Flashback: 1984

In the days that have passed since the Lakers season ended in Boston, more than a few people have drawn comparisons between these Lakers and the 1984 Lakers, who lost to Boston in an eerily similar NBA Finals. Remember that clothesline?

Here's what general manager Mitch Kupchak had to say about it:

`` In 1984, I sat basically in that same building, in that same cubicle when we got beat by the Celtics. So I know how they feel,'' Kupchak said. ``I also know as time goes on they will feel better. There is something to be learned through defeat. You learn a little bit about yourself, you learn about what you have to work on during the offseason. ... I think there's a learning process here that may benefit us in the future.

``It's my job to have some vision and I don't live in the trenches with the players and the coaches. I take the losses hard, but I do have to take a step back and look at the future. Of course, it all came to a screeching halt on Tuesday night, so the last two or three days there have been a lot of down players walking through our offices. They're starting to see some players smile a little bit and work there way through a tough time. I will say I do know how they feel.''