The two winningest franchises in National Basketball Association history took drastic turns yesterday. On one end stood the Lakers, deserved recipients of a shocking on-court shellacking that put into question their immediate future and, just as crucially, prospects in the medium term. On the other stood the Celtics, instigators of a needed off-court changing of the guard that, they wish, figures to change their fortunes for the better. The former is on the precipice of being just the sixth defending champions in league annals to be ousted in the first round. The latter is at a crossroads, crossing their fingers the path they aim to take will quickly take them out of mediocrity and justify their hope.
The NBA will be 75 years old in two days, and the Lakers and Celtics have encountered unparalleled success since its inception. In fact, it’s precisely because of their proud past that expectations run high every single season. They have fan bases that are extremely loyal, but likewise injected with irrational beliefs. For these diehards, there are no excuses; excellence should be a given regardless of circumstance. Which was why they have been catching no small measure of criticism for their far-from-stellar showing in recent memory.
For heralds of the green and white and purple and gold, no excuses can be accepted. It didn’t matter that the Celtics were handicapped from the get-go, and, even at full strength, intrinsically unable to upend the powerhouse Nets. Forget that the Lakers have ailing superstars let down by a severely underperforming supporting cast against the higher-seeded Suns. The bottom line cannot be denied. And second-guessing will, no doubt, continue to be the favorite pastime of those within and outside directly concerned circles. For the departed Danny Ainge and the promoted Brad Stevens, there is no warm sendoff and honeymoon period. Rob Pelinka and Frank Vogel’s bona fides are so last year, and don’t stand up to scrutiny in the here and now.
For the Celtics, the rebuilding of the brand — yes, the same one former stalwart Kyrie Irving saw fit to stomp on — starts now. For the Lakers, it isn’t that there remains fighting to be done in the 2021 Playoffs; it’s that there will always be fighting to be done. That’s what being part of storied franchises entails. That’s also why shoulders are “built for a reason,” as James described his, ultimately buckle under unreasonable pressure.
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.
