[The 1990-1991 Lakers were an excellent team.
They finished the regular season with a 57-25 record, but due to divisional rules, they were ranked behind the Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Suns, landing in fourth place in the Western Conference.
This was an awkward ranking, as it meant the Lakers were likely to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the semifinals.
Don Nelson entered his fourth season as head coach of the Lakers, and this mad genius was constantly seeking innovation and change.
This season, he strengthened the team's defense, demanding that every player take responsibility on that end of the court. Anyone who was careless or inattentive during defensive plays would be substituted out by Nelson.
On the other hand, Nelson continued to push the envelope offensively. Beyond fast breaks, he rolled out a "super-sized" lineup where all five players were at least 6'8" tall.
