If you are a basketball fan or not, this series was a treat to watch, and right about when the Lakers were to get revenge on the Celts........ THEY CANCEL THE SERIES..... To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement.... the casting, the editing(My God the editing was SO good)......they really brought the 80s vibe with this rivalry......It really is a missed chance, because there were so many storylines that could be explored(Jeannie's Rising, Magic's not so loyal marriage and obviously the fall of Pat Riley on the Lakers).....I will really miss the show, and although I get why it's canceled, it will sting for some time.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (TV Series)
What Is and What Should Never Be (2023)
User Reviews
Review this title6 Reviews
Best episode of the whole series
mecong-378-29270115 February 2024
And a worthy end to an overall interesting production. Especially when you are an eighties kid and remember this rivalry, the Lakers and Magic in particular very well.
For me the whole series had far too little basketball and too much family stuff, but this episode was what I was waiting for - similar to the Larry Bird episode earlier. I would have loved to see more games against other teams and meet some of the other all time greats like Malone, Hakeem, Erving, Thomas or even rookie of the year Michael Jordan.
I would not have minded a 3rd season. Pity they decided to make the cut at the end of this season.
For me the whole series had far too little basketball and too much family stuff, but this episode was what I was waiting for - similar to the Larry Bird episode earlier. I would have loved to see more games against other teams and meet some of the other all time greats like Malone, Hakeem, Erving, Thomas or even rookie of the year Michael Jordan.
I would not have minded a 3rd season. Pity they decided to make the cut at the end of this season.
Finally they meet again with the Lakers coming up short.
blanbrn21 September 2023
This episode 7 "What Is and What Should Never Be" the finale of "HBO's" "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" was one thrilling and entertaining drama tense filled episode. Finally the fans and the "NBA" has it again it's a rematch and once again a matchup between the "Boston Celtics" and "L. A. Lakers" and the 1984 finals would be a battle and epic classic showdown. It starts off well for the purple and yellow as they win game one at the garden, however the series goes back and fourth with each game getting more physical and it seems the series changed in Boston's favor after Kurt Rambis was taken hard to the court floor. Sadly the Lakers would lose to the Celtics in 7 games and Boston won the series 4-3 and Magic, Pat, and Buss felt the pain as they watched Red and Larry celebrate. Still the Lakers have accomplished plenty and more success would be on the way I wish this series would continue on to show more winning seasons of the 80's, however with this episode's ending you see the footage telling of the decades later happenings. Overall "Winning Time" was a fine watch and a joy to view showing classic legendary times of one of the "L. A. Lakers" greatest runs.
The original ending for this season ends with Magic sitting in the showers...
samYELLjacksin10 November 2023
I felt compelled to write this review since stevepasek had such a negative and most of all, had incorrect statements in his review.
Like I already mentioned, this season originally ends with Magic sitting in the showers after losing this game 7. However producers were able to shoot an alternate ending (the one we all see which tells us in subtitles what happens to most of the characters down the road) in case they got cancelled. So obviously, after receiving the news of cancellation, they were able to put that alternate ending in.
And as far as stevepasek saying "Magic and Bird saved the NBA is a stretch" only shows he's just a casual fan at best and needs to some NBA history education. The NBA was a dying brand before Magic and Bird...low attendance, low tv ratings, even the players (a number of them) were doing hard drugs before and even during the games). Magic and Bird not only saved the NBA, they made it relevant, exciting, and brought so much more popularity to it. Stevepasek, google is your friend.
Like I already mentioned, this season originally ends with Magic sitting in the showers after losing this game 7. However producers were able to shoot an alternate ending (the one we all see which tells us in subtitles what happens to most of the characters down the road) in case they got cancelled. So obviously, after receiving the news of cancellation, they were able to put that alternate ending in.
And as far as stevepasek saying "Magic and Bird saved the NBA is a stretch" only shows he's just a casual fan at best and needs to some NBA history education. The NBA was a dying brand before Magic and Bird...low attendance, low tv ratings, even the players (a number of them) were doing hard drugs before and even during the games). Magic and Bird not only saved the NBA, they made it relevant, exciting, and brought so much more popularity to it. Stevepasek, google is your friend.
Seems an odd place to end
stevepasek18 September 2023
I guess they ran out of people to play NBA stars. I think the prologues saying Magic and Bird 'saved the NBA' is a bit much. This really should just have been called the Magic vs. Bird story, and it didn't even finish that one.
I would have preferred more story exploring the (many) after effects shown as prologues, including especially Magic's HIV diagnosis, which has a major political impact as well as changing rules of the sport when anyone is bleeding.
Lastly, the Pat Riley storyline has a long way to go after this series ends, would have been nice to see how he and the Lakers part company. Guess they ended whatever the book this was based upon ended?
I would have preferred more story exploring the (many) after effects shown as prologues, including especially Magic's HIV diagnosis, which has a major political impact as well as changing rules of the sport when anyone is bleeding.
Lastly, the Pat Riley storyline has a long way to go after this series ends, would have been nice to see how he and the Lakers part company. Guess they ended whatever the book this was based upon ended?
A bittersweet ending for a great series.
raikkox18 September 2023
I'm from Argentina, and I've been a Lakers fan for some time now. I grew up watching Kobe, Shak and Fisher make a three peat, and I saw possibly the worst years of the franchise since the 70s.
I read about Showtime but never lived it. As someone born in 1993, I always found the 80s to be a beautiful decade. Luckily, I think this great series managed to portray all of its aspects in a great way. This included the rise of a great dynasty as the Lakers turned out to be.
This last season proved to be impressive based on at least two major factors: it was released weekly (which made more exciting to watch it as it you were eager to it) and the music was iconic. Also, the acting (in particularly from John C. Reilly, Adrien Brody and Jason Segel) was AMAZING.
However... this ending is bittersweet. Not because it showed the 1984 finals, but because there will not be another season. I am aware that even television is a business and if the profits are not up to it, it's going to be canceled. Be that as it may, a third season wrapping up and showing all titles would've been awesome.
Thanks to all who made this fabulous piece of entertainment. To me is 10/10, despite it's flaws.
Edit: after some thoughts, I'm changing my rating to 4/10. I freaking loved it, but it's complete BS that they ended the series at this point. I rewatch the episodes and they are MAGNIFICENT. So no point on ending it at its highest and at least not get the proper feedback.
I read about Showtime but never lived it. As someone born in 1993, I always found the 80s to be a beautiful decade. Luckily, I think this great series managed to portray all of its aspects in a great way. This included the rise of a great dynasty as the Lakers turned out to be.
This last season proved to be impressive based on at least two major factors: it was released weekly (which made more exciting to watch it as it you were eager to it) and the music was iconic. Also, the acting (in particularly from John C. Reilly, Adrien Brody and Jason Segel) was AMAZING.
However... this ending is bittersweet. Not because it showed the 1984 finals, but because there will not be another season. I am aware that even television is a business and if the profits are not up to it, it's going to be canceled. Be that as it may, a third season wrapping up and showing all titles would've been awesome.
Thanks to all who made this fabulous piece of entertainment. To me is 10/10, despite it's flaws.
Edit: after some thoughts, I'm changing my rating to 4/10. I freaking loved it, but it's complete BS that they ended the series at this point. I rewatch the episodes and they are MAGNIFICENT. So no point on ending it at its highest and at least not get the proper feedback.
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