Los Angeles Lakers Prove a Point with 93-83 Victory Over Miami Heat: Fan’s Reaction

On Sunday, March 4, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 93-83 to move into a virtual tie for first place in the Pacific Division. Kobe Bryant scored 33 points to lead the Lakers.

Both the media and the fans have invested a good deal of time discussing what's wrong with the Lakers; perhaps it's time to start looking at what's right about the team. Los Angeles doesn't have much athleticism and speed, but it does have championship experience and toughness. The bench might not produce much scoring. Yet the reserves have found a way to hit key shots at precisely the right time during the team's last 10 games.

That doesn't mean the Lakers are suddenly title contenders. I won't go that far. However, the Lakers are dangerous. Those of us fans who have been down on the team should probably give them a break. The Lakers installed a new coach who has a completely different philosophy than Phil Jackson. There were bound to be growing pains.

Now the team is coming together. Steve Blake continues to prove his worth off the bench and is actually playing more than starter Derek Fisher. Andrew Bynum is turning in a career year at center. And Kobe Bryant is defying all expectations. Bryant was 14 of 23 shooting against one of the best teams in the NBA on Sunday. It's hard to believe the 33-year-old Bryant can still perform like he has this season, but that's a testament to his hard work and dedication to winning a championship.

Furthermore, the Lakers have become a good enough defensive team that even when the offense struggles, they are usually in the game. On Sunday, the Lakers' defense allowed the Heat to land only 37.5 percent of their shot attempts. Los Angeles out-rebounded Miami 44-35 and blocked 10 shots. Overall, it was a masterful performance by the Lakers.

Hopefully, the Lakers use this victory as a springboard for the rest of the season. They have a chance to continue their move up the Western Conference standing with three winnable road games on the schedule this week beginning in Detroit on Tuesday, March 6. You can watch the game at 4:30 p.m. PT on KCAL.

Derek Ciapala has been a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers since childhood. His favorite Lakers' moment is when they beat the Detroit Pistons 108-105 in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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