The Signature Loss

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Often in sports we hear of "signature wins". A signature win is a team putting their stamp on the season. It's an affirmation by an improving team that they've "made it". A signature win is a big victory, over a favored opponent, showcasing the team's strengths, and essentially summing up their season. In a signature win, all the aspects of what made that team successful are put on display. The wider public begins to recognize how good the team is, and how good they can be. As I mentioned in the last post, the Thunder had a signature win against the Lakers last month, blowing them out handily and announcing loudly to the rest of the league "We're here! We can compete with good teams!".

The Lakers' embarrassing loss last night was more than just a series evening defeat. It was a signature loss. Their pathetic performance was indicative of all the problems that have plagued them this season. Kobe was clearly laboring, and was unable to play effectively through his injuries. Neither Bynum or Gasol were particularly assertive, and the Lakers struggled to work the ball inside. Artest, Brown and Farmar shot a combined 5 of 24 from the field. The Lakers had no answer for their opponent's speedy young point guard.

The freethrow discrepancy was pretty shocking, and the officiating really was poor- the referees were clearly intimidated by the deafening home crowd. But the Lakers can't have any excuses. If Brian Shaw, Frank Hamblen and Jim Cleamons had been given whistles and invited to leave the bench and officiate the game, the Lakers still would have been blown out. Nobody on the Lakers was willing to put their body on the line, get to the basket and draw the foul.

They were outworked. They were outeverythinged really, but their lack of effort was the most obvious deficiency. The Thunder got a handful of long offensive rebounds where nobody in purple looked even remotely interested in tracking down the miss. The Lakers looked directionless and had no answer for anything the Thunder were doing. Worst of all, they gave up on the game far too early, and didn't seem to be especially bothered or embarrassed by the defeat.

Although the Lakers didn't seem too concerned, I sure was. As I've said, this wasn't just a normal loss. It was a signature loss. All of the Lakers flaws and blemishes were exposed. The Thunder didn't expose any new weaknesses in the champs, rather, they just reminded us of what's bothered the Lakers all season. This is what made last nights loss so disquieting. These problems- Kobe's growing injury list, the team's lack of consistent outside shooting, a shallow bench, an inability to pound the ball inside, and a distinct lack of effort/heart are not going to go away. There is no easy fix. Maybe the Lakers just aren't that good... Many thought that once the playoffs started the Lakers would magically start playing better, that they would flip the proverbial 'switch'. Unfortunately, it's starting to look like that switch doesn't exist.

Last night, I was the most upset and depressed I've been about the Lakers since June of 2008. I had to turn the game off with over five minutes left, something I very rarely do. I simply couldn't take anymore of Doris Burke and Dan Shulman gleefully reminding us how young the Thunder is, how good Kevin Durant is, how this is "a real series now". Even during the incredibly inconsistent Houston series last May, I wasn't as down on the Lakers as I am today. I have an extremely hard time envisioning them winning they championship now- and that is the only goal, the only way the season can be considered a success. They just have too many problems. And most importantly, they don't seem to want it enough. Last year, still smarting from the Finals defeat to the hated Celtics, the Lakers were the hungriest team in the NBA. They clearly wanted the title more than any other team. This year, that hunger is gone.

So where do the Lakers go from here? I can't imagine them losing Game 5 on Tuesday. As much as the Thunder exposed their flaws in Game 4, I want to believe the Lakers are still capable of winning games they have to win. And make no mistake about it, Game 5 is a must win for LA.

Besides tying up the series, the loss in Game 4 had another dramatic consequence- it gave the Thunder a huge dose of confidence. Even after their close win in Game 3, I doubt anyone on Oklahoma City thought they had a realistic chance of winning the series. They were simply reveling in their win, even knowing it might be the only one. After last night though, the Thunder must now be empowered with an incredible self-belief. They know they can beat the Lakers now, and all they have to do is keep winning at home, and steal one game in LA. All the pressure was on the young Thunder during their two home games in Oklahoma City, but it has shifted back to the Lakers now. The Thunder have already been impressive, they've already proven pundits and fans (myself included) wrong. They are playing with house money now, and that makes them even more dangerous.

Last night was a humbling defeat. Before the playoffs began, I kind of expected the Lakers' matchups in the West to be more formalities than real challenges. Sure, I expected some good series, some tough games, and even some losses, obviously. But I didn't really think the Lakers would be in true danger at any time, and I didn't expect them to be truly challenged by anyone but the Cavs. Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the Lakers falling in the first round. Now, of course, that's a very real possibility. The series seems destined for seven games- the prospect of the Lakers winning a game six in front of Oklahoma City's raucous crowd is almost laughable. L.A. would obviously be favored in the deciding game, but anything can happen in a Game 7. And even if they do get past the Thunder, can the Lakers still make a serious to the Finals? I just don't see it, unless something changes dramatically.

But maybe something did change dramatically. Maybe the Lakers needed a game like last night to slap them in the face, to wake them up, to force them to realize they can't just sleepwalk through the West. Maybe they'll come out with a new focus and attitude on Tuesday night, and even more crucially on Friday night in Oklahoma City.

There is no question last night's defeat was a wake up call. The question is, for whom was the wake up intended? Was it for the team, to snap out of their funk, and inspire them to start playing like the champions they can be? Or was it for the us, the fans, to help us finally realize that Lakers just aren't that good, that there is no "switch", that this just isn't our year? I have a bad feeling the wakeup call was for us. I think it's too late for the Lakers- they've already slept through their call...