By Gordon Simpson

As the NBA Playoffs begin to get into full swing, with a colossal Lakers-Spurs series making our mouths begin to water before it has even started, the famous Rudy Tomjanovich statement rings truer than ever, "never underestimate the heart of a champion." The Lakers have been constantly written off this season and have said without any shadow of a doubt that the dynasty is over. But shouldn't the benefit of the doubt go to the Lakers, and Phil Jackson, a man who himself has won an unbelievable, and almost certainly unbreakable, 25 consecutive playoff series as a coach?

To question the desire of this team is nothing short of ridiculous and the Lakers have already refuted the claim of a lack of desire by producing some very gutsy and exceptional performances against the Timberwolves after dropping two of the first three games. In Game 4, the Lakers, already down 2-1 in the series and with Rick Fox out injured, showed tremendous heart to rally from an 11-point deficit that they faced late in the third quarter to win 102-97. Not many teams have gone to Minnesota this season and escaped with a victory, but twice in the opening round have the Lakers not only escaped with victory, but bulldozed the Timberwolves just for good measure. The Game 5 30-point blow-out was a clear indication that the Lakers still have that burning fire inside them to be recognised as the best and know that anything less than a fourth straight championship is a complete failure to them.

Jackson may not need to do any more to be recognised as the greatest ever coach in the history of the NBA, and Kobe and Shaq already have three rings gracing their fingers, yet it is inconceivable that the Lakers will ever give up while these three remain at the club. So before you start to write the Lakers off this year, remember that the Lakers are 49-15 in the playoffs under Jackson, who himself has a playoff winning percentage of .741, with nine championships as a coach and they also have two of the best, if not the best, players in the league, along with the last three championships. Due to this, you cannot really ever question the heart of this ball club.

Come the end of the season, if Mark Madsen is making us all feel a bit better about our own dancing skills, this Los Angeles Lakers team will know that they have forever silenced their critics and Rudy Tomjanovich will be forever proven absolutely right.

Gordon Simpson is a university student from Southampton, England hoping to get into sportswriting.


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