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NBA Dynasty Series - Los Angeles Lakers - The Complete History
Warner Bros. // Unrated // June 1, 2004
List Price: $64.92 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Introduction
Mikan, Baylor, West, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, O'Neal and Bryant. These names have one thing in common; they've all worn the purple and gold of the tradition-steeped Los Angeles Lakers. Oh, and they are all featured on the FIVE DISC retrospective of said tradition-filled franchise entitled Los Angeles Lakers: The Complete History.
Some might say that this set is a "must have" for all Lakers enthusiasts. I disagree. This is a "must have" for all NBA fans in general. This is without a doubt the most comprehensive DVD set currently available following one franchise from the early days through the current dynasty. The reason all NBA fans must own this is that as the Lakers franchise ebbs so does the League.
Chock full of extras, this set honestly gives you more information than you could have ever anticipated seeing about one sports team. The highlight of the set is without a doubt the inclusion of full broadcasts of nine of the Lakers games over the past 30 years. Game footage starting with Jerry West leading the charge in '72 passing through Magic dishing his way to any of his 5 rings and concluding with Shaq and Kobe playing the one-two game like it was never played before…this set covers them all. Officially NBA sanctioned and compiled with the care that only the NBA could give a DVD set, this is truly one for the ages.
Here is a blow-by-blow account of what to expect from this incredible DVD offering:
Disc 1
The first disc understandably leads off with an overall introduction to the Lakers franchise. Tracing the history from the late 40s when the Minneapolis Lakers were ruling the land with their unstoppable force George Mikan, and concluding with the modern day dynasty in Los Angeles, this brief overview is a great way to lead into the more in-depth content located further in the set. In short, if you haven't followed basketball for most of your life, this prologue will help guide you through the remainder of the set.
The disc continues with a feature entitled NBA's First Dynasty Overview chronicling the 5 year reign of the Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers. This is a rather intriguing look back from the eyes of those that lived it. Interviews with the stars of that era, including Mikan himself give a nice retrospective of the early years of professional basketball, and the differences between the game then and now are made crystal clear.
The gulf in modern and historic play is further illustrated in the next vignette entitled Meet the Champs. Shot in 1953, this episode is most similar to any one of the many shorts seen before movies back in that era. All that is missing is the "Leave it to Beaver" theme music in the background. Black and white and admittedly a bit slow and boring, the Minneapolis squad is seen practicing, holding (clearly staged) team meetings, and running drills in practice. Mikan and his crew are portrayed as hard working Americans who enjoy they game they play well. I won't lie to you…its quite cheesy. Historic, yes…but cheesy.
The fourth offering of the first disc is entitled Almost a Dynasty: Overview. Basically tracking the career of Elgin Baylor, this short tells how the pieces were nearly in place for a championship spanning an entire decade, yet nothing came of it. Baylor was arguably the greatest player of the 1960s, yet a big man by the name of Bill Russell reaped all the spoils of that decade, winning 10 championships in 11 years with the Boston Celtics. It was here that the rivalry between Boston and L.A. was truly born.
The disc concludes with the entire telecast (sans commercial interruption!!) of Game 5 of the 1972 NBA Finals. Coming at the tail end of the historic 1972 Lakers season (in which the Lakers won a record 33 straight games - a record that still stands today) this decisive game is presented as it was originally aired. Don't expect fancy replays and bumper music from this telecast, but do look forward to seeing two of the games greatest (West and Chamberlain) finally get their elusive championship rings for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Disc 2
If there were a defining era in my personal relationship to the game of basketball, it is without a doubt the decade of the 1980s as it relates to the Lakers and their run known simply as "Showtime." Never has a team and a string of high level basketball play been more aptly named. Disc 2 starts off with a look back at the Showtime dynasty, its rise to prominence, the star players that made it the phenomenon it was, and the classic battles that helped it take the NBA to new levels of popularity. The obvious ringleader of the Showtime dynasty was arguably the greatest player of all time, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Magic's introduction to the league in 1979 with the heralded "White Jesus" (Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics) would ultimately give the NBA a level of recognition that it had never seen. The resulting 5 rings are proof of the dominance of the Showtime era. Of course, the melee of hoopla all began with the rookie season for Magic and the title that he had to show for it.
