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Stunning loss leaves several Lakers in limbo
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-18 07:07
While the newly crowned NBA champions Detroit Pistons mapped out their parade
route on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers looked ahead to an uncertain future.
Stunned by the Pistons' total domination of the best-of-seven final series,
which they won 4-1, the Lakers' last hurrah was a muted failure.
Their roster of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers had swaggered into the
Motor City expecting to earn coach Phil Jackson a record 10th title while
cementing their place among the NBA's great dynasties by claiming a fourth
championship in five years.
But in the immediate aftermath of the Pistons' ruthless 100-87 game five
dissection, a glorious Lakers era appeared over as the Tinseltown team prepared
to go their separate ways.
Jackson, known as the Zen Master for his ability to create calm in the chaos
that has surrounded the Lakers locker room, looked ready to lead the exodus when
he said on Tuesday there was only a "slim chance" he would be back as coach next
season.
Clearly, a tumultuous offseason awaits Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
Kobe Bryant could be headed to prison or a new team next year, depending on
the outcome of a sexual assault trial.
Karl Malone, the second-leading scorer in NBA history and probable future
Hall of Famer, is pondering retirement after taking a pay cut to join the Lakers
for a shot at a title that has eluded the 40-year-old throughout his 19-year
career.
'A different summer'
Gary Payton, another potential Hall of Famer who signed on for the same
reasons as Malone, is almost certain to move on and Shaquille O'Neal wants to
renegotiate his contract, saying he will do what is best for him.
"This summer is going to be a different summer for a lot of people," said
O'Neal. "Everyone is going to take care of their own business and everyone is
going to do what's best for them, including me.
"We haven't made those decisions yet.
"I'll always do what's best for me and I'm not sure where the organization
wants to go from here. It's all business," he said.
Bryant and O'Neal formed one of the most successful NBA partnerships, but
their relationship was often strained.
The two players always had a clear understanding of what their combination of
rare talents could produce, however, and would not outwardly reject the
possibility of continuing to play together.
"I don't know, I can't answer that right now," said Bryant, when asked if he
had played his last game as a Laker. "I loved playing for Phil and playing with
Shaquille.
"I think we got a lot of great things accomplished despite our differences
that we've had in the past.
"We played extremely well together, we had an incredible run...I would not be
opposed to playing with them forever, but it's not up to me," he
said.
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