Editorial - Rise and Fall of a Dynasty: The Los Angeles Lakers

Post Of The Week

This is an editorial by our very own member realdealbneal.

There is no true definition of a dynasty. To some, a dynasty is simply a team that continues to win, year by year, and considered the most successful of their decade. To others, it’s a group of heroes (or, in some cases, villains) that never lose. Dynasties exist in every sport, whether it’s football or baseball…soccer or rugby…and in every country, from China to the United States. The term can be distributed among the elite, from past to our present…names such as the Yankees, Cowboys, and the Bulls. However, one organization seems to break free of the others in an attempt to shine for years to come, no matter what the situation is. That organization, loved by many and hated by the rest, goes by the name of the Los Angeles Lakers.

From George Mikan and Jerry West, to Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, and Magic Johnson…the Lakers have been blessed with some of the greatest basketball players the sport has ever known. Up until Magic’s last days with the club, the Lakers were a team feared by many, with the ability to dismantle a team when they least expected it…to send every opponent back to their locker rooms with their heads in their hands. With the departure of arguably one of the greatest players in the game, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the Lakers went from the top of the food chain all the way to the bottom. Los Angeles failed many times afterwards, with no title hopes in the future.

Then, in the 1994-1995 campaign, the Lakers improved greatly. Coach Del Harris won the Coach of the Year, and the Lakers made a run for the Western Conference Finals. Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Cedric Ceballos set the stage for the Lakers, yet failed to deliver, losing to the Spurs in six games. However, this was their best season since 1990, adding fuel to a team that grew hungry from success. Furthermore, the return of Magic Johnson in 1995 seemed all too perfect, but the Lakers fell to the Rockets in the playoffs after posting 53 wins that season. A change in the lineup was long overdue.

The Kobe/Shaq Connection

“With the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets select…Kobe Bryant, from Lower Merion High School, in Pennsylvania.”

The Charlotte Hornets were in need of a center, and the Lakers had a plan up their sleeves. Trading Vlade Divac to Charlotte, they acquired the rights to 17-year old Kobe Bryant on July 11th, 1996. Days later, on the 18th of July, the Lakers brought in free agent Shaquille O’Neal to replace Divac. Two pieces of the puzzle were filled, yet one still remained.

With Shaq as their leader, the Lakers posted a 56-26 record in 1996-1997 (despite O’Neal missing 31 games due to a knee injury) on their way to a first-round playoff matchup versus the Portland Trailblazers, who stood absolutely no chance against Shaq, Jones, Van Exel, Elden Campbell and Robert Horry. Then, the Lakers ran into a brick wall: the Utah Jazz, who defeated them 4-1 in the West Semis.

The next year was even more promising. The Lakers finished the season with 61 wins. Once again, the Diesel missed 20 games, but the Lakers fought through it and posted a 13-7 record without him. Van Exel, Jones, and a great opportunity for the young Kobe Bryant made way for the Lakers and their opening to make a run for the title, sending four players to the All-Star game, the first team to do so in 15 seasons. After beating Portland in 4 games and disposing of Seattle in the second round, the Lakers once again ran into the Utah Jazz, and were swept in the Western Conference Finals.

Another year, another chance for the Lakers. The 1998 season was nearly over before it started, with the lockout in effect…but the Lakers acquired Dennis Rodman, appointed Kurt Rambis as head coach, and traded Jones and Campbell to Charlotte for Glen Rice, JR Reid, and BJ Armstrong. O’Neal was named to the All-NBA second team, and the quickly-developing Kobe Bryant made the third team, but the Lakers fell short in the playoffs after finishing the season at 31-19. They met up with the eventual-champion Spurs in the Western Semis, losing to them in four games. The formula in Los Angeles was missing a secret ingredient, one that was found the following season, giving birth to the Laker dynasty and putting the city of Los Angeles on top once again.

