LA Lakers win NBA finals for 16th time
Lesson learned. Do not doubt a coach that has 10 NBA titles, a 47-0 record when winning the first game of a series and a four-time champion on his team.
It took the LA Lakers five games to do it but they finally managed to beat the Boston Celtics in a game seven in the NBA finals. Kobe Bryant once again led the Lakers in points scored with 23 and Ron Artest saved his best performace for last scoring 20 points as the Lakers came back from a 13-point deficit to win 83-79.
Bryant won the Finals MVP award averaging 28.6 points per game, 3.9 assists, 6 rebounds and won his fifth NBA title with the Lakers, putting him on par with Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Despite denying all postseason that beating the Celtics will be like beating any other team, Bryant admitted this title means the most.
"This one is by far the sweetest, because it's them, this was the hardest one by far. I wanted it so bad, and sometimes when you want it so bad, it slips away from you. My guys picked me up,” Bryant said.
Bryant went just 6-24 from the floor but did add 15 rebounds and was picked up by Pau Gasol who added 19 points and 18 rebounds. Artest, who was the only player on the Lakers team not to have won a championship, praised the team effort.
“I had 20 points, and I still think we did this as a team, we fought together. This was one of the best games in, I don't even know, man,” Artest said.
“I don't want to be in a game like this, where the game can go either way. ... I'm just like, OK, what did I get myself into?”
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson won his fifth ring with LA and 11th overall, but with his contract about to expire, this could be his last.
"I've got to take a deep breath. I've got to take some time to think about this," Jackson said, wearing a satisfied grin underneath his championship hat. "This was great. I'll wait to make that decision in a week."
If Bryant has anything to do with it Jackson will be the coach next year.
"He knows how bad I want him back, I’ve been openly blunt about how much I want him back,” Bryant said.
After leading by 13 points the Celtics struggled to close out the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Kevin Garnett added 17. Ray Allen once again struggled from range going 2-7 and made just 3-14 shots. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was paid tribute to his team and the 2010 champions.
"Listen, give the Lakers credit they were terrific,” River said.
"There's a lot of crying in that locker room, a lot of people who care. I don't think there was a dry eye, a lot of hugs, a lot of people feeling awful. That's a good thing, [it] showed a lot of people cared."
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