The Lakers couldn’t have been happy with the way their match against the Clippers ended yesterday, and not just because it gave perennial irritant Patrick Beverley cause to celebrate at their expense. Even with All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis starting slow, they appeared to have the set-to under control early and often courtesy of an overachieving bench. Unfortunately, they failed to sustain their momentum in the face of stellar defense and a relentless push by reigning Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard; a lead that stood as high as 15 turned into a deficit they needed to overcome with a last-gasp trey attempt that a simple swipe converted into a turnover.
No doubt, the Lakers spent the rest of Christmas Day wondering why they snatched defeat from the throes of victory. Beverley’s outstanding showing in putting up a ridiculous plus-26 rating in 32 minutes of exposure aside, they couldn’t but have felt the win was theirs to take, and then theirs to squander. Once again, their intrinsic frailties were on display; they shot poorly from both the charity stripe and beyond the arc, and, more importantly, they had no answer for Leonard’s increasing sophistication on offense. If there was anything yesterday proved, it’s that he delivers under pressure. The numbers may point to less efficiency given his higher usage rate with the Clippers, but there can be no doubting his uncanny ability to rise to the moment.
Certainly, all superstars have no fear of failure. It’s why James, despite having made a mere two of 11 previous three-point attempts, isolated himself and rose from quartercourt with 3.6 ticks left and a tie in sight. And, certainly, all superstar stoppers — proven or otherwise — have no fear, period. It’s why Beverley welcomed, relished even, the opportunity to rise to the occasion; had he proved unable to keep leather from meeting nylon, he would simply have been an accessory to the expected. Instead, he bucked conventional wisdom, created his own destiny, and rejoiced — if too much — in the aftermath.
The Lakers and Clippers will meet again — once next month, once in March, and, if all goes according to plan, in the Western Conference Finals. And, yes, the outcome figures to be the same when they do, unless, that is, the purple and gold learn to get out of their own way. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll learn the lessons their four-game losing streak imparts, and fast. After all, it’s not how they started, but how they finish, that matters.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
