Lavin’s Sweet-Nothing Finale

For seven years he has been canned by commentators, booted by writers, axed by alumni.

For seven years, UCLA detractors have wondered what it would require to rid themselves of their amazingly -- and annoyingly -- resilient basketball coach.

During the final wrenching moments of his final game Friday night, they finally found out.

In front of thousands of jeering witnesses, Steve Lavin was, at last, fired by the only person who could ever really do the job.

He was fired by Steve Lavin.

When Dan Guerrero holds a news conference sometime in the next couple of days to announce that Lavin has been sent away with $1.2 million and some nutty memories, the Bruin athletic director will not have to offer explanations or rationalizations.

He will simply have to point to Friday night.

Typically, one day after his greatest Bruin coaching victory, Lavin suffered one of his toughest defeats, the Bruins’ 75-74 loss to Oregon in the second round of the Pacific 10 Conference tournament.

As evidence, the only evidence he needs, Guerrero can simply run a tape of the game’s final 3 minutes 12 seconds. During that time, the Bruins were outscored, 13-1.

Guerrero can then ask viewers if, even once during those final minutes, they can spot UCLA running a play.

Guerrero can ask them if, on a final possession with 17 seconds remaining, Ray Young’s one-on-one fade-away runner in traffic would qualify as appropriate.

Guerrero can then point to the thousands who showed up at Staples Center thrilled about UCLA’s upset of top-ranked Arizona on Thursday, the thousands who spent much of Friday’s game on their feet joyously cheering.

Those same thousands ended the game so angry at the coach, they booed him as he left the court first ... and then applauded his players who followed.

It is over now, for good, for real, no more upsets, no more jokes, no more Sweet anythings.

After Friday night, at least everyone will know why.

But in case Guerrero does need words, they were supplied to him by Jason Kapono, the sad senior who finished with only five points while missing eight of 10 shots.

“Adversity pretty much sums up our program,” he said, shaking his head. “Consistency probably wouldn’t. But adversity, criticism and obstacles are the three words that come to mind from my four years here.”

It will be Guerrero’s job to find someone who can turn those three words into learning, maturing and uplifting.

Lavin was always good for one of those three attributes but never at the same time, and not this season until it was too late.

He conducted his final postgame news conference while quietly fighting back tears.

When asked if he expected to be fired, he said, “Let’s put it this way. I’m not up for any Pac-10 or national coach of the year honors.”

When asked if he had already been told, he said, “I’ve been told a lot of things.”

When later told that he had been answering all questions about his UCLA tenure in the past tense, he said, “Yes, they have been. That’s a good observation.”

His comments about himself were classy, filled with words like “tremendous opportunity” and “gift.”

His concern for seniors Ray Young and Kapono was admirable, as he said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do something to help us win this game down the stretch for these guys.”

He was dignified and graceful where others might have been angry and bitter. He answered every last question as he always has, proving for the final time that he really was the same guy after a win or a loss, even the biggest of all losses.

If only he could have run his team the way he ran the press room.

If only, once Oregon began pressing in the final minutes Friday, he could have helped his team break that press, or hold the ball longer in the front court, or take smarter shots.

Not only will his final legacy include the smart plays against Arizona but the bad pass, traveling violation, airball and failed alley-oop in the end against Oregon.

“It was all a blur,” said Young.

It shouldn’t have been.

“We were up 12 ... I can’t believe we lost,” said Kapono.

Many others can.

And so Steve Lavin leaves UCLA with an appropriate one-two punch, the upset victory and the upsetting defeat, exhilaration and despair, seven years rolled up into two days.

“Everyone said they were going to fire him midway through my freshman year,” said Kapono, shaking his head. “In the years since then, it’s been like, every week you show up and say, ‘OK, is Coach Lavin still here?’ ”

Not anymore.

Bill Plaschke can be reached at bill.plaschke@latimes.com.