Through the 1988-89 season, the Los Angeles Lakers had been going for a three-peat and had been hoping to ship Kareem Abdul-Jabbar into retirement with one more championship ring.
L.A. seemed complacent and maybe a bit previous at occasions in the course of the common season, however when the playoffs began, it turned issues as much as a a lot greater gear.
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After profitable their first six playoff video games, the Lakers went into Sport 4 of the Western Convention semifinals towards the Seattle SuperSonics on the lookout for one other sweep.
However Seattle received out to what appeared to be an insurmountable lead of 43-14 early within the second quarter.
As an alternative of capitulating, figuring out they’d Sport 5 in L.A. to fall again on, the Lakers fought again with a vengeance.
A 22-6 run within the second quarter, which included 16 unanswered factors, received their deficit all the way down to 11 at halftime. The Sonics’ supreme confidence had been blunted, and when the Purple and Gold took the lead for the primary time halfway via the fourth quarter, the ending was all too simple to foretell.
The Lakers gained 97-95 and superior to the Western Convention Finals whereas displaying the grit and resolve that had gained them 5 world championships within the decade.
James Worthy led the best way with 33 factors on an unbelievable 15-of-19 capturing from the sphere.
It’s annoying when a workforce comparable to these Lakers seems to be complacent in video games comparable to this one, however what they did on that date is proof {that a} workforce or particular person can bounce again from adversity and nonetheless accomplish an enormous purpose.