We’ve seen it before. That shot, late in the game that defines the Los Angeles Lakers as 3-time champions and not summer break vacationers.
Robert Horry shot, that shot, two days ago in the Lakers game 5, two-point loss to San Antonio. But he didn’t make it. He missed his shot and the Lakers might falter because of it.
Why?
Because Horry has done it on more than one occasion, and we have been there. We have been at his meeting when he set his feet, squared up to the basket, and released salvation at the end of games that the Lakers should not have won, but did.
Horry cheated us and he cheated his team. When he hits that shot the Lakers get fat summer bonuses, a fat tickertape parade, and another fat ring. When he misses it we wonder whether a 3-time champion can overcome a 3-2 deficit.
This is not undue pressure for him. He asked for it and we are giving it to him.
Horry is Phil Jackson’s modern version of Michael Jordan. Well, at the end of the game at least. Not Shaq, not Kobe. Horry, he is our guy.
When time is melting off the clock and the buzzer sounds, Horry is the bronze figure posted behind the three-point arc barely releasing a shot that we can call that shot.
But in a crucial game 5 the statue was worn. It was not the proud emblem that we have grown to love, letting go a round ball of hope that barely hits net. No, worn statues rim out and make defending champions wounded prey struggling to survive against a worthy predator.
But now we wait. We wait with faith because anything is possible and the Lakers have been here before. But, we also wait with nervous anticipation because that experience may not be enough this time.
The Lakers are the basketball version of Emril. They always have enough “bam” to spice up the early summer dish that we know as the NBA Playoffs. I just hope on behalf of the Lakers, Robert Horry, and Joe the Fan that game 6 is another taste of a great secret recipe.