Chapter 40 No Future

In the years when the Lakers dominated the Western Conference, teams were trying very hard to accumulate big men to deal with Jabbar and the Lakers' formidable front line.

Apart from their starting big men Edwards, Nance, and Adams, the Suns had Morris Lucas sitting on the bench—the second hero of the Portland Trail Blazers' 1977 championship.

As backups, Charles Jones and Rick Robey were also on the bench, ensuring the principle of always maintaining enough height on the court to face the Lakers.

Looking at the effects from the previous season's Western Conference Finals, it wasn't bad, as they managed to drag the talented Lakers to a sixth game, which was decided in the final moments.

The Suns' last attack missed, and they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 99:97, ending their Cinderella-like playoff run in 1984.

McLeod believed that by game five and six, the Suns had found a way to deal with the Lakers; they just lacked some luck and made their lineup adjustments too late.