shady moments, like terrible officiating that just happens to favor the superstar-filled big market team to lopsided trades that allowed those same stars to join the franchise.
The problem is that none of that matters, at least not to most people. They’ll just see the 16 banners (only 11 of which are from LA by the way) and read the fluff pieces and write the history to suit their fairy tales.
This year was supposed to be different though. Yeah they’d won the last two championships, but they drew incredibly favorable match ups out West and beat an over-hyped Orlando Magic squad. The win against the Boston Celtics last year was much tougher, but all I have to say about that four-point game 7 win is this: 21-6 free throw advantage in the fourth quarter.
Figure it out.
Anyway, things were looking right this season. They struggled mightily, looked sloppy and even lost to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. This all took place while the San Antonio Spurs looked awesome and built themselves a huge cushion for the first seed, with the Lakers looking like a third seed at best.
Then the all-star break happened and everything changed. Kobe did his patented “I swear I don’t know anything about stats and I’m totally humble” act, before saying “screw everyone I have to look out for my ego and chase these stats” and getting the game’s MVP award.
The media and the fans fawned over it, and before you knew it, the same people writing the Lakers obituaries were ready go start churning out “the Champs are back!” stories.
Right on cue, the Lakers took full advantage of their soft schedule and blew threw nearly everyone, before using their newfound confidence to even beat the great teams, (except the Miami Heat).
They’re now 15-1 since the break and the Spurs have had Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli get hurt while losing three straight, the Celtics traded away Kendrick Perkins, who apparently took their mojo with him, and the Heat still can’t quite get it together.
What does all that mean? Well, the Lakers are now only four games behind the Spurs for the number one overall seed, ahead of Boston and Miami record-wise for home court in the Finals if they all make it there, and are back to being the full-on favorites.
Based on the league’s history when a high profile team is so close to success, it’s pretty much a given now that they’ll probably win their third straight title.
I honestly can’t see any close calls going against the Lakers, not now that all the favor and spotlight has fallen back in their favor. When it all comes down to the wire, a season can turn on just one play or one critical decision, and make no mistake, they’ll be the beneficiaries when it happens.
I can see it all now. I’m going to be miserable and hate my sports life.
Ps, I’m hoping this can all be a reverse-psychology reverse jinx.
- Will.
The Sports Snob will be published once a week here on YouBeenBlinded.com. Will R. is a journalist/writer who covers sports, news and music for several websites. His music work can be found on www.WestCoastRydaz.com
