Basketball Update: Kobe and the “new” Lakers smooth progress
Kobe Bryant loved by so many today was one the players, who played for the LA Lakers and still does. During the summer of 2007 however, he said that he was unhappy. This being due to how the things were going on in the Lakers. The Lakers after tasting success with the duo of Shaq and Kobe had to face two seasons that left them in the middle of nowhere.
Kobe came up with the thought that the team needed to be rebuilt and that there had to be trades and other players who had to come and play along with him. If the Lakers wanted to achieve, what they had in the previous years. His idea of trade and demands would have decided his future as a Lakers player or not.
After an occurrence of twenty demands and reversals, Kobe finally came up with the decision that he was going to stay with the Lakers. Kobe playing not only enjoyed with the team but won games on regular basis. The guy who still was as valuable as gold, managed the statistics of 26-11 after the first 11 games along with his Lakers team.
After having a good season, in which they managed to come up with more than expected, they lost Andrew Bynum, who was an essential part of this new Los Angeles Lakers team. He was out of the team due to the knee injury he sustained. The injury led to need for the Lakers to sign some new giants in the middle. The Lakers came up with signing the lanky basketball player from Spain, Pau Gasol. Lakers also signed Kwame Brown, both proving to be of much use on the court.
When Gasol took part in his first game, Kobe was the one who was out of the court. No! Not because of any issues, but due to dislocating his little finger. However, the game saw the Lakers score many times and each time a new player. This somewhat variety of points led to the Lakers manage to come out on top without much of Kobe’s assistance.
Gasol and Kobe both put up fabulous performances and managed to win 27 out of their last 34 games. With these outstanding efforts, Lakers surely showed that they were contenders for the title. The season saw the Kobe win his very first MVP award also.
The Lakers managed to put up the best records in the Western Conference but dint manage to win the title. Their rivals however came up with the best records of the season, the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics had earned their way to the top by playing in the 20 out of the 21 games for winning the Eastern Conference. The Lakers, on the other hand blazed through the Western Conference with the record of 12-3.
The open moments that came during the game, showed the rivalry of the two teams. This was the 11th time that they had met in the NBA final.
The first game of the final saw the Celtics come out on top. The game saw Willis Reed pretend to get hurt badly and then took part in the game later. For this act he was nicknamed “ The Truth” further humiliating him.
The second game saw the Celtics again rise to the top and come out on top with Leon Powe breaking the unofficial record for the favourable number of foul calls, previously being Jordon. The third game saw the Lakers in need for a win. Being in LA, the Lakers and Kobe put up a splendid performance and came up with a win at home.
The fourth game saw the Lakers lead it for much of the first half. It seemed as if the Lakers would tie the series but suddenly at the end of the game, it was the Boston Celtics. The Celtics now within the touching distance of the title victory and wining for the 17th time needed just one game. The Lakers just managed beat the hungry and confident Celtics and put the series score to 3-2.
The next game saw the Lakers in rugged form. They dint show any confidence, no rebounds and no shooting. Everything they did turned out to be disastrous. The Celtics showing more hunger and determination won the game and sealed their 17th title.
Today we see a repeat of those games but the result different, after the 3-2 lead Celtics dint win it but lost the NBA finals to the Lakers.
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