The Los Angeles Lakers Are Going To The 2020 NBA Finals!!!

Man. The year 2020 has been terrible nine months in, and the remaining ones don’t hold much promise. A little glimmer of hope for me, and Lakers fans around the world, is that the team is back in NBA Finals — 10 years after LA’s last championship in 2010 against the Boston Celtics. It was Kobe’s fifth and final ring. They are facing the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat, who beat the Celtics in 6 games of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Ten years is the longest Finals drought in Lakers history. The second longest Finals drought for LA is nine (from 1991 to 2000, Magic Johnson’s last Finals all the way to the first of the Shaq-Kobe Three-peat). That speaks a lot about the level of excellence Lakers fans are accustomed to – some teams haven’t even been to the Finals period. The Lakers are playing for the championship at least once every decade.

The 2010s were a rather dark decade for the Lakers. In 2013, Kobe tore his Achilles tendon and the once great team fell to mediocrity for most of the following years. Lakers fans endured ugliness all around – rosters, management, contracts, etc. At one point, the Lakers’ starting lineup consisted of Robert Sacre, Tarik Black, Ryan Kelly, Wayne Ellington, and Jordan Clarkson. That terrible, terrible starting five has become a legendary meme among Lakers fans.

But none of that matters anymore. We are back at the top, where basketball royalty belongs. And hoooo boy, it feels great that royalty is being led by none other than the King himself, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. I am a happy boi.

Also, I love this version of the Miami Heat. This team is deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep with so many role players stepping up, their veteran stars Goran Dragic and Butler leading the way, and rising star Bam Adebayo tearing things up. I have so much respect for Coach Erik Spoelstra (#PinoyPride), and the Heat organization as a whole.

It’s a good feeling knowing the Lakers qualified for the Finals, but a wise philosopher named Kobe Bryant once said, “Job’s not done.” The goal is to win the championship, not just qualify for a chance to win it. Four more wins to go!!!! LAKERS IN 5.