Phil Jackson Arrives in Los Angeles

Big changes were made in 1999. Phil Jackson, possibly the greatest coach of all time, brought with him a slew of assistant coaches with him to the organization (Jim Cleamons, Tex Winter, and Frank Hamblen). Also, Brian Shaq, Ron Harper, AC Green, and John Salley were shipped to Los Angeles. With the new coaching staff and player additions, the triangle offense was introduced in Lakerland, and the Lakers started the season off at 25-5. With winning streaks of 11, 19, and 16 games, Los Angeles was finally getting the recognition they deserved. At the end of the regular season, the Lakers marched away with the best record in the league (67-15) and headed towards the playoffs with home court advantage.

In the playoffs, the Lakers drove hard to beat the Kings in five games in the first round, defeated the Suns in five in the Semis, and finally knocked off the Blazers after a hard-fought series that lasted seven games. Carrying momentum into the Finals, the Lakers continued their pursuit of the title, and eventually defeated the Indiana Pacers for their first championship since Pat Riley and Magic Johnson in 1988.

That year, Shaq earned All-NBA First Team and All-NBA Defensive team, along with the season MVP, All-Star MVP, and the NBA Finals MVP. Kobe, finally having the opportunity to play significant minutes, earned All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive team also. Shaq’s season stats proved to be anything less than amazing: 29.7 PPG with 57% shooting, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG and an average of 3 BPG. Kobe Bryant? He posted 22.5 PPG on 47% shooting, with 6.3 RPG and 4.9 APG. For the Lakers, the puzzle was finished. The young stud, an unstoppable beast, and a coaching genius were the icing on the cake for their first title together. Was it luck, or the early characteristics of a dynasty?

It Takes Two, Baby

With the addition of Horace Grant, the Lakers added depth and strength in the post, to hopefully contain guys like Tim Duncan and Karl Malone. Despite the misfortunes early in the season with an injury to Derek Fisher (60+ games) and both Kobe and Shaq missing games, the Lakers rallied back and won the Pacific title. In the playoffs, the Lakers swept each team up until the Finals, strong teams including the Blazers, Kings and Spurs. Even though the Sixers would steal Game 1 in Los Angeles, the Lakers would not underestimate them a second time as they won four straight, bringing home a second NBA championship in two years.

Awards and stats? Shaquille O’Neal was once again named the Finals MVP and made the All-NBA First Team. Kobe Bryant took home All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team honors. O’Neal’s regular season stats were somewhat lower than the last season, yet still impressive at 28.7 PPG on 57% shooting, 12.7 RPG, 3.7 APG and 2.7 BPG. On the other hand, Kobe’s stats increased, as he posted 28.5 PPG on 46% shooting, 5.9 RPG, and 5 APG. The duo of Shaq and Kobe were on the verge of going down as one of the greatest ever.

Three Men, Three Rings

The 2001-2002 season was highly-anticipated by the fans, for both the return of Michael Jordan (to the Wizards) and the Lakers attempts at a three-peat. The Lakers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division, 3rd overall in the West, with a 58-24 record. With the first round of the playoffs ahead of them, the Lakers entered the post-season ready to run through anyone in their path…and they did, starting with the Portland Trailblazers, who suffered a 3-0 series blowout against Los Angeles. There was almost the same amount of resistance in the second round, and the Lakers defeated the Spurs 4-1 and moved onto the Western Conference Finals against the run-and-gun Sacramento Kings. To no one’s surprise, the series lasted seven games, but the Lakers came out on top, making their third Finals appearance in three years. As if this was not enough, the Lakers completely dismantled Jason Kidd and the Nets, 4-0, in the NBA Finals.

Shaq’s regular season stats were impressive, but declining…27.2 PPG on 58% shooting, with 10.7 RPG, 3 APG and 2 BPG. Kobe Bryant’s stats also slipped a few numbers, at 25.2 PPG on 47% shooting, 5.5 RPG and 5.5 APG. Earning their third consecutive NBA championship, the Lakers were considered a dynasty that would dominate the league for years to come. However, during Shaquille O’Neal’s third Finals MVP ceremony, a shocking incident took place: Kobe Bryant walked off the court in disbelief. Fans that witnessed it were blind, but this was the beginning of the end for the Los Angeles Lakers and the trio of Jackson, Shaq and Kobe.

