Laker fans convinced their team can come back from 0-4 deficit against the Mavericks
By ONANTZIN News
2011-05-09
Los Angeles, CA -- Following the Lakers' game 4 crushing defeat against the Dallas Mavericks, Laker fans across Los Angeles said they were still convinced that their team could overcome a 0-4 deficit and defeat the Mavericks. Game 4, in which the Lakers lost 122-86 to the Mavs, had just ended when fans were already gathering outside Staples Center, expressing their support and belief that the 3-peat was still within reach. "We can't start losing our cool now. The key is to stay calm and take it one game at a time.", said David Garcia, who has been a staunch Laker supporter all his life.
Others outside staples center shared the same sentiment, and added that true Laker fans still believe, unlike those who have given up and think that the Lakers' season is over. "When they come back to LA for game 5, Lamar and Pau will finally step up and raise their game... it's ON!", said another fan, who was covered in purple and gold. When told that the Lakers had been swept and there would be no game 5, the fans went on as if they hadn't heard anything, screaming and shouting their support for the Lakers.
Psychiatrists say that this is the worst case of mass denial they have ever seen. They hope that by studying these fans, new insights can be made into how denial affects groups of individuals. Already, psychiatrist have found that most fans think Kobe made the shot at the end of game 1 to win the game. "It's as if they were in so much disbelief when Kobe missed, that instead of accepting the truth, they managed to convince themselves and one another that Kobe actually made the shot. This offers a possible explanation as to why so many fans are convinced that there will be a game 5", said the lead psychiatrist conducting the study.
When asked about those who are not in denial, such as George Lopez and other celebrities who are often seen in the front row during Laker games, the psychiatrists said it's widely known that the true fans are those found in the mid and upper rows, while the front row attendees are not true fans and therefore the effects of denial would not apply to them – the exception being Jack Nicholson, who is a true fan and is said to be sitting outside Staples Center at this precise moment, waiting for game 5.
"We have heard of winning at all costs, but never at the cost of mental sanity", said the top psychiatrist.