On this episode Magic Johnson comes back after a knee injure, he got surgery; he is playing but it still doesn't feel right plus the team has change its tactics, coach Paul Westhead implement "The System" and players are having a hard time to adapt but it is getting a certain percent of acceptance among players and its giving good results, problem is at the time they had two players each as good going for the same position that's Nixon and Magic, usually in futbol you cant have that unless one of those two players can go for other positions and if you bench one usually it has less talent than the starting line but this was not the case between Nixon and Johnson, playing over and over The System also expose them and eventually other teams will figure this out, Paul Westhead didn't think so and force the team to always go for his plan, to make things worst the hole hollywood and power went to his head believing he was all mighty and only he had a saying on what can be done or not with the team.
After Magic got back he was out of rhythm, not only physically but psychologically, it lower performance was expected and everyone notice it but during this time the offense of the team was going through changes, one of them Nixon replacing him, for coach Westhead he was a more moldable player, Magic on the other hand was more use to improvise, something at the time their coach was trying to change, his direct approach was more production of hoops at the places each player was the most effective.
Magic love the press and the press love him, seems he always had something to entertain them with, it was either his performance of the drama around him, a young start who at first thought he could carry the hole team but latter on learn the hard way, after he came back he understood how others could take charge of his spot on the starting line and Kareem remaining the captain without a doubt, they were performing better than when he left.
Coach assistant Pat Riley at the time figure out Magic's problem, he was worried that it would happen again and probably be done for good from playing, Pat was a player too so he went through this stages, anyone who do any sport at a competitive level will go through rough times or injuries, some take more time than others to heal, some need external assistance and that what Pat was intending do, help Magic get back in shape, not with the purpose to take Nixon out or gain power over the team, although this was not how coach Westhead saw it.
Nixon was as great player that was giving great results for coach Westhead but as any other professional level sport sometimes you have to trade players or buy players, the world keeps spinning so the league, rumors run around that they are going to trade Nixon for a new player David Thompson, this got leak to the press some how and that's how Nixon finds out.
On the series Lakers had a huge problem at management, players had direct line with the team owner and I think that is probably still the case on many sports, it happens at many companies, rumors were killing them and Westhead would not allow other players think Magic's opinion had some influence over their fates, that I give it to him although this phrase had double intention because he thought HE was almighty. Coach ends up killing the trade but I'm not sure if that was the best interest for the team.
Lakers start fighting for the ball between each other, actually Nixon and Magic, during the series the nights that they were playing together no one could beat them but when they fighting it was easy to turn them apart, Kareem always took the wheel and kept the team in check when it was necessary, but that direct line that Magic had with Dr. Buss plus rumors kept leaking mad a big damage to the team, I think after all this drama best thing to do was take off magic from the starting line for some time, let things cool down. All this also directly affect Pat's relationship with coach Westhead as he thought Pat was going behind his back to make deals and gain power over the team like helping Magic get better by training him or knowing about the trade before him this gave coach more energy to show everyone he is in charge and he will take the team to the finals his way; what it looks is that it was never Pat's intention to take glory from Westhead but keep in mind there is a lot of fiction on this story.
Lakers were having a hard time, ups and downs, as it has happen on most of this stories, they are on the line for elimination, fifteen seconds on the clock, Lakers down by one. Coach strictly tells Magic "no hero ball" but then Pat tells Magic "You are the guy", I wonder if he did it for revenge against Westhead, both him and Magic were risking a lot instead of going for the play he went for a solo shot and ends up loosing the game.
On all sports franchise there are rivalries behind the curtains either between players or at the administration level, Lakers had a great time probably to at least be at the finals but all the rumors, glory and fame kill them, Dr. Buss did change the game when he bought the Lakers he turn it into a show something more appealing and attractive to investors at the same time giving something more to the audience than just two teams going at each other but this for good or bad got the players and staff, from there starts the power hunger Westhead plus the rival vary between Nixon and Magic for the starting line spot, keeping in mind that coach also make drastic changes after wining the finals, now forcing the players to perform an offense they were not comfortable with. I have to give it to this series, as a comedy is great in my opinion but the more I watch this last seasons the more I want to find out how much of this was truth to make a comparison, may be when I'm done watching the series will continue to do some digging and do a post between what was fiction and whats not, good episode solid 7/10.
Episode 1: @skiptvads/winning-time-one-ring-dont
