User Reviews

Episode 9 "Acceptable Loss" from season 1 of "HBO's" "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" was again one drama filled and well done exciting episode. The Lakers are closing out the season winning and owner Jerry Buss must make the decision as to hire back his old coach or stick with his current duo of Paul Westhead(Jason Segel) and Pat Riley(Adrien Brody) Jerry decides to keep the wins rolling and sticks with Paul and Pat and this chemistry helps the Lakers win the western conference. However owner Jerry Buss deals with his own personal and tragic loss of his mom the best way he can. Overall this was a well done drama filled episode as it sets up well for the season finale of what has been a fine fantastic series.

The LA Lakers are approaching the playoffs. The managerial situation has not been sorted.

Everyone wants to defer the decision about Jack McKinney returning to coach after being passed fit by the medics

Jerry Buss whose mother is dying wants Jerry West to decide. He wants to defer as well.

Jack McKinney is not really fit to return as Buss figures when he goes to see Jack.

In the meantime Pat Riley thinks he will be cut from the management team. Paul Westhead is unwilling to risk his friendship with Jack.

The episode drags the Riley/Jack McKinney situation. It is engrossing how the chemistry between Riley and Westhead has developed.

More riveting was Spencer Haywood's descend into drugs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tries to talk him to go straight. Ultimately it is left to his teammates to decide his fate.

Nowadays you hope teams would have better care for their players.

For the Lakers, results are going well. It is all set for the finale. Maybe Buss might even break even.