The Lakers: What makes champions…and what doesn’t.
Posted by: SPQR on Nov 05, 2009 - 08:56 AM
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The year was 1994 and things were not going well. Showtime was now a word, a piece of Laker history and no longer a descriptor of a style of play, a synonym of success and championships.
The Lakers record had dipped well below 500 and as the season wound down Dr. Buss knew he needed to make a change, to start to turn the team around for the coming year, for the future of the proud franchise. What was happening was simply not acceptable.
He decided to fire Riley acolyte and current head coach Randy Pfund. In casting his eye around for a man who could bring back pride, work ethic and an innate understanding and love of the game to his young players he turned to Laker legend and close friend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson.
Johnson was stunned by the offer that Buss made him. At first he blanched at the idea. He had never coached before. But as he thought about it, he realized there were only 15 games left in the year. If things didn’t work out-how bad could things get in 15 games? Soon Earvin began to warm to the concept. He felt, like Buss did, that he had lessons he could impart on this new generation of players who wore the proud standard of the Purple and Gold. He felt he could do the team some good. He accepted the offer.
In his first team meeting, Johnson began to tell the players what the culture of winning was about. The work it entailed. The trust of teammates. The hard hours of practice, both with the team and individually in order to reach your plateau as both a player and team. The joys of reaping the rewards of that drive, effort and desire. He gave examples of his Showtime Championship teams and how he wanted to replicate that successful formula with this new, young, eager group. During the talk, Elden Campbell yawned. As the meeting ended and the players adjourned the locker room, he overheard one of the young men mutter, “Who cares about Showtime.”
The next day, Magic came to practice an hour and half before start time. He wanted to get some extra work in with the team. The Showtime players always came in early to hone their skills either alone or with each other before official practice began. Bill Bertka, the long time Laker assistant accompanied him. As the minutes then an hour went by, no players appeared. Magic turned to Bertka and said, “Where are the guys?” Bertka shook his head and replied, “Magic, this is a different era. A different team.” Finally, five minutes before scheduled time, players started to straggle in. Some even came late.
Magic watched George Lynch closely. He had been a first round pick and Johnson had high hopes for him. In his first game under his new coach, Lynch had scored 30 points. In his second, he had scored only four. Magic felt Lynch could be a force if he worked on his outside shot, which was a weakness that was holding him back. After a practice, Magic told Lynch he wanted to work with him one on one the next day. To begin to improve Lynch’s shot. To lay the groundwork for his step up to another level for himself and the team. Lynch agreed. The next day, at the appointed time, Lynch just never showed. This pattern went on for a couple more days. Finally Magic told Lynch, “If you miss that shot in a game, I am going to pull you.”
The Lakers played Seattle. Gary ‘the glove’ Payton hounded Nick Van Exel all over the court. Taking him out of his game and rendering him ineffective. The next day, Coach Johnson asked Van Exel to stay after practice. He told him he wanted to start to teach him about tempo. About how to see the whole floor. To make him able to counter the pressure of players like Payton. Van Exel told Magic that he couldn’t make it that day. He had an appointment. That he would get back with his coach about doing this at another time. He never broached Magic about it again. Never gave him a time to get together and learn.
One day, tired of his teams’ lackadaisical practice and attitude, Johnson got mad. He stopped practice and called over bench players Kurt Rambis and James Worthy. Worthy was in his last year and averaging ten points a game. He also signaled assistant coaches Michael Cooper and Larry Drew over. He told his team, “I am going to take these old men here and prove to you that you guys don’t know how to play basketball the right way.” He and his old timers proceeded to then play the Lakers. In the first game, Magic’s team won 15-11. In the second, 15-8. In the third they won so big that Magic stopped keeping score.
After going 5-1 their first six game, Magic’s team did not win another game the rest of the year. When it was over, he told Dr. Buss he did not want to continue. He felt “relieved” to be finished.
Think of all the players you have watched over the years: The bad ones, the mediocre ones, the good ones, the great ones, then ask yourself, which of these would have taken up Magic’s offer of help?. Which would have been at practice an hour and half early? Which supremely talented, but lazy players would have passed on a chance to improve? Which would have settled? Which supremely talented players would have soaked up every thing Magic wanted to do, in search of greatness? Which less talented but hard working and driven players would have jumped at the chances Magic offered? Make a quick list in your head. Which would have, which wouldn’t have? I would bet all our lists would look alike.
“Who cares about Showtime?” That player didn’t get it. Showtime was not some old player’s sweet reminisce about a by gone era. It was about a mindset. A desire. A work ethic. A love the game and your teammates. An acceptance of nothing less than giving your best in every practice and every game until you and your team had the fundamentals and principles to overcome any opponent, any obstacle, even if is yourself, in order to be the best you can be. To give your self the best chance of winning that every ounce of your talent, heart and sweat will allow.
It is the embracing of his culture, of taking that torture test with a passion that makes champions…and what doesn’t.
Who cares about Showtime?
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