Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Whether or not this Lakers team can live up to Kobe Bryant’s bold prediction remains to be seen. However if things keep going the way they have been since the tragic passing of Jerry Buss then there is no reason not to believe in the Lake Show playing postseason hoops.
Consecutive wins over two hated rivals in the Boston Celtics and Portland Trailblazers have helped erase some of those bad feelings that flooded Los Angeles just before the All-Star break. Since losing large to the Clippers and then losing the greatest owner in the history of sports the Lakers have suddenly found the determination and drive expected to be seen months ago.
Dwight Howard is actually showing some of that professional pride so many of us doubted was there.
Kobe Bryant is showing that classic Mamba swagger in addition to the vintage Mamba game.
Of course wins over two teams that are pretty much in the same boat as the Lakers won’t mean anything until this team proves it can compete with the NBA elite. None the less there is a noticeable difference in the effort being given since the passing of Dr. Buss.
While the Lakers might not be a title contender they are certainly well on their way to at least getting a ticket to the dance. And after it is all said and done that’s about all you can ask of team that’s digging its way out of a deep hole.