The Showtime Era

Cebu - My piece on The Silk last week drew some reactions, specifically from reader Joe Villanueva as he was also witness to that magnificent period of pro basketball. Joe was some kind of unsatisfied that he was searching for the other Showtime players. For purposes of nostalgia, here’s the beginning and the end of that exciting period.

The Los Angeles Lakers got hold of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Milwaukee in 1974. He would become the anchor in what would become Laker Showtime. Kareem had an MVP season in 1976 but it was on the following season that he had better support with the arrival of Jamaal Wilkes and first round pick Norm Nixon.

The 1979-1980 season was the official start of Showtime with the addition of Magic Johnson. In his rookie year, he helped the Lakers to 60 regular season wins culminating with an MVP-like Game six performance in winning the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia.

Jerry Buss promoted assistant Pat Riley to head coaching chores during the ’81-’82 season and promptly led the team to the Pacific Division title sweeping both Phoenix and San Antonio. With the sweet-shooting Bob MacAdoo and the bruising Kurt Rambis in the lineup, they again beat Julius Erving and the Sixers for the NBA title in six games. James Worthy from North Carolina came into the team and again advanced to the NBA Finals the next season. This time, Dr. J won’t be denied of the championship and swept the Lakers in four games.

Showtime was in full and living color by the ’84-’85 season. Byron Scott came into the picture and the Lakers have won the Pacific Division title for 4 straight years, en route to a 4-2 NBA Finals victory over the Boston Celtics. The 1985 Lakers then was the first visiting team ever to win an NBA title at the Boston Garden.

The following season, the team moved AC Green to the starting unit and got Mychal Thompson as a reliever to Kareem. Michael Cooper was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Magic received his first regular season MVP trophy. Boston again faced LA in the ’86-’87 season Finals with the Lakers prevailing in six games. Magic was named the Finals MVP in addition to his second regular season MVP award. It was during the team’s championship celebration in LA that Pat Riley famously guaranteed a repeat of the championship the following season.

The Lakers met Detroit for the 1988 NBA Finals that went the full seven games. James Worthy went triple double in the deciding game, earning him the Finals MVP. They meet again the following season but the original Bad Boys of Detroit, taking advantage of Kareem’s age and injuries to Magic and Byron Scott, swept the Lakers in four games.

After that era, the Lakers went into hibernation and resurrected with Shaq and Kobe around. Their childish bickerings broke what might have been another great era. Kobe now has another set of sidekicks and whether this present mix of overly paid athletes can constantly deliver the holy grail of basketball like Magic and Company did still remains to be seen.

So, Joe, this has been Showtime. And talking about Joe, he’s the guy that people who invented beer and Tanduay 65 would be celebrating to be with. After letting the brew flow in his system, he does his own showtime.

E-mail me at [email protected]. - THE FREEMAN