‘Winning Time’ Season 2 Episode 1 ‘One Ring Don’t Make a Dynasty’
Sports Editor Will Lyons recaps ‘Winning Time’ HBO’s depiction of the Rise of the Showtime Lakers.
Winning Time is back in all of the glory of the entertaining chaos known as the 80's. We pick up during GM1 of the 1984 Finals where the all-time great rivalry of Lakers vs Celtics is at it’s peak. The Lakers win Game 1 in the Garden and get beverages and concessions thrown at them as they exit the court. To make matters even worse Celtic fans surround the Lakers bus putting fear in the hearts of the Lakers as they feared for their safety.
The Lakers come up short against Boston in a 7 game series and the entire organization is on the receiving end up a reality check. Coach Westhead and Coach Riley are still looking for validation as championship coaches but sports is a “What have you done for me lately?” type of business. The Finals loss also starts to weigh on the players as the younger player feel like Kareem slows down the team and they are harder to guard when they get out in transition. Cap feels like Magic is coming for his spot but he has not earned it, a war in the locker room may be brewing but fatherhood gives Kareem inner peace.
Dr. Buss is still trying to pull the Lakers away from the brink of financial collapse and he finds ways to integrate his children into the family business with ulterior motives at heart. He uses the lines of credit newly purchased franchises qualify for to fund the contract extensions for the Lakers. A brilliant move to fund his strategy of paying more than any other team is willing to to keep his players loyal.
The previously mentioned power struggle between Magic and Kareem results in a heated and wildly entertaining practice. Kareem takes a blow to the eye and we have to wonder if this is where Goggle KAJ is born. The biggest blow to the Lakers title hopes come after Magic injures his knee. The dynamic young guard is expected to be out until the playoffs, testing the depth of the Lake Show.
Magic’s lifestyle catches up to him with allegations of paternity of a baby boy. Magic’s representation want to pay off the mother and have Magic act like the child never existed. The young star considers the proposal but the Johnson’s will not stand by while Earvin does not step up and handle his responsibility. Earvin Sr. takes pleasure in relieving Dr. Day of his duties of representing Magic.
Takeaways
Cookie still has Magic on her mind and I’m sure the visit from Momma Johnson had something to do with that.
I respect seeing Magic remember his morals instead of abandoning his first child. We need to bring the type of shame the Johnson’s and the father of Magic’s son threw at him back.
The dynamic between rising star and one of the greatest to ever do it are an entertaining one. It really lets you see what helped push Kareem to play 20 seasons and how he paired with Magic to become one of the greatest duos in basketball history.
Coach Westhead’s system called ‘The System’ is efficient but highly predictable. How long can it last? And how many games can LA win without Magic?
