RECALIBRATION

The National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) all use a series format during the post season. That means you get to see the same ugly dudes for at least four straight games. Tonight the Lakers face the formidable New Orleans Hornets with an invigorated Chris Paul a.k.a. CP3. And for the record, he is THAT DUDE. Chris Paul recalibrated at some point in his career despite injury and is convinced that if you can take the Lakers to six games, surely you can take them to seven where anything can happen.

But the operative title of the post is fancy for “change.” That’s the truest synonym for what it means to recalibrate. The Lakers have old guys which is not a secret and various weaknesses not the least of which are Kobe Bryant’s ankle, Andrew Bynum’s perennial knee fragility and Pau Gasol’s intermittent cupcakeness. But what is proven in a seven game series is whether or not someone can change for the betterment of something bigger than themselves. How often does life present dilemma’s and crossroads that don’t offer a fail-safe? That’s what makes a conundrum difficult. You don’t know what to do, or how to do or if you can do. It’s always one of those three but you do know that if you don’t adapt, failure is definite.

The Lakers are in the midst of a microcosm that is meant to mirror life. Loss of a job, death of a loved one, a dream job halfway across the world, an idea for a business that will help millions are all in the scope and recalibration makes the difference. Will you make the necessary adjustments to meet the challenge with an effort suitable for today. The Lakers are well aware that Chris Paul has mastered executing mismatch situations where he is being guarded by a big slow-footed center. He has a construct of all of the favorable scenarios he can use to exploit the Lakers age and size. But the Lakers will have to contain the threats of CP3. It’s a champion’s job to remain fluid enough to recognize its own weaknesses while countering the enemy’s attempt to exploit them.

You have weaknesses too just like the Lake Show as do I and nothing exposes them more than a seven-game series. Play the same opponent long enough and both sides grow very familiar. Nevertheless, when the enigma of identity is brushed aside, all that is left is your wherewithal, your resolve and your willingness to sweat through the work of change. Change is seldom desired unless its attached to a good objective. What’s your reason to recalibrate and what stands to be lost if you don’t change?