What Happens if the Lakers Don’t Win This Year: The Impact of Missed Playoff Ambitions
The annals of NBA history are replete with stories of teams that united their fans, management, and players with the promise of a championship. However, the Lakers' success in the 2020 season is far from guaranteed, and the repercussions of their failure to win the NBA title are already shaping public and media discourse.
Winning the NBA Title: A Tale of Celebration and Missed Opportunities
If the Lakers were to win the NBA championship in 2020, the jubilation in "Lakerland" would be undeniable. Media coverage would be abundant, with articles from the LA Times and other reputable sources heralding the start of a new dynasty. Management would likely heap praise on Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss for their vision and decision-making. LeBron James would be lauded for bringing a title to Los Angeles, and all involved would celebrate the team's success.
Sports talk radio would be abuzz with discussions about the team's potential to continue its success in the following years. Analysts and fans alike would predict an imminent championship and point to recent performance as evidence of this prediction.
Missing the NBA Finals: Beyond Disappointment
The reality, however, is that a failed NBA Finals appearance would result in a much different and far more somber atmosphere. Expectations for the Lakers are high, and failure to meet them would lead to widespread disappointment among fans and media.
Should the Lakers miss the Finals, the impact on the team and its leadership would be considerable. Fan and media discourse would shift as they demand a stronger performance from their favorite team. Public opinion would likely view their failure as a mere stepping stone to an inevitable championship in the following year, setting the stage for an intense and competitive season.
Missing the NBA Playoffs: A Stinger to the Team's Reputation
If the Lakers miss the playoffs entirely, the criticism would intensify. Articles in reputable outlets like the LA Times would dissect the team's shortcomings and speculate on the reasons for their failure. The narrative would shift towards the need for drastic changes, with calls for the firing of head coach Frank Vogel and the hiring of Jason Kidd.
There would be a chorus of voices demanding the departure of Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' general manager. Even more radical suggestions would emerge, with some calling for Jeanie Buss to sell the team. This would not be the first time such sentiments were expressed by prominent sports commentators like Bill Plashke, whose critical views on the team's trajectory have been well-documented.
Preparing for the Future: Trade LeBron and Rebuild?
Furthermore, a lack of playoff appearance would likely prompt a serious evaluation of the team's future direction. The most extreme among fans and analysts might propose trading LeBron James, conceding that the team needs to rebuild with a younger, more promising core to ensure long-term success.
The NBA ecosystem is ever-evolving, and the Lakers' failure to reach the playoffs would be a stark reminder of the high stakes in the league. The team's decision-makers would have to carefully consider each strategic move, weighing the short-term impact on the team's standing against the long-term potential for growth and success.
In the final analysis, the path to success in the NBA is fraught with challenges, and the Lakers' 2020 season stands as a testament to both the rewards and the perils of competing at the highest level of the sport.