Flexibility

"Times, places and situations
Lead to an early grave
When we get there we see
Just what did we save?"
--Flexible, Husker Du

I'm going to have to take advantage of the lack of a schedule today at work and write some more. I probably won't have this kind of time on a weekday again until Christmas Day, so I might as well make the most of it.
I scanned through the final two games of the Lakers-Spurs series before lunch and thoroughly enjoyed watching Karl manhandle Tim Duncan. It's amazing to think back to the first two games of that series and how well Duncan and Parker both played, then contrast that with the lack of production in games three through six:
Game One: Duncan 30, Parker 20
Game Two: Duncan 24, Parker 30
At this point, the Lakers' reign is over, they're crowning the new Spurs dynasty and we're wondering if the Lake Show can even manage to win one game, forget about the series.
So then Phil makes some adjustments, GP sacks up, the entire team helps on Parker's penetration, Karl re-asserts his physical strength advantage and gets in TD's head.
Game Three: Duncan 10 (4-14 FG), Parker 8 (4-12 FG) -- unbelievable lack of production
Game Four: Duncan 19 (5-13 FG), Parker 18 (7-18 FG)
Game Fisher: Duncan 21 (7-15 FG, including his two ridiculously lucky heaves), Parker 15 (7-23 FG)
Game Six: Duncan 20 (7-18 FG), Parker 9 (4-18 FG)
The difference is incredible. They averaged 52 between them in the first two victories and just 30 in the four ensuing losses. Parker was being hailed as the league's next great point guard, Pop and R.C. Buford were ridiculed for going after Jason Kidd in the off-season and the Lakers were doomed. Then the little french fry goes 22-71 the rest of the way (including a remarkable 3-18 from downtown) and they're sent packing.
Yeah so this is old news, but I think it still bears repeating.
On a similar note, I've concluded that the Lakers are more capable of affecting the range of my emotions than anything else on this earth, human beings included. This is a very sad state of affairs, but it's true.
When they made the deals for GP and Karl, started off the season 17-3, reeled off 11 in a row toward the end of the year, won the division, took care of Houston, rallied to draw even with San Antonio, won game five on Fisher's shot and eventually advanced, then won the T'Wolves series -- all of these events caused elation and excitement that go pretty much unmatched anywhere else in life.
When Kobe was charged with assault, when all the injuries starting popping up, when they lost in Atlanta at the beginning of March, when the Kings embarassed them at the end of the regular season (my hatred for Doug Christie knows no bounds), lost the first two in San Antonio, then had Duncan hit the apparent game-winner in game five -- moments that caused me extreme frustration and anger and sadness, again moreso than essentially anything.
It sucks that they matter so much to me, but they've been a part of my life basically since 1985, the first NBA finals I actually remember watching. In elementary school, my buddy Jeff and I successfully campaigned for a Laker dress-up day in each our fifth and sixth grade years. We also performed a "Laker Rap" both years at the school talent show, bringing down the house with lyrics praising our Lakers and disparaging the hated Celtics and Pistons. Good times.
A sense of perspective would be a good thing for me to gain at some point, but in the meantime, GO LAKERS!!! Can't wait for the finals to start.