A painful end

Lack of help for Shaq, Kobe finally caught up to Lakers

So this is how the Lakers' dynasty ends?

With Shaquille O’Neal sitting on the bench, Kobe Bryant fighting back tears and Jannero Pargo shooting airballs?

With Spurs backup center Kevin Willis throwing down ferocious dunks in front of a stunned Staples Center crowd?

With Jack Nicholson praising the Spurs -- and the referees -- in a courtside TV interview?

Actually, Nicholson’s analysis was about the only thing on target for L.A. in Game 6. With Tim Duncan finally playing like a true MVP, San Antonio ran the Lakers out of their own gym. This time, even the zebras couldn’t save Shaq and Co.

But while the Spurs deserve a ton of credit, let’s face reality. The real story in this series was how bad the Lakers looked. Other than Shaq and Kobe, L.A. didn’t play at all like the team that won three straight NBA titles.

18 of 22 Possessions the Spurs scored on in a second-half spurt, turning the game from a 62-59 fight into a 99-76 rout. "We apologize to our fans for a so-so year." -- Shaq, who was denied a chance to rap and watch Mark Madsen dance at a fourth consecutive championship parade. How much does the rest of the league fear a hungry Lakers team with an actual NBA bench?

With Rick Fox out, Devean George limping and Robert Horry turning old before our eyes, the Lakers didn’t have the weapons to support their two stars. Over the last three title runs, L.A.’s role players always stepped up and made shots. This year they were just, well, shot.

It first showed up in the T’wolves series, when the Lakers couldn’t defend Troy Hudson on the pick-and-roll. L.A. was good enough to survive that scare, but it was obvious from the start of the second round that the Spurs were going to be a different story. San Antonio’s Tony Parker, Emanuel Ginobili, Stephen Jackson and Speedy Claxton were just too fast and too quick for their L.A. counterparts.

After three straight extended postseason runs, it seems the wear and tear finally caught up to Horry, Fox, Brian Shaw and Derek Fisher. They not only missed shots, but they sagged on defense. In perhaps the most telling stat of this NBA season, the Lakers went from No. 1 in the NBA in defending the 3-point line last year to No. 29, dead last, in 2002-03.

Instead of shaking up the roster last summer and injecting new blood into its mix, L.A. decided to stand pat. Owner Jerry Buss didn’t want to pay the luxury tax. So Phil Jackson and GM Mitch Kupchak rolled the dice and hoped that their aging core had one more year left in them.

Now it’s clear the strategy backfired and a retooling is in order.

The Lakers are over the salary cap and have few tradeable assets so they won’t be able to make major changes. But look for Jackson to try to add a defensive-oriented big man in the offseason, somebody who can help Shaq guard all those stud power forwards in the Western Conference. Karl Malone could be a possibility if he’d agree to play for the $4.5 million mid-level exception. Jackson also likely will replace Horry with a younger outside shooting threat who can help spread the floor.

As painful as Thursday night’s Game 6 ending might have been for the Lakers, they shouldn’t be too disappointed. They had a great run. They still have Shaq and Kobe. And with a few good moves, they could be right back in the title mix again next year.

	AP Stud: The Jacksons, Kings With Sacramento desperately trying to save its season -- and Mike Bibby turning in one of his more lackluster performances in some time -- Bobby and Jim Jackson came up large. The backcourt reserves combined for 37 points, with Jimmy adding 12 rebounds for good measure.		AP Dud: The Lakers' tears Apparently three NBA titles makes you secure enough in your manhood to cry on national TV. After thirteen consecutive postseason series victories, Lakers Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were bawling at the end of Game Six. Perhaps they just knew that the loser would have to talk to Jim Gray, but it wasn't exactly a macho ending to a great dynasty.

The Mavs might have lost Game 6 to the Kings but they should be confident heading into Saturday’s Game 7. Despite allowing Sacramento to run a layup drill much of the game, they fought back and almost pulled it out against a desperate foe in a hostile arena. If Chauncey Billups can’t play in Game 6 Friday night, the Pistons are going to need Richard Hamilton to score at least 30 points. Detroit’s bench just doesn’t seem to play as well on the road, and the Sixers will be fired up.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.

 

Related information

Stories

Burns: Iverson's awful shooting sinks Sixers Spurs cruise in Game 6, end Lakers' reign Gritty Kings send series with Mavs to Game 7 Jackson says he intends to return next season Previous Marty Burns Columns

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video