*** WINNING TIME *** (HBO Lakers Series)

27,142 Views | 243 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by TCTTS
mazzag
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I'm a Fleetwood Mack fan and TUSK isn't mainstream but great in this episode!
BMX Bandit
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and he's a pretty damn good writer:

Quote:

"the characters are crude stick-figure representations that resemble real people, the way Lego Han Solo resembles Harrison Ford. Each character is reduced to a single bold trait, as if the writers were afraid anything more complex would tax the viewers' comprehension."

Abdul-Jabbar had a close relationship with the real West and said "it's a shame the way they treat" him on the HBO series.
"[Jerry] has openly discussed his struggle with mental health, especially depression," Abdul-Jabbar writes. "Instead of exploring his issues with compassion as a way to better understand the man, they turn him into a Wile E. Coyote cartoon to be laughed at. He never broke golf clubs, he didn't throw his trophy through the window. Sure, those actions make dramatic moments, but they reek of facile exploitation of the man rather than exploration of character."
jackie childs
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i'm enjoying the season. what's funny is that after the first couple of episodes, i didn't like kareem and i thought brody as riley was awful too. now, they're two of my characters on the show.

reilly is just killing it.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Loved episode 7, but apparently that Lakers-Celtics game didn't happen that way at all.

I wish they wouldn't change facts around for no good reason.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Buzzy said:

TCTTS said:

100%. I really like the actor, but Magic's home/love life storyline is all so one-note and has dragged on forever. We all know he ends up with Cookie. Enough already. At the very least, please don't make us go back to Michigan yet again.
I understand your position here, but I'm also a big fan of Magic's dad. The scene with him and Kareem was excellent.


Best scene of the episode by far.
Prosperdick
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Brian Earl Spilner said:

Loved episode 7, but apparently that Lakers-Celtics game didn't happen that way at all.

I wish they wouldn't change facts around for no good reason.
I just try to remember this is not a documentary and they'll take poetic license to juice up scenes. I think that's the reason they not only changed the ending of the game but also to make it appear this was their first time playing Boston that season (and not mentioning they waxed the Celts at home earlier in the year).

That being said, fired up for the finale tonight!
Brian Earl Spilner
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#1 said:

Great episode. My wife sat on the couch at the beginning of the episode and was on her phone. (Never seen one episode). She ended up watching the entire show. She's a laker fan so she was grinning when she saw some of the players.

I love the coach storyline between McKinnly, Westhead, and Pat. The last scene with McKinnly telling Westhead why he hired him.... that was brutal.


So far, McKinney would've been the only one with a legitimate beef if that interaction was a creative liberty, because... damn. What an absolute piece of **** person to actually day that to someone. Impossible to like the guy in this show after that.

About to watch episode 9 and will be caught up for tonight.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Did Haywood really put a hit on the Lakers?
Brian Earl Spilner
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https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a39879619/winning-time-episode-9-spencer-haywood-hit-kill-lakers/#:~:text=First%20of%20all%2C%20let's%20get,but%20not%20by%20his%20teammates.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Good finale.

I purposely avoided looking up the 1980 Finals, since I didn't know which game they won it in. For some reason, I was convinced they would end it with the Lakers losing the game, and a caption telling us the Lakers won it in game 7.

Apparently both the Rookie of the Year tally and the commissioner giving the MVP to Magic instead of Kareem were both true.

Looking forward to Season 2, but I'm also hoping they don't necessarily stick to a strict one NBA season per tv season formula. I'd be ok with them having some time jumps and maybe multiple seasons in one season.
Prosperdick
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Watch me paddle mother****ers…nice ending.

Good finale, not great but really enjoyed it. I'm ready to see Riley gel the hair back and really get this showtime showing.
BowSowy
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Brian Earl Spilner said:

For some reason, I was convinced they would end it with the Lakers losing the game, and a caption telling us the Lakers won it in game 7.
That would be such a lame way to end the season.

I agree about the second season. You spent the first season establishing the dynasty. Spend season 2 focusing more on the Magic/Bird rivalry, and probably end it with Kareem retiring and Magic's HIV diagnosis. They may stretch that to more than one season, since Kareem retiring and Magic's diagnosis was the end of the showtime Lakers.
DeangeloVickers
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Jerry West seems fun...wonder why he's complaining?!?!
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
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Was Bird and/or his family known racists or something?
TCTTS
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"63 to 3" was awesome. What a great moment.

Good finale, and am definitely looking forward to see where they take it for season two.
Brian Earl Spilner
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ttaggie
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No. Absolutely not. Boston had a lot of racist fans for sure....but bird and his family were just rural. Don't know why the show inserted that.
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
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ttaggie said:

No. Absolutely not. Boston had a lot of racist fans for sure....but bird and his family were just rural. Don't know why the show inserted that.


