The Los Angeles Lakers sparked widespread debate when they raised the in-season tournament banner in their rafters earlier this month. To this day, the decision still leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many fans and some find themselves wondering why the Lakers bothered to display the banner at all. Speaking on ‘KG Certified,’ Celtics legend Paul Pierce theorized that the Lakers only hung the banner in an effort to spite their biggest rivals.
“They did that to spite the Celtics, bro. I’m telling you. We got 17, so they want more,” said Pierce. “They shouldn’t have put a banner, they should have put a plaque. They should have put a big screen TV and put it on that. Like just a video image out of it. It can’t be a banner… I wonder if Boston wins it next year if they gonna put that up?”
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The Lakers and Celtics are bitter rivals, of course, and the only two teams in history with 17 championships a piece. The Lakers recently made history by adding the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament title to their collection, but there is still some controversy about how it weighs against other accolades. While it’s no Larry O’Brien, winning the IST is still an achievement that deserves some recognition, especially since it’s taken a hefty toll on the Lakers’ performance this season.
Lakers Flamed For Raising IST Banner
As one of the winningest franchises in the league, the Lakers certainly have more than enough to display without hanging the in-season banner. Because of the Lakers’ history as 17x champions and their long list of superstar athletes, many Lakers fans feel it’s almost disrespectful to treat this mid-season award in a manner similar to some of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history.
At the time, fans ripped the Lakers for this decision and even some former league personnel (like former Nuggets head coach George Karl) joined the fun of trolling the widely respected franchise. So far, the Lakers have ignored all the noise, and they have no plans to change their arena decor. But if they want to validate their in-season win and prove that they are still the best in the West, they will need to prove it in April, May, and June.
Lakers In Recovery Mode After Tournament Run
The Lakers went undefeated in the tournament, going 7-0 in a dominant showing. But since capturing the mid-season championship, the Lakers have struggled to find a rhythm. The Lakers are 2-6 in that span, including some concerning losses to the Knicks, Spurs, and Minnesota Timberwolves. At almost 39 years old, the effort of winning in Las Vegas has compromised LeBron James, who scored just 16 points in the Christmas Day game against Boston.
Clearly, the Lakers paid a price for winning the in-season tournament and now they will have to play catch-up to avoid falling into a hole. With growing concerns about LeBron’s workload, Anthony Davis‘ longevity, and the reliability of the supporting cast, the hard work is just beginning for the Lake Show and this could be their last chance to capture a title before the end of this regime.
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