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God help me, I’d sided with Michael Wilbon. <\/span>Wilbon, on one of the claustrophobic ESPN postgame shows (which only serve to make me realize how much I like TNT’s postgame shows), made the cogent point that we should stop waiting for the Lakers to just “turn it on.” <\/span>He said that up and down was what we were going to get from the Lakers, because that’s what they are this season—not a gritty, championship caliber squad that was having some identity issues.<\/p>\n After some of their limp-wristed effort against Houston (and even earlier in the Denver series), I had to agree with him. <\/span>Until I watched game five and six of the Western Conference Finals, when the Lakers turned it on, and the Nuggets melted in the fire. <\/span>Kobe was Mr. Mamba, with a combined two-game +\/- of +42. <\/span><\/p>\n Of course, saying Kobe stepped up is like pointing out that the officiating has been bad these playoffs—obviously <\/i>he stepped up. <\/span>Kobe is the one player whose drive and work ethic were never questioned, even when the Lakers layed goose eggs on the road. <\/span>The credit for the turnaround, whether you believe it was inspired by Kobe or not (I happen to believe it was) rests squarely on the tall shoulders of Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom.<\/span><\/p>\n After game four, Gasol quietly, almost politely, requested the ball more often—he not only got it, he put it to good use, going 13-20 in the final two games, and sinking 8 of 9 free throws. <\/span>What’s more, the change in his demeanor was apparent—I almost got dizzy from the number of quick camera cuts away from a profanity-spewing Gasol, whose f-bomb could be identified by level-one lip readers. <\/span>He has the look of a guy who’s been called soft for two years, and has gotten sick of it—Kobe looks like a proud father whenever Gasol thumps his chest.<\/p>\n Odom was 14-27, and more importantly, 3-3 from beyond the arc. <\/span>When L.O. knocks down the three from the top of the arc, you know the Lakers are firing on all cylinders. <\/span>Which, really, they are—they’re playing aggressive defense, they’re moving the ball, they’re rebounding well. <\/span>In short, they’re doing all the things a great team does when things are working<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n And, frankly, if things keep working, I’m not sure either the Cavs or the Magic stand much of a chance against these Lakers. <\/span>Unless, of course, they can’t find the “on” switch again…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n