I didn't think so. That really caught me off guard and was completely unnecessary. I'd be pissed if I was Bird.
Teddy Perkins
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ttaggie said:

No. Absolutely not. Boston had a lot of racist fans for sure....but bird and his family were just rural. Don't know why the show inserted that.
Yup, that was a low blow in my opinion. Bird always respected blacks because, according to the HBO doc, they invited him to play basketball with them after school in pickup games when he was young. Totally unnecessary throwaway line just to stir the pot.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Guess I missed it, what was the racist line?
Teddy Perkins
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Brian Earl Spilner said:

Guess I missed it, what was the racist line?
Larry Bird's buddy said "Can't nothing jump like a monkey" at tip off. Bird responded: "STFU, he's there, I aint."
Brian Earl Spilner
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Hmm. Not sure I see how that reflects badly on Bird. I guess it is ****ty to assume his friends were racist though.
OldArmy71
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Teddy Perkins said:

Brian Earl Spilner said:

Guess I missed it, what was the racist line?
Larry Bird's buddy said "Can't nothing jump like a monkey" at tip off. Bird responded: "STFU, he's there, I aint."
Yes, the implication of racism was directed at the other person, not at Bird. Bird's rejoinder shows Bird to be defending Magic, not attacking him.

But it was still unnecessary and easily misinterpreted.
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
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Brian Earl Spilner said:

Hmm. Not sure I see how that reflects badly on Bird. I guess it is ****ty to assume his friends were racist though.


Just a little made up racist slander. No big deal.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Exactly.
Brian Earl Spilner
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Against an unnamed character that is never identified? I mean, sure, but weird thing to be mad about.
WES2006AG
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Some Junkie Cosmonaut said:

ttaggie said:

No. Absolutely not. Boston had a lot of racist fans for sure....but bird and his family were just rural. Don't know why the show inserted that.


I didn't think so. That really caught me off guard and was completely unnecessary. I'd be pissed if I was Bird.
Why would Bird be pissed? It had him rebuke that line, showed that he was pissed about not being there, and added to his legacy as a competitor.
PatAg
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Well, it had him say to not talk ****, not necessarily stop being racist.

Its just the old tired "if you sound country than you must be stupid and racist" cliche
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
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Brian Earl Spilner said:

Against an unnamed character that is never identified? I mean, sure, but weird thing to be mad about.


Nobody is mad. It was just a stupid and unnecessary moment in the year 2022 where being racist is the ultimate sin.

Great show though. Can't wait for season 2.
Prosperdick
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When the line came up I think I could hear Bill Simmons groaning all the way from California, which made me giggle because he absolutely hates the way they're portraying Bird and I'm sure he'll go on a rant about it.

For the record I thought it was a bit too cliche for my tastes and took me out of the show for a second, which was bothersome.

One other point...now that the season is concluded there is no way in hell Will Ferrell could play Buss without completely derailing the show. Reilly has been incredible and I completely buy his portrayal of Buss...maybe even Emmy worthy. Also I know the Ferrell point was obvious from the first episode but really brought it up to shower praises on Reilly.
TCTTS
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I also thought of Simmons when they showed everyone watching the game live, on TV, seeing as he's been saying over and over that the finals that year were tape delayed.
TCTTS
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PatAg
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Whatever flaws it had, I was entertained by it. Seems like a lot of people feel the same.
Prosperdick
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I still have the signed basketball of the '86 Lakers I bought for $100 on the PBS Channel 8 auction in Houston back in '86 when I was 15 years old. That team lost to the Rockets but the next year's team was incredible:


TCTTS
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Just listened to Simmons & co on The Prestige Podcast recapping the finale, and they think the best play for season two would be to combine the next *two* Lakers seasons. The way they broke it down, and in doing a bit of my own research, I now honestly can't see season two going any other way, as it's just too perfect...

- In the wake of the championship, at the urging of Magic, Buss signs Paul Westhead to a three-year deal.

- Magic starts out as the golden boy, but misses 45 games during the '80/'81 season due to a knee injury.

- Bird and the Celtics win the '81 championship.

- Post-injury, during the '80/'81 season, and into the '81/'82 season, Magic grows frustrated with Westhead's style of play, which became increasingly centered around Kareem, in Magic's absence.

- Eventually, Magic basically forces Westhead out - as the two trade jabs in the press - leading to Buss firing Westhead mid-season, in November '81. During all of this, Magic is painted as the villain by the press/Lakers fans (he's apparently even booed at one point).

- Pat Riley is named the new head coach.

- The Lakers then go on to the win the champion that same season, in '82, wherein Magic is redeemed.

So, basically, across two basketball seasons, Magic becomes a villain of sorts, while, at the same time, we finally see the rise of Riley. Then, together, Magic, Riley and co go on to win the championship, becoming the *actual* Showtime Lakers of the '80s we know and love. Adrian Brody takes on more of a leading role, throw in the drama between Jeanie and the Buss brothers, and you've got yourself the makings of pretty great season of TV right there.
 
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