The Showtime dominance had its inaugural season in 1980. The second offering of disc two (aptly titled: That Magic Season) is a look back on the events that led to the Lakers first ring of five in the 1980's. The 60-win effort was all amid a fury of media hype surrounding the breaking in of two of the leagues most exciting rookies ever, and the fact that they played on opposing coasts made it a true nationwide exuberance. Unfortunately (for basketball fans everywhere) the Celtics fell just short of reaching the Finals by bowing out to the Sixers in the Eastern Conference finals, preventing the showdown most NBA fans were hoping for. The Lakers, however, did not disappoint and took 6 games to finally knock out Philadelphia and earn Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers their first title of the 80s.
42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. That was the stat line for Magic Johnson in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. Filling in for the ankle-swelled Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic put on a show that ranks as one of the top NBA Finals performances of all time. The entire game is the 3rd section of Disc 2. This hard fought contest was staged in the Spectrum in Philadelphia, yet despite their home court advantage the weary Sixers were no match for the brilliance of Magic as he was able to score seemingly at will and bring home a title for the Lakers. The footnote to this game is Magic's quote afterwards: "We know you're hurting big fella (Kareem), but we want you to get up and do a little dancing tonight."
Something to Prove is the moniker given to the 4th installment on this disc, and it's rather fitting. After a disappointing season in 1981, and a slow start to the 1982 season, the Lakers decided to go in a different direction at the head coach position. In steps Pat Riley. The free-flowing offense instituted by Riley was exactly what the Lakers needed to get the team and fans back into the show. The addition of scoring machine Bob McAdoo didn't hurt things either, as he was able to contribute almost 17 points a game for the playoff run. The Finals produced yet another Lakers/Sixers face off, and for the second time in three years, the six game result was a Lakers championship.
Disc 2 concludes with the full telecast of the 1982 NBA Finals, Game 1. The closest game of the entire series saw the Lakers prevailing by 7 points. In what would turn out to be a fairly humdrum series victory for the Lakers it was still apparent that something special was forming in Los Angeles. With Kareem, Norm Nixon and Jamaal Wilkes all averaging 20 points per game in the playoffs, the Lakers attack had become a team effort, and that scared many others in the NBA. Not to mention the further development (and 9 assists/game) of the burgeoning star, Magic Johnson.
Disc 3
The 1984-85 season was watershed for the NBA, as it marked the entrance into the league of future All-Stars Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem, and John Stockton. It also marked a 3rd championship in 5 years for the Lakers. Larry Bird had his greatest season yet for the Celtics and Bird's counterpart, Magic Johnson, once again led the Lakers. Disc 3 kicks off with Return to Glory, a look back on the '85 season that saw the Lakers finally getting their elusive ring over the Boston Celtics. Only one team had beaten the Celtics on their floor in the team's history, and the Lakers would become the second to do so. Led by the aging Jabbar and the young up and comer James Worthy, the Lakers took the series in 6 games, gaining vengeance for their loss to Boston the previous year.
The second offering of this disc is the 1985 NBA Finals, Game 6. The first championship surrendered by the mighty Celtics on their home hardwood did not come easily for the Lakers. A valiant 36-point effort by the Celtic's Kevin McHale kept the game tight through three quarters. Bird was held under 30 by a defiant Michael Cooper defense, and the 111-100 final result was only magnified by the squeaking of sneakers on the parquet floor of the deadly silent Boston Garden. In what would be the pinnacle Finals of his career, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP. The Lakers were becoming a dynasty.
The Drive for Five is the look at the revamped Lakers who, unbeknownst to all, were about to win back-to-back championships. The 5th in Los Angeles Lakers lore would come in the 1987 season. This was a season highlighted by the scoring exploits of one Michael Jordan who averaged over 37 points a game, including a playoff record 63 point effort against the Boston Celtics. In Los Angeles, Magic Johnson was asked by coach Pat Riley to lead the team as it's citadel, Kareem, had now reached the age of 40 and had lost a step. Johnson answered by averaging almost 24 points and over 12 assists per game en route to a 65-win season. A fourth ring by season's end was the ultimate gift for such a difficult regular season.
