The Epic Twist: Winning Time's Final Episode Triumphs Against All Odds!

Summary

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty ended before the true glory of the 1980s era, leaving out the Lakers' dominant NBA Finals winning streak.

The content should be rewritten as:

The series failed to capture the Lakers' retaliation against the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals, a significant and redemptive moment that could have been depicted in season 3.

In order to truly embody its title, Winning Time should have expanded its storyline to include the Lakers' triumph in the 1988 Finals and beyond. It could have explored pivotal moments like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's retirement, Pat Riley stepping down, Magic Johnson's health crisis, and the emergence of Michael Jordan.

The irony lies in the abrupt ending of HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, especially considering how the series ultimately concluded. While the first two seasons of Winning Time effectively recounted the tumultuous early years of the Lakers' journey towards establishing their 1980s dynasty under the guidance of coach Pat Riley, the show fell short of capturing the full grandeur of that era in just seventeen episodes. Although the end credits of season 2 revealed what future seasons would have explored, HBO has decided not to continue the series. Winning Time aimed to authentically portray the Lakers' rise to becoming one of the most successful dynasties in sports history, but ultimately ended before the dynasty truly took off.

Winning Time Ironically Ends With The Lakers Losing The NBA Finals

What Year Winning Time Really Should Have Ended (To Live Up To The Title)

The Lakers' dominant NBA Finals winning streak began just after Winning Time concluded, marking the start of the 1984-85 season. Under Riley's leadership, the team achieved an impressive 62-20 record, seeking to avenge their previous loss against the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals. This highly anticipated event, which would have undoubtedly been featured in a much-awaited season 3 of Winning Time, was absence due to the series' cancellation. Consequently, the Lakers' historic Game 7 defeat at the Boston Garden in the 1984 NBA Finals served as an unexpectedly crushing conclusion for the show. It is evident that the creators of Winning Time had envisioned season 2 as a source of motivation for a triumphant and redemptive season 3 comeback. However, the cancellation of the series left Winning Time with a bittersweet ending, concluding on a note of defeat.

To fully capture the Lakers dynasty of the Showtime era, it would have been ideal for Winning Time to depict their triumph in the 1988 NBA Finals. This significant achievement could have been explored in Season 3, Season 4, or even Season 5 of Winning Time, allowing each season to highlight the Lakers' journey to their three NBA Titles in 1985, 1987, and 1988. Alternatively, even if Winning Time had concluded with a Season 3 finale showcasing the Lakers' vengeance against the Celtics in the 1985 Finals, it would have been a more fitting ending than the abrupt conclusion seen in the Season 2 end-credits sequence.

While it would have been ideal for Winning Time to conclude in 1988, the series had the potential to continue into 1989 and beyond. A fifth and final season could have showcased significant events such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's retirement in 1989, Pat Riley stepping down as head coach in 1990, and Magic Johnson's medical crisis in 1991, leading to his premature retirement. Additionally, Winning Time could have explored the emergence of Michael Jordan and the growing rivalry between Riley and Phil Jackson, who eventually became the coach for both the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers. Season 5 of Winning Time could have culminated with a symbolic passing of the torch from Magic to Jordan in the 1991 NBA Finals, where the Bulls triumphed over the Lakers in five games.