The 2010 NBA Finals was the most hyped series I have seen in decades. The incessant chatter about rivalries, legacies, benches, refs. All this was good for the NBA, generating the highest viewership since 1998. And, as was expected, the final outcome came down to Game 7. NBA commentators and aficionados were pontificating on the outcomes and match ups, and what the Superstars had to do to pull a victory. All this made me so nervous, I have no nails left!
And, what a Game 7 it was. Although the game was played in Los Angeles, history was against the Lakers, luck was against the Lakers. It is widely accepted that when games are tied two a piece, whoever wins Game 5 wins the series. Boston had won the previous four Game 7s against the Lakers. The Lakers blew away the Celtics in Game 6, so it was obvious the Celtics were out for blood. If anyone holds rivalries as the primary reason for winning, it is the Celtics and their rabid fans who started the “Beat LA” chants in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the level of Celtics’ energy at the beginning of the game was any indication, they came fully prepared to win it all. With several missed opportunities by the Lakers, it seemed that luck was against them.
Kobe couldn’t make shots, Pau uncharacteristically missed free throws. The four leaf clovers ominously grinned, daring the Lakers to wrest the title from the Celtics and the spirits of NBA greats who once donned the proud uniform. As we later learned, the weight of the momentous game and its place in history was too much for Kobe to bear.
The common theme that underscored Game 7 was uncharacteristic. Ron Artest played the biggest role in ensuring the Laker victory. While everyone else was wound tight, Ron Ron remained cool as a cucumber. For someone who had never been to the Finals before, he acted like he had played it all his life. For the Celtics, Kenrick Perkins being out became a blessing in disguise because Rasheed Wallace was even more formidable. As I mentioned before, uncharacteristically, Sheed was the calmest person on that team and broke up the tangle between Artest and Pierce. Normally, Sheed would be adding fuel to the fire. He put up a valiant effort to help his team offensively and defensively.
Uncharacteristically, Kobe passed the ball to Artest in the closing minutes of the game. Ron makes a 3 pointer. Kobe, uncharacteristically misses a shot, Pau rebounds and passes it back to Kobe who is fouled. This time, Kobe makes both free throws. Uncharacteristically, Rondo makes a 3 pointer. The Lakers are up by 2. Phil Jackson inserts Vujacic into the game. He gets the ball and is fouled. 11.2 seconds left. With ice flowing through his veins, Sasha cleanly nails both deciding the game once and for all. In a weak attempt at the other end, Rondo tries to repeat a trey, but falls short and Pau grabs the rebound. Pierce was MIA in the final minutes, as was Ray Allen and Garnett.
To quote the legendary Coach K of Duke, “A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. ” As numbers are crunched and numbers are tossed around, the most important number to underscore this game will be 5. Yes, Five. 5 Rings for Kobe, 5 players playing as a team willing themselves to win. 5 mins at the end that the Celtics seemed weak, vulnerable and unable to muster a collective power to clinch a victory. 5th time the Celtics and Lakers met in a Game 7. This time, the Lakers won. They won as they learned an important lesson about trust. Kobe, who had been placed in super human status by his team and fans became human and he learned to trust his team mates to deliver.
Kevin Garnett, the 5th overall pick in the NBA Draft of 1995 came up empty again – the last time he lost in a Game 7 to the Lakers was in 2004 when the T-Wolves lost the Western Conference Finals. In sharp contrast, the Lakers’ beloved emotional leader Derek Fisher stepped comfortably as the clutch player replacing former Lakers No.5 “Big Shot Rob” Horry. Meanwhile, somewhere in Queensbridge, fans are cheering for their local hero Ron Artest, who stepped up on to the game’s biggest stage and helped cement the Laker legacy and Kobe’s 5th ring. In Spain, fans are celebrating Pau Gasol who helped the Lakers win their first title in 2009, 5 years after the dream team was dismantled and a new team was built. Just for good measure, Pau stepped out strong against the Celtics in 2010 to avenge the 2008 loss and redeemed his image. While doing so, he proved that basketball is a team sport and when a team respects and loves each other the way the new Lakers do, they will look out for each other and support each other in moments of weakness. For, the harder one works, the luckier one gets. And for that, they get a high five from me.
That’s my opinion, what’s yours?
