Game Five of the championship series between the Celtics and the Lakers means possible elimination for Coach Phil Jackson’s team. The Lakers trail the series 3 - 1. A win in Game Five (or Game Six or Game Seven) means a championship for the Boston Celtics. Game Four was devastating for the Lakers. It was a historical collapse and losing a game in which, at one point, the Lakers had a twenty four point lead. Phil Jackson commentary was:

“…I just told them as a team, they had their heart ripped out. It’s tough to recover from that, but they will. This thing is not over, and we want to force the action, want to continue to force the play.”

About forty years ago, Dr. Martin Seligman described in the psychological literature a phenomenon called ‘learned helplessness’. He drew parallels between learned helplessness and clinical depression. In learned helplessness, the subjects of his studies felt that the outcomes were beyond their control. They perceived that they were, in effect, helpless to change outcomes.

This might be Phil Jackson’s greatest challenge. His main task might not be plays and substitution. Instead, Phil Jackson’s focus may be to convince his team that indeed they can win. The Lakers know that a lead over the Celtics is not insurmountable. With outside shooters and an inside presence, the Celtics have shown that a twenty four point deficit is manageable. If the Lakers have a lead, the question will haunt them as to whether the Celtics will be able to erase the deficit.

If the Lakers fall behind in the game, will learned helplessness determine play? Will the Lakers feel that this Boston team will dominate them, as they did in the first two games in Boston and in Game Four in Los Angeles. Will an early lead by the Celtics seal the fate of the Lakers?

The best scenario for the Lakers is securing an early lead and building upon that lead relentlessly. In Dr. Seligman’s learned helplessness model, the Lakers have to convince themselves that they can control the outcome. Phil Jackson’s task will be as much ‘head therapist’ as head coach.

Much of the outcome of Game Five will depend on Kobe Bryant. After the Game Four melt-down, will Kobe Bryant trust his team mates? Will Kobe Bryant try to carry the Lakers through Game Five by taking over the game from start to finish? Kobe Bryant’s reputation took a beating in Game Four. Professional basketball’s reputed ‘best closer’ could not protect a twenty four point lead. Some basketball reporters have said that should end all Kobe Bryant comparisons with Michael Jordan. The sentiment is that no Michael Jordan team would squander such a huge lead, in a championship series. That will be a debate that will not be answered soon. The pressing issues is whether Phil Jackson can convince this team that they can win Game Five and prevent the Celtics from celebrating a championship… on the Lakers’ home court.

Catherine Forsythe