The last portion of Disc 3 is the 1987 NBA Finals, Game 4. This game is more commonly defined by a moment rather than the game as a whole. That moment came with under 10 ticks left on the clock. With the Lakers down by 2, Kareem had been fouled, gone to the line, made his first and missed his second. The rebound, seemingly secured by McHale was lost out of bounds. Lakers ball. The inbounds comes to Magic on the left side. He considers the long jumper, but instead runs towards the free throw line. With McHale, Parish, and Bird all collapsing on him Magic lifted up right at the line and lofted in a "junior, junior, junior sky hook" (his words, not mine) that snuggled into the net. A desperation loft by Bird in the waning seconds proved futile and the Lakers went away with a 107-106 victory. It was one of the top3 greatest moments in NBA history, bar none. Oh, and it was topped off with an MVP Finals award for Magic.
Disc 4
After a guarantee, yes a guarantee from Lakers coach Pat Riley that the team would repeat as champions…they really had no choice. Back to Back is the wrap up of how a team destined to win it all before the season, managed to do it, even with the intense pressure applied by the coach in the pre-season. With a slew of solid reserves now pushing the team (including now veterans Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis, and upstart A.C. Green) the Lakers were truly sharing the workload. Still the ever-immortalizing Magic Johnson, who finished out the year with nearly 12 dimes and 20 points per game, fronted the Lakers. The playoffs would prove to be one of the most challenging yet as the Lakers came head to head with the rising Detroit Pistons, led by the feisty Isiah Thomas, who was making the Pistons a force to be reckoned with in the East. It came down to a deciding seventh game in the Finals, but the Lakers found a way to pull it out…again.
The dramatic deciding Game 7 of the 1988 Finals is the next installment on this disc. It took a dramatic rebound after going down 3-2 in the series for the Lakers to hang on to the title. Thankfully, those last two games were in the friendly confines of the Great Western Forum. Thankfully also, James Worthy had a triple double game left in him for the final game of the season. All of this happened after Isiah Thomas managed a 25 point third quarter in Game 6 in very dramatic fashion. However, the Lakers were not going to be had on their own floor! 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists by Worthy were just enough to eke out a 108-105 victory in this deciding Game 7, a game marked by several tide turns but an ultimate "W" for the Lakers. Another win, another ring for the Showtime Lakers. It would be their last, but 5 rings in 8 years are not so bad.
The 1990s were not so kind to the Los Angeles Lakers. The retirement, and then re-retirement of franchise staple, Magic Johnson had some feeling the Lakers dynasty was tarnished. A late 90s acquisition of one Shaquille O'Neal, coupled with the draft day switch-aroo to obtain Kobe Bryant led to the focus of this next vignette, entitled: Dynasty of the New Millennium Overview. The 2000 NBA season belonged to Shaquille O'Neal. If you need evidence, take your pick: Led the league in points and field goal percentage, led the Lakers on streak of 19, 16, and 11 games, earned 120 of 121 votes for League MVP, averaged 38 points and 16 rebounds in the NBA Finals. The NBA had its most dominating performance yet, and the dynasty was born. Let us not forget the emergence of the 4th year phenom Kobe Bryant. A previously selfish pre-Madonna figure was slowly blossoming into one of the league's young superstars.
While I personally think they should have showed game 7 versus the Trail Blazers (in which the Lakers were down by 15 points with 10 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, and somehow managed to pull out the 89-84 win) this DVD set presents the 2000 NBA Finals, Game 4 in all its glory. If ever there were a coming out party for Kobe Bryant, this game would be it. Scoring 28 points (including 8 in the overtime period), not to mention a game-winning tip, forever endeared Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles fans. Oh, and did I mention he did all of this with the big fella (Shaq) sitting on the bench with 6 fouls? This 120-118 victory was the defining moment of the 2000 NBA Finals, and was the catalyst for the first ring of this "new" Los Angeles dynasty.
Disc 5
The final disc of this set starts off with a look back at the 2001 NBA season for the Lakers, a season I hold near and dear to my heart as I'll explain later. 2001 NBA Championship Season is a look back at what was, in reality, a fairly mediocre regular season for the Lakers…until the tail end that is. The Lakers ran off 8 straight victories to end the season, and then made an historic run through the Playoffs, losing only one game (Game 1 of the Finals) en route to a second straight championship. With Shaq and Kobe both averaging 28 points per game, the Lakers ended the year in the second spot in the West, but a quick manhandling of Portland, Sacramento, and San Antonio showed that this year belonged to the Lakers. Even though the regular season accolades went (in large part) to the Iverson-led Sixers, the ring remained in L.A. On a personal note, I attended the victory parade in L.A. for this championship, and it was something to behold. Over 250,000 people (seemingly 240,000 immigrants) flooded the area surrounding the Staples Center as Madsen danced and the rest of the Lakers smiled themselves through yet another victory celebration. A 3rd ring was promised the next year to the delight of the fans…who could have known that yet again, a Lakers prediction would come true.