Champs No More

The next year was a disappointment to the organization, compared to their previous years as champions. Kobe Bryant would have a spectacular year, burning teams and setting a record for consecutive games scoring 40 or more points. However, the Lakers would finish 2nd in their division, but 5th overall in the West, with a 50-32 record… going 19-22 when away from home. It seemed as if Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were no longer in tune, and Phil Jackson could only turn away as the Lakers were put in their place by the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs, 4-2. Kobe was no longer the sidekick, and Shaq began to look sluggish and worn on the court. Bryant’s concept changed from a “pass first, shoot second” state, to a “score when necessary” view. Still invisible to the media, the relationship between the two superstars began to spoil, and it became evident by the beginning of the 2003 season. What was once balanced and fine-tuned…was now a toss-up for the balance of power in Los Angeles.

Bring in the Veterans

The Lakers added two key elements to their team in 2003…the Mailman and the Glove. With arguably the best center and shooting guard in the game, the Lakers upgraded their roster with two future Hall of Famers in Karl Malone (at power forward) and Gary Payton (at point guard). Fans all over Los Angeles began to plan their championship party early…as early as pre-season…because the Lakers were being dubbed as the greatest Laker team assembled…as the second-coming of the “Showtime” squad that stunned fans with their incredible play and determination on the court. However, the good qualities wandered off into unfamiliar territory, as both Payton and Malone weren’t familiar with the triangle offense, causing their style of play to deem useless in an offense that was based around Kobe and Shaq.

In an unexpected turn, Malone was injured, missing nearly half of the season. Even worse, Shaq missed 15 games with an injury, and Kobe was flying from one location to the next, tied up in legal troubles. Gary Payton was the only Laker out of the four to play in all 82 games, posting 14.6 PPG, 4 RPG and 5.5 APG in his only season with Los Angeles. Soon, the Lakers were back on track and looking good…in search of a nice playoff spot, also. In come the Blazers, at the final game of the regular season, for a second seed in the playoffs. With the Lakers down by three and a few seconds left on the clock, Kobe Bryant hits a game-tying three to send the game into overtime. In OT, and once again with the short end of the stick, Kobe runs towards the inbounds pass, catches and shoots a fade-away three…and hits it, giving the Lakers the win and the higher seed in the playoffs.

With the Timberwolves owning the #1 seed, the showdown was set. With an easy first-round victory over the Rockets, the Lakers walked into Los Angeles against the Spurs,where Derek Fisher hit an incredible fade-away with 0.4 seconds on the clock to give the Lakers a much-needed win in San Antonio, and the eventual series, to go back to Minnesota for the West Finals. In Minnesota, the Lakers would prevail over the league MVP Kevin Garnett and his Minnesota squad, 4-2.

On the other side of the bracket, the Pistons were awaiting the Lakers. With the Lakers having home court advantage and four incredible star players, the Pistons were predicted to lose in four or five games. In what was possibly the biggest upset in Laker history, the Pistons went on to spoil the Lakers’ hopes at a championship by winning 4-1 in the NBA Finals, closing the books on Los Angeles and bringing the title back to the East since the Bulls’ last one in 1998.

Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones…

After the loss, the Lakers faded away from the media’s attention. Soon, Phil announced his retirement from the league. Then, in a blockbuster trade, the Lakers let go of Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a future 1st round draft pick. This trade continues the media “war” between Kobe and Shaq…including insults and claims of being the best. Days later, Kobe Bryant re-signed with the Lakers to join Gary Payton in hopes for another run for a title.

Shockingly, Payton was traded to the Celtics for Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins and Jumaine Jones (was Marcus Banks). Also, the addition of former Laker Vlade Divac pointed this team back to the playoff scene. Now all hopes lie on Kobe Bryant’s shoulders, and with the help of Karl Malone (if he decides to return as a Laker), the organization has enough stability to cause problems once again in the Western Conference.

The dynasty has come to an end. We will no longer see the Shaq and Kobe duo running the court, throwing oops and posing together. However, a new era has started…not from a rebuilding process, but from an improvement standpoint…the Kobe/Odom era, and if all goes well in Los Angeles, Kobe and the Lakers will once again climb the ladder and successfully defend their title as the self-proclaimed greatest franchise in the NBA.

What do you think of realdealbneal’s. editorial? Sound off on the CL.com Forums!