Now that the Lakers’ crazy, 66-game, roller-coaster-esque season is just about over, this 2012 Lakers’ squad has done as much damage to my heart rate/blood pressure as my three next ex-wives combined.
However, while this team has been frustrating, it is also important to note that we’ve had a good chunk of awesome moments, and deservedly so, considering we’re the third seed in a tough Western Conference and are poised to be a threat in the playoffs.
So let’s reflect on this past season and enjoy my personal five favorite moments from the course of the season.
5. Hey Troy. CATCH!!!
OK, so maybe this moment isn’t exactly a high point for Lakers’ fans, but it’s definitely one of the funniest. Troy Murphy, king of Jumpers With No Arc, and total goofball, gave us this nugget:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a3P46wI6p4
So Troy Murphy went to his position to spot up and shoot from the perimeter but forgot that he’d have to get the ball in his hands first? It’s no wonder Troy’s been in and out of the rotation all season long.
4. Derek Fisher’s final cut vs. the Dallas Mavericks
I was just as upset as all Laker fans when Derek Fisher was shipped out of L.A. in what seemed like a move to dump some salary (and to fix a logjam at point guard). And this is the reason why:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JLlBQAJqnA8
At the time, Kobe Bryant was being heckled for never passing the ball in late-game situations and this time, he dumped it off to the dude he probably trusts the most in our boy D-Fish. While we understand why he’s gone — he really was as present on defense as Tupac’s hologram was at Coachella (oh, we’re done with Tupac hologram jokes already?) and he had absolutely no consistency with his shot — it’s still tough to see the dude who once characterized your locker room leave the team that he went to battle with over and over.
3. Pau Gasol sons Chris Paul, Lakers remind Clippers who the little sister is
At the start of the season, there was a ton of that nonsense “Who’s the team to beat in LA?” talk, with the Clippers’ virtually stealing Chris Paul from the Lakers. These talks heated up after two heated preseason games between the two squads, in which the Clippers took both. (For some reason, people forgot it was the preseason.)
Well, glad we debunked that little myth. And Pau characterized the Lakers’ relationship with the Clippers perfectly:
Aw, cute. You may be asking yourself why Pau Gasol son’d Chris Paul that way. Easy: Basketball reasons.
2. Andrew Bynum grabs 30 boards, Lakers down Spurs
OK, we know that the San Antonio Spurs came back to knock us off our keisters the week following this contest, but this was, at the time, considered our best game of the season with Andrew Bynum swallowing all kinds of missed shots like it was nobody’s business:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RARlV7Pm6yk&ob=av3e
Oh, and he also tried to steal the ball from his own teammate so he can shoot a last-second three. That kid, man.
1. Lakers’ best win of the season vs. OKC
This should be the most salient memory if you’re a Laker fan. I won’t even describe it. Just watch the full highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lti_lQLJgo8
We know, we know: Metta World Peace got busted seven games after a pretty disgusting elbow to James Harden’s head. But ignoring how much of a fool World Peace was being, it’s important to note that this win should not have an asterisk attached to it, considering Andrew Bynum was totally nonexistent all game.
Hopefully, this list can expand and we can add “best June ever” in … well, June.