Invisible Man

"Invisible Man" episode 7 of season 1 of "HBO's" "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" was one tense and drama filled episode that was interesting and entertaining. With head coach Jack McKinney still on the recovery, current head man Paul Westhead(Jason Segal) is having his doubts as the Lakers are on a losing streak of their current road trip. Paul feels the pressure as it's like owner Jerry Buss(super John C. Reilly) continues to look over his shoulder, and ex Lakers player and former head coach Jerry West continues to watch and have input and say with team owner Buss. And Westhead has ex Lakers player and current radio color commentator Pat Riley(Adrien Brody) come on board as an assistant. Magic Johnson in the meantime is becoming more and more of a stand out star and the road trip ends with a trip to Boston to face the rival Celtics, and one of Magic's old rivals that being rookie Larry Bird! The game and court action is fast paced and thrilling as the Lakers pull out a comeback close win in Beantown! Overall well done and well written episode showing the ups and down of the Lakers while they still progress on. This episode sets up the excitement for the remaining three episodes of a fantastic and entertaining series.

With head coach Jack McKinney still in hospital. Paul Westhead is in charge and he is floundering.

The Lakers have been losing to weak opposition. Pat Riley has been helping Westhead behind the scenes.

Buss is under pressure to replace Westhead. The latter knows this and gets Riley to quit the broadcast booth and become an assistant coach.

Meanwhile Magic Johnson will be taking on Larry Bird in Boston. It is going to be a hothouse atmosphere.

I did wonder if the Lakers ever played on Christmas day 1979. It seems not.

More importantly it should not had taken an entire episode to show that Westhead is not suited to be head coach. An example of a storyline being stretched.

Dramatic licence aside. I liked the conversation between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic's dad.

I've loved this series all they way up until this last episode. I'm still a fan of the series, but this last episode has really ticked me off.

I get it that that Hollywood has to bend the truth a little to tell a story, but almost everything that happen in this week's episode is completely false (Look at the Laker's 79-80 schedule/results).

Again, I'm still a fan of the series and will be tuning in next Sunday. Maybe just portray on screen what actually happen that season??