Is this the end of the Lakers' dynasty?

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.


 Everyone in the arena were celebrating. A wave of blue and white cheering exuberantly for their team. The loud and proud Dallas Mavericks have swept the 2-time defending champs Los Angeles Lakers and ended their aspiration for a three-peat. And this series victory will go down in the history books. This is the first time a back-to-back defending champion was swept in the playoffs after the ’96 Rockets team. The last defending champion to be swept in the playoffs was the ’07 Miami Heat, who were swept with the Bulls in the NBA playoffs.

Last title run for Kobe?

As this series comes to a close, is this the sign of the end of the Kobe-Pau-led Lakers dynasty?

It will be a very daunting task for the Lakers to get back from this setback. Leading the list of errands that is facing the Lakers is finding a new coach. Phil Jackson has expressed already even before the season started that this will be his last season. And it seems like he won’t be breaking any promises he made right now. After all, his 11 championships, highlighted by his 3 three-peats back in Chicago, is already an achievement no NBA coach has ever done.

This early, two names have already been talked about by some Lakers fans on who will replace Jackson. Assistant coach Brian Shaw has been rumored to take the vacant seat that Jackson has left for the next season. But, doubts on whether he can lead the Lakers to another great run are floating. Plus, the question on whether he can handle the egos of these players.

The more reasonable and convenient choice, though, is Rick Adelman. He would be the perfect coach to handle the “rebuilding” Lakers next season as they try to build another dynasty. He has proven back in Houston that he can handle the pressure of winning games under many circumstances, like dealing with an injured superstar and numerous player movements before and during the season.

One more thing to worry for the Lakers is their bench. Their main weakness was exposed in this recently-concluded series. The Lakers bench was ass-raped by the Mavs bench. Actually, in Game 4 earlier, the Mavs bench MATCHED the total output of the WHOLE Lakers team (86). Though it isn’t that significant anymore as the game was already decided during the 2nd quarter.

For the Lakers to come back next season, they need to find a true point guard. Blake showed his inconsistencies the whole season and playoffs. Fisher isn’t getting younger too. And one more thing, they need shooters. It could be funny but they kind of missed a shooter like Vujacic. Someone who can open up the floor for the Lakers. And they really struggled offensively in this series, being too predictable by going one-one-one with Kobe or post plays from Drew, Pau, and Odom.

I also expect one among Gasol, Bynum, and Odom to be traded this off-season.

The Lakers are back from scratch. I can safely say that the dynasty that Mich Kupchak created by getting Gasol is nearing, or has reached it’s end. There’s no way for the Lakers to go but up. And that way must be taken up this off-season.