The second part of disc 5 is the 2001 NBA Finals, Game 5. The 5th and deciding game was a Kobe show, and 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six dimes later, the deal was done. Phil Jackson had led the Lakers to back-to-back titles much as Pat Riley had 13 years earlier. To me, the most impressive game of this series was the first, in which Shaq's 44 was only slightly overshadowed by the most slighter Iverson's 48. Sadly for the Sixers, this would be their only shining moment. The dominant 15-1 playoff run was capped off with this victory in Philly that was all that much sweeter for Kobe as it was his hometown. 108-96 was the final in the contest, but in the minds of many fans, the Sixers really never had any chance. Iverson said it best afterwards in regards to the NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal: "That team starts with Shaquille O'Neal and ends with Shaquille O'Neal." Two Finals MVP trophies are good evidence of just how right Iverson was.
The last year chronicled in this set is mulled over in 2002 NBA Championship Season. Just like all the other looks back at "the year that was" this vignette highlights the run for the 3rd straight ring by the Lakers. This season marked the ever-growing gulf between the two stars of the team and role players reaching its peak. Bryant and O'Neal, both All-NBA First Team selections had an unstoppable supporting cast of Horry, Fox, Fisher, and George who helped run the Lakers to a 58-24 final regular season record. The playoffs proved to be a hefty challenge for Los Angeles as teams like Sacramento and San Antonio were really emerging from the Western Conference. Although Portland and San Antonio again provided little challenge for the Lakers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, it was the Sacramento Kings who would ultimately stand between the Lakers and a third straight ring. In what was becoming commonplace, the "real" NBA Finals were contested in the last games of the Western Conference bracket. The 4-game sweep by the Lakers of the New Jersey Nets was proof that the West was where the big boys came to play. Phil, Kobe, and Shaq had 3 rings in a row, and many thought there was nothing to prevent them from continuing such a streak.
The final offering of this DVD series was the incredibly exciting 2002 Western Conference Finals, Game 7 between the Lakers and the Kings. I remember watching this game with my friends (all admitted Lakers haters) in a bar in Myrtle Beach, SC and cheering on my beloved gold and purple, all amid the boos from the "anti-Lakers" contingent at this particular establishment. It was only an historic Game 4 buzzer-beater by Robert Horry that allowed the Lakers to be in this position for a Game 7, poised to steal the series from the Kings on the Kings home court. A combined 65 from the two superstars was the driving force, but clutch shots from Fisher and Horry were the catalyst for the ultimate result, a 112-106 overtime victory for the Lakers. This is one of the playoffs greatest battles between two teams that (at the time) were developing a real hatred for each other.
Audio/Video I was not expecting much in this area, and not much was delivered. The early video footage from the beginning of the Lakers franchise was understandably worn and the audio weak. All offerings were in standard full frame and even though it's a highlight of today's broadcasts, HD is not an option here. As one would expect, the chronological progression into the more recent games leads to better picture and sound quality, but it is not any more advanced than you would find on any NBA TV broadcast or weekly ESPN game. In fact, these games are exact replications of the original broadcasts (as are the "Championship Season" specials) so don't be disappointed.
Conclusion Regardless of what people think about the Lakers (the Yankees of baseball in many fans eyes), they are a storied franchise, and that cannot be denied. The Celtics may have won more NBA titles (Thanks Bill Russell), but the interest in the Lakers (accelerated by a nation-wide "love/hate" relationship) is hard to match and makes them the most interesting franchise year after year. This DVD series shows the Lakers at their high points, and acts as a video diary of a handful of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Do you absolutely hate the Lakers? Are you their biggest fan? Whatever your answer to either question, you will enjoy the footage and history enriched in this collection. Therein lies the essence of this DVD set. As long as you are a fan of the round ball, you need to own this. Put down the rock, plunk down the necessary funds, and buy this set!
