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If one thing could have brought late Boston Celtics legend Red Auerbach back from the great beyond, it was what happened Wednesday night in the house he built.
Near the end of a Laker win where Kobe Bryant dropped 43 on Boston, Celtics fans started chanting “M-V-P, M-V-P” for Kobe. Somewhere in Indiana Larry Bird must have gotten a chill up his spine. A Laker winning over the fans of their most hated rival, the franchise of Cousy and Russell and Havlicek and Bird. The fans that made the “Beat LA” chant their rallying cry were backing Kobe. Maybe it’s best Red never saw that.
But those Celtics fans are not alone. After each town the Lakers move through, the basketball blogsphere (it exists, don’t laugh) finds writers are saying, “I hate to say this, but Kobe and these Lakers are fun to watch.” The Lakers have become a team in the classic sense — Kobe is sharing the ball, and the spirit is infectious. After a game a few weeks ago, Denver coach George Karl called the Lakers “the best passing team in the NBA.” And he’s right. The Lakers are moving their feet and the ball and it can be about as beautiful as the game gets. (Well, as long as you don’t watch them play defense.)
The best example of Laker converts from the best NBA blogger out there, the smart and exceedingly well-read Henry Abbot at True Hoop. He’s a lifelong Portland Trailblazers fan who admittedly hates just one team in the NBA — the Lakers. The architect of his pain for decades.
And Henry recently said:
Slowly, over the last few months, the Lakers have become a team I kind of find myself pulling for.There, I said it.
They're not at the top of my NBA list or anything. They're maybe tied for, like, 17th. But after more than two decades 100% alone in last place, 17th ain't bad. That's big progress.
And here's why: they're defying expectations through personal growth. If Kobe Bryant had always played like this, we'd all like him a lot. He is wiser, and more generous than ever, and it's often beautiful. More importantly, gone are the pouty halves of games when he refuses to take a shot.
He's also attempting to show that he can carry a good team solo. Jury is still out on that, and the struggle is the fun part to watch.
Lamar Odom is likable. Even if you don't see it that way, you have to agree he's very tough to hate after the tragedy of his infant dying last summer. Andrew Bynum is giving much where not much was expected. Jordan Farmar was clearly a good pick, although many doubted him. And guys like Smush Parker, Brian Cook, and Sasha Vujajic? They have to work their asses off to get the result the team needs. When they do? My hat's off to them.
This is something we haven’t seen in a long time in Los Angeles, a Laker team growing up before our eyes. A team where you can watch guys develop and grow. Where, as much as you dare in the mercenary world of professional sports, you can become invested in players you will see playing for your team for a long time.
And the rest of the league should be jealous of that.
AP photo by Kevork Djansezian
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