| 14 April 2009
There's been an interesting ongoing conversation around the traps on the video clip the Blazers included in the pre-game montage - that of Rudy Fernandez getting clobbered by Trevor Ariza. Within that, there's been a bit of talk about 'toughness' - and that got me thinking about something that has routinely pointed to as being the major reason that the Lakers fell short against the Boston Celtics in the 2008 Finals. Toughness.
I don't think that's a problem any more.
And whilst I realise that this will probably anger some fans, I don't have a problem with the fouls laid on either Gerald Wallace by Andrew Bynum, or Rudy Fernandez by Trevor Ariza.
Now, that's not to say that I felt that the end results were in any way, shape or form 'good'. No-one wants to see a player injured badly. And both had at least the initial possibility of being incredibly serious. Neither had the intention to cause injury, neither were malicious - both were just hard fouls on an opponent looking to score an easy basket... yes, the end result of both were regrettable.
Even Ariza's actions post the Fernandez injury doesn't hugely bother me. Players came in (rightly so) to remonstrate with him, he stood his ground. I'm not sure what else he could have done in that situation, or if it would have mattered.
Would I like the incident to have occured somewhat differently? Absolutely. Fernandez's injury was incredibly scary. But Ariza was pretty much swamped before he had any sort of opportunity to notice Fernandez, much less check out his condition.
But I like that regardless of opposition, of score, of player, the Lakers are playing with a physicality... a defensive intensity, that I've not seen for many years. I find it amazing that the very thing that LA's often been accused of lacking is now something that they're criticized for possessing.
It's interesting that both the above incidents were from players that were hampered by injury in their ability to contribute to the Finals last year. Bynum missed them completely, and Ariza was just returning from being injured for a very large portion of the season.
It's definitely been something that's been focused on at LA too, as it's not just those guys doing the hard yards. One of the defining moments for me thus far this season was Lamar Odom jawing off at Kevin Garnett in Boston - and it wasn't Odom who walked away. That just didn't happen a season ago.
And it really impacts the rest of the team, especially in the light of last season's Finals series. Whilst it's good to see Bynum back in the line-up (and I bet he's relieved to have a game against Memphis under his belt and sustain no injury!), and have a healthy Trevor Ariza for the playoffs... the best thing for LA is that they're quite a bit more prepared for the toughness associated with playoff basketball.
And isn't that something that's truly bizarre? Playoff basketball is more rough and tumble than the regular season - referees definitely are more liable to swallow the whistle than during a 'normal' game. Preparedness for this factor is definitely one of the intangibles that separates the veteran teams from those new to the playoffs.
And this season?
For that at least, LA are ready.