Mikan, Baylor, West, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, O'Neal and Bryant. These names have one thing in common; they've all worn the purple and gold of the tradition-steeped Los Angeles Lakers. Oh, and they are all featured on the FIVE DISC retrospective of said tradition-filled franchise entitled Los Angeles Lakers: The Complete History.
Some might say that this set is a "must have" for all Lakers enthusiasts. I disagree. This is a "must have" for all NBA fans in general. This is without a doubt the most comprehensive DVD set currently available following one franchise from the early days through the current dynasty. The reason all NBA fans must own this is that as the Lakers franchise ebbs so does the League.
Chock full of extras, this set honestly gives you more information than you could have ever anticipated seeing about one sports team. The highlight of the set is without a doubt the inclusion of full broadcasts of nine of the Lakers games over the past 30 years. Game footage starting with Jerry West leading the charge in '72 passing through Magic dishing his way to any of his 5 rings and concluding with Shaq and Kobe playing the one-two game like it was never played before…this set covers them all. Officially NBA sanctioned and compiled with the care that only the NBA could give a DVD set, this is truly one for the ages.
Here is a blow-by-blow account of what to expect from this incredible DVD offering:
Disc 1
The first disc understandably leads off with an overall introduction to the Lakers franchise. Tracing the history from the late 40s when the Minneapolis Lakers were ruling the land with their unstoppable force George Mikan, and concluding with the modern day dynasty in Los Angeles, this brief overview is a great way to lead into the more in-depth content located further in the set. In short, if you haven't followed basketball for most of your life, this prologue will help guide you through the remainder of the set.
The disc continues with a feature entitled NBA's First Dynasty Overview chronicling the 5 year reign of the Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers. This is a rather intriguing look back from the eyes of those that lived it. Interviews with the stars of that era, including Mikan himself give a nice retrospective of the early years of professional basketball, and the differences between the game then and now are made crystal clear.
The gulf in modern and historic play is further illustrated in the next vignette entitled Meet the Champs. Shot in 1953, this episode is most similar to any one of the many shorts seen before movies back in that era. All that is missing is the "Leave it to Beaver" theme music in the background. Black and white and admittedly a bit slow and boring, the Minneapolis squad is seen practicing, holding (clearly staged) team meetings, and running drills in practice. Mikan and his crew are portrayed as hard working Americans who enjoy they game they play well. I won't lie to you…its quite cheesy. Historic, yes…but cheesy.
The fourth offering of the first disc is entitled Almost a Dynasty: Overview. Basically tracking the career of Elgin Baylor, this short tells how the pieces were nearly in place for a championship spanning an entire decade, yet nothing came of it. Baylor was arguably the greatest player of the 1960s, yet a big man by the name of Bill Russell reaped all the spoils of that decade, winning 10 championships in 11 years with the Boston Celtics. It was here that the rivalry between Boston and L.A. was truly born.
The disc concludes with the entire telecast (sans commercial interruption!!) of Game 5 of the 1972 NBA Finals. Coming at the tail end of the historic 1972 Lakers season (in which the Lakers won a record 33 straight games - a record that still stands today) this decisive game is presented as it was originally aired. Don't expect fancy replays and bumper music from this telecast, but do look forward to seeing two of the games greatest (West and Chamberlain) finally get their elusive championship rings for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Disc 2
If there were a defining era in my personal relationship to the game of basketball, it is without a doubt the decade of the 1980s as it relates to the Lakers and their run known simply as "Showtime." Never has a team and a string of high level basketball play been more aptly named. Disc 2 starts off with a look back at the Showtime dynasty, its rise to prominence, the star players that made it the phenomenon it was, and the classic battles that helped it take the NBA to new levels of popularity. The obvious ringleader of the Showtime dynasty was arguably the greatest player of all time, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Magic's introduction to the league in 1979 with the heralded "White Jesus" (Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics) would ultimately give the NBA a level of recognition that it had never seen. The resulting 5 rings are proof of the dominance of the Showtime era. Of course, the melee of hoopla all began with the rookie season for Magic and the title that he had to show for it.
