So, I know how I'm supposed to feel.

So the Lakers are NBA Champions again.  Yawn.  Am I bored?  Well, yeah a little.  Am I a hater?  No.  In fact, I’m a Laker fan.  But not the kind that up and decided to become a fan a few weeks back.  I grew up in L.A., smiling about Magic and the Showtime era Lakers.  But maybe that’s my problem.  Maybe that’s the thing that was such a downer for me about this championship.  In a quick, disappointing five game series, the score line read Lakers 4, Magic 1.  I hate to admit it, but last years NBA finals was pretty much the same thing, with the Celtics stomping all over the Lakers in an embarrassing rout of a series.  With respect to last year’s finals, this title was a sweet little bit of redemption for the Lakers and their fans, no doubt about it.  So that part was nice.  I can admit it.  But all these monstrous blowouts in the finals are kind of bumming me out…man.  In the dying minutes of game five, I actually found myself feeling a little sorry for the Magic. Maybe it was just Rafer Alston’s tears. 

Rafer Alston played his heart out but came up short.

Maybe I was sorry for basketball itself, and all those neutral fans out there, that just wanted to tune in and watch a great series.  A championship is a championship, I know, but something was missing.  I know that might sound a little greedy, but what can I say?  When it’s true, it’s true.  I was trying to pinpoint what it was for a few days, and I think I’ve finally figured it out.   The thing that I’m missing are the days when you turned on the NBA finals and you couldn’t take your eyes off the screen for a second, because every moment, every point, and every elbow seemed to matter.  I miss those great seesaw battles, with two evenly matched teams, two clear stars.  I miss Magic and Bird.  I miss the two evenly matched supporting casts they had, willing to battle until the last second for that slim advantage that could make or break a game.  Back in the day, a slim advantage actually could make or break a game in the finals.  Nowadays it seems like every other game is a blowout.  Nowadays the most exciting battles in the postseason take place in the series that lead up to the finals, rather than during the championship games. Games two, three, and four of this series were great to watch, without a doubt.  And that being said, it would be hard to deny that Derek Fisher’s clutch shots in game four provided a couple of stunning moments.  But by and large, this series was not anywhere near a fantastic finals to watch. 

Derek Fisher hit some big three pointers.

All in all, I think this series means more to Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson than to anyone else.  Kobe took one giant step, out from under Shaq’s big shadow with this title.  He also took another big step in his attempt to chase down all the greatness that Michael Jordan represents.  Even if Kobe were to win two more titles, to tie Michael’s six, there are always going to be folks who complain that Kobe’s first three were really Shaq’s anyway.  It’s kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation, but you can tell that Kobe is going to fight tooth and nail to match or even trump Mike by a title if he can.  As for Phil, he’s reached the Zenith of Zen with ten.  He’s got one more than Red Auerbach now, so he’s already in the spot that Kobe wants to be in.  I’m betting that both of them will smell more titles and come back for a few more seasons, as long as Phil’s health permits.  Why?  Because when you’re on top it feels good, and if you want to stay on top you’ve just got to keep going, even if it gets a little boring from time to time.

Kobe and Phil could both come back to win a few more of these.

This will be the first of two games between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, for a repeat of their showdown in last seasons finals, where the Celtics mopped the floor the with the Lakers. Celtics are on an absolute tear this season, with the best start in NBA history at 27-2, and this game will really be a test of how each team stacks up this season. Celtics are looking for their 20th win in a row against an offensively-charged Lakers team, that is 23-5 overall, and 14-1 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

To start the game, Paul Pierce, of the Celtics, and Kobe Bryant, of the Lakers, are doing whatever they want offensively. Rajon Rondo, of the Celts, picks up two quick fouls within the first three minutes of the game, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers elects to keep him in the game. Neither team is doing anything on the offensive glass to start the game, nor are they containing dribble penetration. First quarter is pretty even, with the Celtics up 24 – 23. Bryant finished the first with 10 points, even though Ray Allen played him extremely well on defense. Neither big man – Kevin Garnett, of the Celtics, or Pau Gasol, of the Lakers – had much of a first quarter. Celtics only starter on the floor to start the second quarter is Pierce, while the Lakers have starters Bryant and Andrew Bynum. The Lakers also have Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom on the floor who are both easily starters if they played on any other team in the NBA.

