I thought the Jazz had a better chance before. Now they are without hope.
The NBA loves drama, they love story lines, they also love Sunday games in the Staples Center, and TV ratings.
You can hear the Intro to the first round: "For the Lakers it was supposed to be a season of dreams, but soon turned to a nightmare. But they overcame the adversity of a coach change, Dwights injury, Nash's injury, and Gasol's injury to fight their way into the playoffs on the back of their leader Kobe Bryant. Then the unthinkable, Kobe goes down a possible career ending injury. Now can this team come together to fight throw the biggest challenge of all? Facing the powerful OKC Thunder without the Lakers leading scorer. Its game 1........"
Then they can do about 40 cut away shots to the sidelines to show Kobe looking solemn and concentrating encouraging his teammates or showing his disgust. Maybe Kobe with a clipboard drawing out some plays while the team ignores DAntoni. And the commentators will have to wonder several times what might have happened if Kobe was in the game.
The NBA will make it happen. And it will only cost them the Jazz, who don't have a national following and have been spurned by the local fans this season.
Maybe Stern will give Greg a top 3 pick in exchange for Greg's cooperation in the matter.
When is the draft lottery?