The Showtime dominance had its inaugural season in 1980. The second offering of disc two (aptly titled: That Magic Season) is a look back on the events that led to the Lakers first ring of five in the 1980's. The 60-win effort was all amid a fury of media hype surrounding the breaking in of two of the leagues most exciting rookies ever, and the fact that they played on opposing coasts made it a true nationwide exuberance. Unfortunately (for basketball fans everywhere) the Celtics fell just short of reaching the Finals by bowing out to the Sixers in the Eastern Conference finals, preventing the showdown most NBA fans were hoping for. The Lakers, however, did not disappoint and took 6 games to finally knock out Philadelphia and earn Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers their first title of the 80s.
42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. That was the stat line for Magic Johnson in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. Filling in for the ankle-swelled Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic put on a show that ranks as one of the top NBA Finals performances of all time. The entire game is the 3rd section of Disc 2. This hard fought contest was staged in the Spectrum in Philadelphia, yet despite their home court advantage the weary Sixers were no match for the brilliance of Magic as he was able to score seemingly at will and bring home a title for the Lakers. The footnote to this game is Magic's quote afterwards: "We know you're hurting big fella (Kareem), but we want you to get up and do a little dancing tonight."
Something to Prove is the moniker given to the 4th installment on this disc, and it's rather fitting. After a disappointing season in 1981, and a slow start to the 1982 season, the Lakers decided to go in a different direction at the head coach position. In steps Pat Riley. The free-flowing offense instituted by Riley was exactly what the Lakers needed to get the team and fans back into the show. The addition of scoring machine Bob McAdoo didn't hurt things either, as he was able to contribute almost 17 points a game for the playoff run. The Finals produced yet another Lakers/Sixers face off, and for the second time in three years, the six game result was a Lakers championship.
Disc 2 concludes with the full telecast of the 1982 NBA Finals, Game 1. The closest game of the entire series saw the Lakers prevailing by 7 points. In what would turn out to be a fairly humdrum series victory for the Lakers it was still apparent that something special was forming in Los Angeles. With Kareem, Norm Nixon and Jamaal Wilkes all averaging 20 points per game in the playoffs, the Lakers attack had become a team effort, and that scared many others in the NBA. Not to mention the further development (and 9 assists/game) of the burgeoning star, Magic Johnson.
Disc 3
The 1984-85 season was watershed for the NBA, as it marked the entrance into the league of future All-Stars Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem, and John Stockton. It also marked a 3rd championship in 5 years for the Lakers. Larry Bird had his greatest season yet for the Celtics and Bird's counterpart, Magic Johnson, once again led the Lakers. Disc 3 kicks off with Return to Glory, a look back on the '85 season that saw the Lakers finally getting their elusive ring over the Boston Celtics. Only one team had beaten the Celtics on their floor in the team's history, and the Lakers would become the second to do so. Led by the aging Jabbar and the young up and comer James Worthy, the Lakers took the series in 6 games, gaining vengeance for their loss to Boston the previous year.
The second offering of this disc is the 1985 NBA Finals, Game 6. The first championship surrendered by the mighty Celtics on their home hardwood did not come easily for the Lakers. A valiant 36-point effort by the Celtic's Kevin McHale kept the game tight through three quarters. Bird was held under 30 by a defiant Michael Cooper defense, and the 111-100 final result was only magnified by the squeaking of sneakers on the parquet floor of the deadly silent Boston Garden. In what would be the pinnacle Finals of his career, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP. The Lakers were becoming a dynasty.
The Drive for Five is the look at the revamped Lakers who, unbeknownst to all, were about to win back-to-back championships. The 5th in Los Angeles Lakers lore would come in the 1987 season. This was a season highlighted by the scoring exploits of one Michael Jordan who averaged over 37 points a game, including a playoff record 63 point effort against the Boston Celtics. In Los Angeles, Magic Johnson was asked by coach Pat Riley to lead the team as it's citadel, Kareem, had now reached the age of 40 and had lost a step. Johnson answered by averaging almost 24 points and over 12 assists per game en route to a 65-win season. A fourth ring by season's end was the ultimate gift for such a difficult regular season.
