This Lakers collapse is reminiscent of the last one we had back in 2004 when Shaq and most of the team were on their last legs. The difference is that we don't have another Kobe to take over the team and rebuild around. I was hoping that Pau would be the guy, but it is starting to look like Kobe carried his skinny ass for the better part of 4 years.
It is probably the end of an era (though busted Shaq did get one more after he left with D-Wade so anything is possible), but people are as usual overreacting to the Lakers loss when it would have been something that has never been done before in the modern era if the Lakers had made it back to the Finals 4 years in a row. 3 in a row has been done quite a few times in the last 30 years, but no one has been able to do it 4 times in a row. In fact some superstars would rather quit then even attempt such an absurdly difficult task.
For me these are the changes I want to see. First and foremost I hope we get a lockout shortened season, that would be the best thing that could happen to Kobe next year. I am finally going to get on the Konex hatewagon and agree that Fish has to go. We need to replace him with a defensive stopped who can give Kobe a break on the defensive end and if he can make some spot up 3s that will be a bonus. Artest should probably be shipped out as well in favor of some cheaper version of RZA (which shouldn't be too hard to find). I think the Artest era has run its course. Pau should get one more chance to redeem himself and so should Lamar. I would not be opposed to trading Bynum to get some of the pieces I mentioned because his value is never going to get higher and if we do it right we could get a defensive big who can finish around the rim and an athletic point guard as well. I would like to dump Blake, Brown and Walton but no one is dumb enough to take them so Mitch has his work cut out on that one.
No idea on who our coach should be, but ideally not a washed up alcoholic. I am not really in favor of B Shaw, because I want them to shake it up. But I don't see us getting Popovich and none of the other coaches really jump out at me. Maybe Rick Adelman? Drawing a blank on this one, but I don't want B Scott, Mr. Pringles or Magic Johnson.