Show Time: Inside the Lakers' Breakthrough Season

"Show Time" by Pat Riley is a comprehensive look at the 1986-87 season of the Los Angeles Lakers, chronicling the franchise's march to its fourth title of the 1980s. Riley incorporates a brief history of the Eighties Lakers leading up to the '86-'87 season. He recounts how Laker management held the core of the team together following the team's loss to Houston in the 1986 Western Conference Finals. Wisely, they made no trades that would have given them a Twin Towers lineup that was de rigueur at the time, but instead returned to their core philosophy of fast break basketball that ultimately won them the championship. As for L.A.'s heated rivalry with the Boston Celtics, whom they defeated in the Finals that year, Riley pulls no punches in airing his opinion of the Boston franchise and its management. The author reveals some of the inner workings of the team that led them back to the top, including the Career Best program that measured effort as well as hard statistical data. He discusses motivation and asserts that having a stable family situation is an important factor in one's professional performance. This book has application beyond sports, as it discusses principles that can be applied in the business world. To my knowledge, this was the first game-by-game, "journal" style look back at an NBA season put out in the 1980s (in the years after this book appeared, it seems that several others were released). Riley has an engaging writing style, and this book would be appreciated by anyone, regardless of rooting preference, who followed the NBA in the 1980s or is interested in the history of the league.

The 1987 Lakers IMO were without a doubt the greatest nba team ever assembled. Yes better than the 96 Bulls, 67 Sixers, or the 86 Celtics. The book describes the teams journey to the nba finals. And it states some intresting facts of how James Worthy almost got traded to Dallas. The Lakers finished the season with a 65-17 record. The went 15-3 in thr playoffs. Defeating the Nuggetes 3-0, the Warriors 4-1, the Sonics 4-0, and finally defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2. Must Have book for Showtime Laker Fans!!!!!

Other reviews miss the point. This is my most recommended book on the art of Management. How do you manage such a diverse group of world class atheletes! That is the problem! Look at what happened with Phil Jackson and Kobe and Shaq. Disaster. Pat Riley's book is a clear set of instructions on how to manage a small group of high-power folks - like a high-power software team. This belongs well dog-eared on the shelves of the quality manager along with the Foundation Trilogy and Harold Geneen's Managing. IMHO.

Pat Riley is the legendary NBA coach who lead the Los angeles Lakers to four NBA titles in the 80's. In 1984-85, the Lakers won their third title of the decade (second under Riley) over their hated rivals the Boston Celtics. There were high expectations for the 85-86 season, but they were knocked out of the playoffs by the underdog Houston Rockets and failed to defend their title. The book takes us through the 86-87 season in which Mr. Riley strives to get his team back on top. We get to see how an NBA season underfolds from the point of view of arguably the best coach in history. He gives an insider's thoughts on all-time greats like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. Mr. Riley has a wry sense of humor and his take on things makes this book a highly entertaining and insightful read.

Coach Riley provides basketball fans of all ages with a game-by-game chronicle of the Los Angeles Lakers' glorious 1986-87 season. Riles explains why complacency drove the previous year's team to an early exit in the Western Conference Finals and tells how he reversed their attitudes. He takes you inside the locker rooms and profiles the club's stars. Peter May's book, The Last Banner, claims that the 1985-86 Boston Celtics are the best team ever. Even though I haven't read this publication, I'd have to disagree with that statement. The Lakers were a very special team in '86-'87 that were on a mission. I would highly recommend for anyone to obtain a copy of this book. It certainly is a collector's item that I will forever treasure.