The last portion of Disc 3 is the 1987 NBA Finals, Game 4. This game is more commonly defined by a moment rather than the game as a whole. That moment came with under 10 ticks left on the clock. With the Lakers down by 2, Kareem had been fouled, gone to the line, made his first and missed his second. The rebound, seemingly secured by McHale was lost out of bounds. Lakers ball. The inbounds comes to Magic on the left side. He considers the long jumper, but instead runs towards the free throw line. With McHale, Parish, and Bird all collapsing on him Magic lifted up right at the line and lofted in a "junior, junior, junior sky hook" (his words, not mine) that snuggled into the net. A desperation loft by Bird in the waning seconds proved futile and the Lakers went away with a 107-106 victory. It was one of the top3 greatest moments in NBA history, bar none. Oh, and it was topped off with an MVP Finals award for Magic.
Disc 4
After a guarantee, yes a guarantee from Lakers coach Pat Riley that the team would repeat as champions…they really had no choice. Back to Back is the wrap up of how a team destined to win it all before the season, managed to do it, even with the intense pressure applied by the coach in the pre-season. With a slew of solid reserves now pushing the team (including now veterans Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis, and upstart A.C. Green) the Lakers were truly sharing the workload. Still the ever-immortalizing Magic Johnson, who finished out the year with nearly 12 dimes and 20 points per game, fronted the Lakers. The playoffs would prove to be one of the most challenging yet as the Lakers came head to head with the rising Detroit Pistons, led by the feisty Isiah Thomas, who was making the Pistons a force to be reckoned with in the East. It came down to a deciding seventh game in the Finals, but the Lakers found a way to pull it out…again.
The dramatic deciding Game 7 of the 1988 Finals is the next installment on this disc. It took a dramatic rebound after going down 3-2 in the series for the Lakers to hang on to the title. Thankfully, those last two games were in the friendly confines of the Great Western Forum. Thankfully also, James Worthy had a triple double game left in him for the final game of the season. All of this happened after Isiah Thomas managed a 25 point third quarter in Game 6 in very dramatic fashion. However, the Lakers were not going to be had on their own floor! 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists by Worthy were just enough to eke out a 108-105 victory in this deciding Game 7, a game marked by several tide turns but an ultimate "W" for the Lakers. Another win, another ring for the Showtime Lakers. It would be their last, but 5 rings in 8 years are not so bad.
The 1990s were not so kind to the Los Angeles Lakers. The retirement, and then re-retirement of franchise staple, Magic Johnson had some feeling the Lakers dynasty was tarnished. A late 90s acquisition of one Shaquille O'Neal, coupled with the draft day switch-aroo to obtain Kobe Bryant led to the focus of this next vignette, entitled: Dynasty of the New Millennium Overview. The 2000 NBA season belonged to Shaquille O'Neal. If you need evidence, take your pick: Led the league in points and field goal percentage, led the Lakers on streak of 19, 16, and 11 games, earned 120 of 121 votes for League MVP, averaged 38 points and 16 rebounds in the NBA Finals. The NBA had its most dominating performance yet, and the dynasty was born. Let us not forget the emergence of the 4th year phenom Kobe Bryant. A previously selfish pre-Madonna figure was slowly blossoming into one of the league's young superstars.
While I personally think they should have showed game 7 versus the Trail Blazers (in which the Lakers were down by 15 points with 10 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, and somehow managed to pull out the 89-84 win) this DVD set presents the 2000 NBA Finals, Game 4 in all its glory. If ever there were a coming out party for Kobe Bryant, this game would be it. Scoring 28 points (including 8 in the overtime period), not to mention a game-winning tip, forever endeared Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles fans. Oh, and did I mention he did all of this with the big fella (Shaq) sitting on the bench with 6 fouls? This 120-118 victory was the defining moment of the 2000 NBA Finals, and was the catalyst for the first ring of this "new" Los Angeles dynasty.
Disc 5
The final disc of this set starts off with a look back at the 2001 NBA season for the Lakers, a season I hold near and dear to my heart as I'll explain later. 2001 NBA Championship Season is a look back at what was, in reality, a fairly mediocre regular season for the Lakers…until the tail end that is. The Lakers ran off 8 straight victories to end the season, and then made an historic run through the Playoffs, losing only one game (Game 1 of the Finals) en route to a second straight championship. With Shaq and Kobe both averaging 28 points per game, the Lakers ended the year in the second spot in the West, but a quick manhandling of Portland, Sacramento, and San Antonio showed that this year belonged to the Lakers. Even though the regular season accolades went (in large part) to the Iverson-led Sixers, the ring remained in L.A. On a personal note, I attended the victory parade in L.A. for this championship, and it was something to behold. Over 250,000 people (seemingly 240,000 immigrants) flooded the area surrounding the Staples Center as Madsen danced and the rest of the Lakers smiled themselves through yet another victory celebration. A 3rd ring was promised the next year to the delight of the fans…who could have known that yet again, a Lakers prediction would come true.
