Los Angeles Lakers make it into the Conference Semifinals: Silence the critics for now - NBA Update
Los Angeles Lakers had a lot on stake heading towards the game 7 of playoffs 1st round series against the Denver Nuggets. On one hand Coach Mike Brown had to prove his sceptics especially Magic Johnson wrong while on
the other Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace had their own landmarks to achieve.
Gasol didn’t come up to the expectations in the 6th game and similarly Metta made his 1st appearance in the post season after serving the 7 games suspension, that he had earned earlier in regular season elbowing
James Harden of Oklahoma City Thunder on the head.
With the targets set, Lakers stepped inside the arena and owned the game. Gasol collected 23 points, 17 rebounds and six assists and Metta recorded 15 points as the Lakers romped to a 96-87 victory.
With this win they headed towards the West semi-finals to compete against OKC. But most importantly, the win renewed the trust in the present Lakers roster and head coach.
On the players’ side, the biggest threat loomed on Gasol himself. The franchise had tried to trade him in the midseason window and had he failed to perform on Saturday, it would have been safe to say that the Lakers would have
reconsidered that option. Gasol had the same feeling after the game.
“If we would’ve lost tonight, then probably some changes were going to be made. He said. “This team with the players that we have and this franchise is always expected to win and give their best. So I understand where it’s coming
from.”
To avoid the stigma of becoming 9th team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead, all of the Lakers’ played their hearts out. Steve Blake netted 19 points, his playoff career high, and Kobe Bryant tallied 17 to go with
8 assists. Gasol later said that aggression was their key to success.
"We were aggressive," Gasol said. "We attacked the paint better. We pounded the boards as hard as we could, every single time. ... Our backs against the wall also had something to do with it."
More than any other player, Mike Brown’s repute and (may be) job was on the line. After the 6th game Magic Johnson, an ESPN analyst and Lakers VP, said that Brown should be fired if Lakers lose the 7th game.
The franchise however brushed aside his claim pronouncing it as his personal views. But, the fact was that Brown certainly had a lot to prove.
“There's so many people out there that are going to say things or stuff like that. To try to fight that every time, I know, for me, is impossible for me to do."
Brown biggest test is however yet to come. The Lakers will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight in the first game if the second round series and if Brown fails to marshal LAL to the West finals for the second year running,
the front office might be forced to make a move.
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