2-Time Defending Champs: A Sweeping End to the Lakers' Championship Run

On May 8, 2011, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the LA Lakers in Game 4 with a score of 122-86. Not only did that win ended the series, it also ended the Lakers' championship run. Truth be told, I knew this day would come, but not this way, not in a "sweeping" fashion at least.

"It's Best out of 9 right?"

For over a decade now (and I do keep on repeating this), I've been a Lakers fan. Whether it was due to the fact that they were the strongest team in NBA Live or whether they had Shaq or Kobe in it, fact of the matter is I was a Laker fanboy through thick and thin. Through ups and downs, I cheered for them. No matter if people were getting tired or fed up with them, I kept on cheering. Whenever they were hated by many, I and few still cheered for them. But it wasn't until 2005 that I became a true die-hard NBA and Laker fan. And on that time, the Lakers didn't even make the playoffs. Sure, they had a 1st round exit on the next two playoffs, but it wasn't until the 2008 campaign that I can surely tell that they would make a run. So imagine the excitement that I had as I was geared to see a Lakers championship run. Kobe's 4th title was already overdue and the championship-hungry Lakers are already drifting away from their last title. With the acquisition of Pau Gasol, the Lakers look like they were pose for a long run, and yes, they did.

"I'm going to miss my crazy celebration every after winning a championship."

Three straight finals, two back-to-back titles, it was indeed great run. As a Laker fan for those 3 years, I was indeed spoiled. There is nothing like having your favorite team winning every year and watching all those haters trying to make-up excuses on why the Lakers "won". Reality is, nothing is going to last forever, but deep in my mind, it was inevitable that at least the Lakers could make one more push. That push was for the elusive "3-Peat". With the formation of the Big 3 in Miami and a rejuvenated Celtics, Bulls, Spurs and other great teams, the 3rd straight championship might become a long lost dream rather than a reality. It didn't matter if who's who will own the league in the next 5 years, what matters was that the Lakers has got to have a 3rd straight title. For Phil Jackson's 4th "3-Peat", Kobe's 6th title, it will be a great Hollywood ending to the championship run. I wasn't clearing out the possibility of a 4th straight title, but that is way too much already. The idea intrigue millions, the haters hated the idea, the LA Fandom wanted it to happen, but the sad fact is, even in the start of the season, the Lakers didn't really looked like they wanted it.

"I got 5 rings for my 5 fingers bitches....I guess that's enough."

As the season started, the Lakers had some very "unusual" characteristics. Despite being two-time defending champs, they were losing to weaker and inferior teams. They made the Grizzlies look like a behemoth one-time and made the Clippers the Los Angeles' "Main Team". And at the same time, the Lakers were losing to tougher and stronger teams. The anticipated Lakers-Heat, Kobe vs. Big 3 match-up floundered and the Spurs were heavily slowly taking back the West throne. The season wasn't that great but the Lakers still had their good looks. After the All-Star break, the Lakers went on a winning streak and they positioned themselves to be at the top of the throne again. They had their championship poise again, and they look to have one major 3rd run. The Lakers did however end the season in a losing streak, but just like the previous years, it didn't matter as they were ready to "turn-it on" when the Playoffs start. They did manage to have a bump against the Hornets, eliminating them in Game 6, but the real kicker was that no one expected that it would be the last triumphant win for the post-season.

"Aren't we suppose to win this series?"

After the Hornets, it was the "Horses" that were next in line. The Mavs were able to get a strong win against the Lakers during the season, but the last game they had showed a complete dominance of the Lakers over the Mavericks. The Lakers completely owned the Mavs and because of that, the Lakers were heavily favored to win this series. The Mavs didn't look like much of a threat, but like the Hornets, they provided a Game 1 upset that had the entire world in awe. The Mavs were up and coming, and the Lakers needs to make a counter-attack. Game 1 felt like a hiccup, a fluke, everyone knew the Lakers would get back in the series in Game 2. Little did everyone know that it was already the 1-2 combo of a 4 move KO. The Lakers completely lost the home-court advantage and they needed to steal two in Dallas, but the odds were against them. The Lakers already had the entire world reeling for their demise. They had their run. They had overcome their stay, and everyone were claiming to "get the brooms". It was a slow painful cringe in the heart, the Lakers simply lost control of the series, and after 12 post-season wins, the Lakers run ended in a disappointing sweep.

"Damn, I hate fishing in May."

For all its worth, I'm not that sentimental over the Lakers losing this series and throwing the dream of capturing another title. In a sense, like them, I wasn't really that much hungry also as a fan. I was hoping that at least they would, but bare witnessing my favorite team, my favorite player having a great run for the past three years is already a blessing. Three years of owning the league? Its a rare feat these days. But at the end of they day, its over. No more jumping up and down, no more champagne celebration, no more raising a trophy, no more parade, no more countless Finals videos, no more. To be quite honest, its nice to finally rest as a fan who's been cheering straight for the same team over a decade and endlessly had to go to a lot of trash talks for the past three years. Its tiring to cheer for your favorite team. Having to experience anxiety and excitement as I watched the Lakers had their run. Its great to finally watch the Playoffs without having to worry if the Lakers will win or not. It doesn't matter who wins (although I'm rooting for the Mavs since I always root for the team representing the West and the Bulls which is my East team), the Lakers did what they needed to do. They were in a position to dominate the league, and they did. And as much as it was uncanny for them to exit that way, they hold on to an achievement that only few can achieve and many cannot even replicate: a great championship run that was "swept" on the great annals of NBA and basketball history.

"I should have retired last year."