The second part of disc 5 is the 2001 NBA Finals, Game 5. The 5th and deciding game was a Kobe show, and 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six dimes later, the deal was done. Phil Jackson had led the Lakers to back-to-back titles much as Pat Riley had 13 years earlier. To me, the most impressive game of this series was the first, in which Shaq's 44 was only slightly overshadowed by the most slighter Iverson's 48. Sadly for the Sixers, this would be their only shining moment. The dominant 15-1 playoff run was capped off with this victory in Philly that was all that much sweeter for Kobe as it was his hometown. 108-96 was the final in the contest, but in the minds of many fans, the Sixers really never had any chance. Iverson said it best afterwards in regards to the NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal: "That team starts with Shaquille O'Neal and ends with Shaquille O'Neal." Two Finals MVP trophies are good evidence of just how right Iverson was.
The last year chronicled in this set is mulled over in 2002 NBA Championship Season. Just like all the other looks back at "the year that was" this vignette highlights the run for the 3rd straight ring by the Lakers. This season marked the ever-growing gulf between the two stars of the team and role players reaching its peak. Bryant and O'Neal, both All-NBA First Team selections had an unstoppable supporting cast of Horry, Fox, Fisher, and George who helped run the Lakers to a 58-24 final regular season record. The playoffs proved to be a hefty challenge for Los Angeles as teams like Sacramento and San Antonio were really emerging from the Western Conference. Although Portland and San Antonio again provided little challenge for the Lakers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, it was the Sacramento Kings who would ultimately stand between the Lakers and a third straight ring. In what was becoming commonplace, the "real" NBA Finals were contested in the last games of the Western Conference bracket. The 4-game sweep by the Lakers of the New Jersey Nets was proof that the West was where the big boys came to play. Phil, Kobe, and Shaq had 3 rings in a row, and many thought there was nothing to prevent them from continuing such a streak.
The final offering of this DVD series was the incredibly exciting 2002 Western Conference Finals, Game 7 between the Lakers and the Kings. I remember watching this game with my friends (all admitted Lakers haters) in a bar in Myrtle Beach, SC and cheering on my beloved gold and purple, all amid the boos from the "anti-Lakers" contingent at this particular establishment. It was only an historic Game 4 buzzer-beater by Robert Horry that allowed the Lakers to be in this position for a Game 7, poised to steal the series from the Kings on the Kings home court. A combined 65 from the two superstars was the driving force, but clutch shots from Fisher and Horry were the catalyst for the ultimate result, a 112-106 overtime victory for the Lakers. This is one of the playoffs greatest battles between two teams that (at the time) were developing a real hatred for each other.
Audio/Video I was not expecting much in this area, and not much was delivered. The early video footage from the beginning of the Lakers franchise was understandably worn and the audio weak. All offerings were in standard full frame and even though it's a highlight of today's broadcasts, HD is not an option here. As one would expect, the chronological progression into the more recent games leads to better picture and sound quality, but it is not any more advanced than you would find on any NBA TV broadcast or weekly ESPN game. In fact, these games are exact replications of the original broadcasts (as are the "Championship Season" specials) so don't be disappointed.
Conclusion Regardless of what people think about the Lakers (the Yankees of baseball in many fans eyes), they are a storied franchise, and that cannot be denied. The Celtics may have won more NBA titles (Thanks Bill Russell), but the interest in the Lakers (accelerated by a nation-wide "love/hate" relationship) is hard to match and makes them the most interesting franchise year after year. This DVD series shows the Lakers at their high points, and acts as a video diary of a handful of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Do you absolutely hate the Lakers? Are you their biggest fan? Whatever your answer to either question, you will enjoy the footage and history enriched in this collection. Therein lies the essence of this DVD set. As long as you are a fan of the round ball, you need to own this. Put down the rock, plunk down the necessary funds, and buy this set!
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