Chapter 854 - 42: Omnipotent

[The 1990-1991 Lakers were an excellent team.

They finished the regular season with a 57-25 record, but due to divisional rules, they were ranked behind the Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Suns, landing in fourth place in the Western Conference.

This was an awkward ranking, as it meant the Lakers were likely to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the semifinals.

Don Nelson entered his fourth season as head coach of the Lakers, and this mad genius was constantly seeking innovation and change.

This season, he strengthened the team’s defense, demanding that every player take responsibility on that end of the court. Anyone who was careless or inattentive during defensive plays would be substituted out by Nelson.

On the other hand, Nelson continued to push the envelope offensively. Beyond fast breaks, he rolled out a "super-sized" lineup where all five players were at least 6’8" tall.

Sometimes he would switch to a "super-small" lineup with five guards. In Los Angeles, Nelson took tactical experiments and rotations to the extreme.

Even so, the Lakers managed to hold opponents to an average of around 100 points per game. This was an outstanding achievement that proved Nelson understood defense.

However, the Lakers’ roster had notable flaws—they lacked a strong backup point guard, and in their effort to counter teams like Ah Gan, they’d stacked their frontcourt with too many players. This lineup imbalance was common among Western Conference teams at the time.

Entering the playoffs in fourth place, James Worthy remarked, "We are no longer a great team. We’re still good, but it’s not the same as before."

In the first round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, Stockton hoped to face his friend and college teammate in Portland for the semifinals. The Jazz, after an impressive regular season, looked promising.

But the playoffs were a different battlefield. The Jazz’s offensive rhythm was stifled at the Great Western Forum. Back home in Salt Lake City for Game 3, they salvaged one win. In the pivotal Game 4, the Jazz maintained the lead until the fourth quarter when the Lakers mounted a comeback. The Jazz’s offense faltered, and Magic Johnson hit a game-changing three-pointer to take the lead and turn the tide.

In the critical moment that decided the game, Don Nelson deployed a "Giant Team" lineup with Duckworth, Campbell, Johnson, Worthy, and Sam Perkins—all towering players. Karl Malone looked up and couldn’t find a single player who was shorter than him on the court.

The rookie Elden Campbell from Clemson University replaced AC Green to shadow Karl Malone, delivering surprisingly effective results.

Campbell was an interesting guy—tall, athletic, but often inattentive.

During the regular season, someone spotted him in the locker room before a game, snacking on sour cream chips and pineapple juice while engrossed in a book.

The title of the book? "A Thinker’s Guide to Nutrition."

"I trust Elden. He waddles when he runs, so people think he’s lazy. But he can play, and he can make an impact. Against the Jazz, I told him: Don’t fear Karl. He’s predictable—just a few moves. Remember, stand in front of him, overwhelm him, fight him. Don’t be scared, don’t fall for any fakes. He’ll crumble on his own."

After the first-round series, Don Nelson praised Elden Campbell highly.

But when asked about facing the Trail Blazers and Ah Gan in the next round, Nelson was silent for a long time.

"Let fate decide. We’ll do our best."

He finally said.]

————Excerpt from Jeff Pearlman’s 2013 book, "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s."

"I feel like I might throw up."

That was Magic Johnson’s first remark as he stepped off the plane and breathed in Portland’s cool, damp air.

Portland. Again, Portland.

Since 1985, this place had become a nightmare for Johnson and the Lakers.

Years later, Magic Johnson would divide his unexpectedly brief career into two distinct phases.

The first phase was before 1985—bright California sunshine and sandy beaches.

The second phase was after 1985—marked by rain-soaked Oregon Portland mountains.

Though the Lakers and Trail Blazers split victories evenly in their four postseason encounters, the Lakers hadn’t won a championship since 1985.

Particularly in 1987 and 1988, the Lakers were at their peak—roster and form were at their best, making them the league’s top championship contender.

Yet, they were repeatedly ousted by the Trail Blazers, forfeiting their chance at the title.

By 1989, the Lakers were already past their prime. They managed to defeat the Trail Blazers, who were missing Drexler, but fell to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals.

After Jabbar’s quiet retirement, Johnson became the Lakers’ undisputed leader, but he now had to face a fully matured Ah Gan and the Trail Blazers.

In this season, the two teams faced each other five times in the regular season, with the Trail Blazers winning four and showing overwhelming dominance.

The Lakers adjusted their tactics and lineup specifically to counter the Trail Blazers and Ah Gan, but the impact was minimal.

Johnson recalled earlier times when the Lakers dominated the Western Conference, leaving other teams chasing them and strategizing against them.

Now, the tables had turned—it was the Lakers who were crafting plans to target the Trail Blazers.

The Lakers spent the entire season closely watching the Trail Blazers—analyzing every game, every move.

The team conducted defensive drills with the Trail Blazers as their imagined opponent. Don Nelson’s "Five Giant" lineup, which had given Karl Malone trouble, was originally designed with the Trail Blazers in mind.

But honestly, Magic Johnson disliked this dynamic. They had targeted Bird and the Celtics before, but this felt different.