BY DAVID THORPE

2020 hasn’t gone how anyone wanted it to go. But the Lakers made it work.

Almost nothing went as planned. The front office is not run by Magic Johnson, who quit in a bizarre scene. The team is not coached by Tyronn Lue, who reportedly felt insulted by the team’s offer. The Lakers did not sign Kawhi Leonard. DeMarcus Cousins is not the starting center. Avery Bradley didn’t stop the opponent’s best player in the playoffs. 

Kobe Bryant is not here to celebrate.