An Ugly Game, But Beautiful Finish
Kobe Wins 5th Title and 2nd Finals MVP
It was ugly, repulsive, as hideous a basketball game as you’ve ever seen.
But it was oh, so beautiful at the same time.
It was like suffering through 80 minutes of the worst movie of all time, only to have the final 10 minutes grab you like you’ve never been grabbed before, then rushing out of the theater feeling on top of the world.
It was Kobe Bryant at his very worst, a tired, laboring, uncertain shell of himself through the biggest game of his life. Bryant missed 18 of his 24 shots and 5 of 11 of his free throws; he had four turnovers and a handful of other tentative plays that resulted in empty possessions.
Yet he was at his best when it counted most, mustering everything he had to help carry the Lakers over the Boston Celtics in a tense, anxious, restless fourth quarter, scoring 10 of his 23 points down the stretch and grabbing every rebound as the Lakers overcame their hated nemesis 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday at Staples Center.
The difference?
Bryant sitting down to start the fourth quarter, a decision by Phil Jackson to settle his superstar down.
“He was a little too animated, trying too hard,” Jackson said. “He’s a guy who can try hard and get things done by sheer will. This wasn’t one of those nights.”
But by the time Bryant returned, he was ready to help carry the Lakers.
“He came back and gave us the help we needed down the stretch,” Jackson said. “He found himself frustrated out there for a number of minutes. Little things, like the ball coming out of his hands. Not being able to complete plays, things like that.
“But he stayed with it and helped his team with the game.”
Bryant was named the MVP of the series; an honor achieved more for the body of his work in this series than what he did Thursday. But when he raised his MVP trophy afterward in front of an adoring crowd, he did so proudly and triumphantly.
Kobe Bryant celebrates after winning Game 7 of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center vs. the Celtics. The Lakers beat the Celtics 83-79 to win their second consecutive NBA Championship and Kobe’s second consecutive NBA Finals MVP. (L.A. Daily News: Hans Gutknecht)
And in doing so, he finally acknowledged what everyone knew to be true, but something he was so reluctant to admit through this splendid final.
Bryant fully understood the history between the Lakers and the Celtics, and he respected it and embraced it.
He pretended to ignore the implications of this great rivalry over the course of the series, never once showing a hint of awareness for the rivalry or an ounce of passion over the possibility of beating the Celtics while wearing a Lakers uniform.
But deep down inside, he understood it, was aware of it and wanted a victory over Boston in the worst way. And when he got it, when the championship was finally his and as he clutched his championship trophy at midcourt of Staples Center, he acknowledged the obvious.
This was the most memorable of the five championships he’s won with the Lakers over the years, offering a tip of the cap to the Celtics and the clear place they hold deep in the soul of every Lakers fan and every player that has ever donned the purple and gold.
“This is the sweetest,” Bryant said.
Everything else, the lack of recognition for the rivalry or the stakes or the Lakers’ disappointing history over the Celtics, who had beaten them in the Finals nine times in 11 meetings over the years and all four times the series went the distance, was just posturing.
Confetti falls as Kobe Bryant celebrates on top of the scorers table after wining the championship. He averaged 28.6 points and 8 rebounds on his way to the MVP award. (L.A. Daily News: John McCoy)
“I was just lying to you guys,” he said “You guys know what kind of basketball historian I am. I know ever series the Lakers have every played in, every Celtic series, every statistic. But I had to focus on the series.
“We had to downplay the rivalry through the course of the series so we could focus on what we had to do.”
But he didn’t do it alone, not by a long shot.
Ron Artest, so often looking out of sorts in the triangle offense in his first year with the Lakers, finished with 20 points and five steals while doing his usual defensive job on Paul Pierce.
“Ron was the MVP of the game,” Jackson said.
Pau Gasol agreed. “I’m so happy for Ron the way he played this game,” Gasol said. “He was very productive and confident and aggressive. He was a huge part of our success.”
So was Gasol, who has listened for two years about how he was too soft to stand up to a tough, physical team like the Celtics after the Lakers fell to Boston in the 2008 Finals.
Gasol finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds Thursday, dispelling forever any talk of him being too soft.
The 7-foot Spaniard has been with the Lakers 2 1/2 seasons now — getting rescued from the Memphis Grizzlies in one of the all-time great steal trades of all time — and gone to three NBA Finals, winning two of them.
Kobe shoots as Boston Celtics’ Ray Allen defends during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. (L.A. Daily News: Hans Gutknecht)
And he realizes what a charmed life he’s leading in the NBA.
“For me it’s incredible,” Gasol said “It’s like I’m living in a different dimension, right? If I had a genie and asked for a wish this would be my wish for my life and my basketball career.”
Together, Gasol and the rest of the Lakers carried Bryant, keeping the game close enough to give their superstar teammate a chance to help win it down the stretch.
For Bryant, it was a position he’s never been in — wanting something so much he almost tried too hard to get it.
“I just wanted it so bad. So So bad and on top of that I was beat,” Bryant said. “I was really really tired and the more I tried to push the more it got away from me. I’m so thankful for my teammates keeping it close.
“My guys picked me up, big time.”
And so did Staples Center, which was as loud and crazy as it’s ever been.
“I can’t say enough about these fans,” Bryant said.
They lifted him, lifted the Lakers, who rewarded them with the 16th championship in franchise history.
It wasn’t pretty, but it sure was beautiful.
The “Black Mamba” Kobe Bryant smiles as he holds the championship trophy during the celebration of his fifth NBA championship. (L.A. Daily News: Hans Gutknecht)