The national talking heads will be focused today and for weeks to come on why the Lakers missed the playoffs. It’s a sexier story outside of our neck of the woods(or cactus) than the Suns setting a franchise record 63 victories. It shouldn’t be this way, but that’s how it’s always been in Arizona. On the national landscape of sports, we don’t get our fair shake. A media executive in New York or LA would rather see clicks on his or her website on a Lebron story, than a piece on how Devin Booker is having an MVP caliber season.
The biggest media companies and personalities will have Magic Johnson on their shows to discuss why the Lakers are so bad, versus having a meaningful discussion of why Booker’s numbers do stack up with Embid and Jokic in the Most Valuable Player discussion. The Lakers being bad is low-hanging fruit for a fanbase that is filled with bandwagon jumpers.
63 victories and the best record in the NBA should produce national buzz, but in this day and age of going to the story that will get the most clicks, future Hall of Famers Lebron, Westbrook, Howard, and AD missing the postseason will make the national stage every time versus what we see going on here on Jefferson Street.
If you look at the Lakers over the last ten years, it’s not “news” when they miss the playoffs. After Tuesday night’s elimination, LA hasn’t made the postseason in 7 of the last 9 years. They are in the company of the Sacramento Kings.
So don’t get put off by the lack of spotlight. Control what you can control. Booker isn’t going to win the MVP. The Suns aren’t going to get a bunch of media run. You know and I know THE story is about the Suns setting a franchise record in victories and having the best record in the NBA. THAT is the story today…
Brad Cesmat