Doc Rivers Yelling at Celtcis (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

What I love about Ariza, besides his athleticism and court awareness is his hustle. After a huge hustle play, from Ariza, the Staples Center crowd went absolutely nuts. Bryant and Allen are shooting lights out to start the second quarter. Two beautiful alley-oop play from Rondo to Garnett quiet the crowd momemtarily. Near the end of the half the Lakers finally start getting some offensive rebounds, and start playing a more physical brand of basketball. Very clear that when the starters for both teams are on the floor, the Celtics have the edge, but when the benches are out there, the Lakers were outplaying them. Strange that the Celtics first trip to the follow line was with 13.5 seconds left in the first half while they average 29.6 per game. The Lakers clearly out-hustled and played better defense than the Celtics. Bryant finishes the first half with 16 points, and Garnett has 12 points. Going into half-time, the Lakers up 51 – 46.

To start the third, Luke Walton dishes a pretty bounce pass to a back-door cutting Bryant who slams the ball home, energizing the crowd. Pierce starts extremely hot on the offensive side and playing inspired, while the Lakers are getting a nice lift from Bynum’s physical play. As the third quarter reaches the half-way point, the Celtics are playing a bit sloppy on both ends of the floor, with missed assignments on defense, and terrible passing on offense. What is impressing me the most about the Lakers is their beautiful ball movement, and their ability to play good defense without fouling. After the Celtics show some signs of unraveling, Doc Rivers takes a well-placed time out, to get his team back on track. This leads to a 15-5 run from the Celtics, where Pierce and Allen start really taking over on offense, and the Lakers are not getting any second chances on their trips down on offense. To close the third, Odom hits two three pointers back-to-back, which is pretty unusual for the 6′ 10″ forward. Lakers reclaim their lead, with a 9-3 run, with Bryant on the bench to end the third. Going into the fourth quarter, Lakers are up 71 – 67. Now Phil Jackson, Lakers head coach, is only 12 minutes away from his 1,000th career victory.

Andrew Bynum Contesting Paul Pierce's Layup Attempt (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

Celtics intelligently start the fourth by running their offense through Allen, to bring it within two points three minutes into the fourth, and a few minutes later it is as though they forgot about Allen. Neither team is really in sync offensively half-way through the fourth; they are playing with lots of emotion, but the skill level has gone down drastically. With under five minutes left in the game, Ariza charges up the crowd with yet another huge hustle play, diving out-of-bounds and saving the ball. Garnett is having a big fourth quarter on both end of the floor, while Kobe Bryant is relatively quiet. Under three minutes to go, and the game is dead even, meaning that every trip down the floor is that much more critical. Ray Allen has lost his range in the fourth quarter, throwing up more three point bricks. Gasol turning the heat up to bring the Lakers up by four with two minutes left in the game; Lakers on a 6-0 run. The big men for both teams are taking over, with Gasol and Garnett trading off brilliant plays. Gasol scores the Lakers last 7 points, with all three of his baskets coming off of assists from Bryant, putting the Lakers up 5 with 1:38 to go. Gasol comes up big again with a huge block on a Ray Allen three point attempt, which essentially caps the game. Lakers finish the game on a 13 – 2 run, and get the win 92 – 83.

Celtics winning streak ends at 19, and Jackson gets to his 1,000th career victory the fastest in NBA history. It was incredible hearing how loud the crowd was getting in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. Lakers win this game on the shoulders of Gasol’s big plays and Bryant’s excellent ability to spread the offense. This wasn’t a playoff game, but it definitely felt like it, and it came down to the defense and hustle play from the Lakers to pull off this huge victory. Garnett played extremely well for the Celtics for the entire game, but Pierce and Allen definitely tapered off in the fourth quarter, when it really mattered. Nonetheless, if both teams keep up this type of intensity for the rest of the season, there’s no doubt that they will have a re-match in the finals.