NBA Finals: Another Historic Matchup

I feel so very fortunate to have been able to watch Game 7 of the NBA finals live in Delhi. Granted the game started at 6:30 AM Friday morning, but never-the-less, I was able to relish in the joy of another Lakers-Celtics matchup. As I literally stood watching the entire second half, which is unlike Lakers fans who are so very “laid back”, the Indian family that I live with, I’m sure now know that I am completely crazy, as all I did was cheer, loudly and say “yes” quite a lot. For me as a life long Lakers fan and having grown up in Los Angeles, game 7 meant many things to me.

LA Lakers 2010 Champions

The Lakers, although 3-9 versus the C’s in the finals, continue to break the C’s mystique and erase the memories of Red Auerbach chomping on a victory cigar. Now 1-4 in Game 7′s with the C’s the Lakers have finally broken through and showed the NBA just how tough they can be. As a child, growing up in Los Angeles, there were so many times that I literally cried as the C’s won again and again over my favorites, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain. Between 1959-85, the Lakers and C’s met eight times in the finals with the C’s winning all. But in more recent times the Lakers have won three out of four.

Game 7′s are always exciting and they can go either way. I truly felt that this Game 7 could have been won by either team. The C’s even without their center, played so valiantly. I wish that the Lakers would have stopped the C’s players from going into their locker room after the game and asked them to come on the championship platform with them. In my estimation, and this takes a lot for a die hard Lakers fan to say, both teams deserved to win. I also wish that Pau Gasol would have shared the MVP trophy with Kobe Bryant, because without Pau there would have been no championships. Since Pau has joined the Lakers they have been in three consecutive finals. Make no mistake that Kobe is the best, but Pau has been the difference maker in the Lakers and especially in this series showing his toughness and resolve which he lacked during the 2008 series.

There was no way that the Lakers were to be denied winning back to back championships, and hopefully this can become a three peat as the Lakers of 2000-2002 were able to accomplish. (Ah, and another championship t-shirt for my collection).

I’m not sure if the C’s can get back to the finals, and a lot of this will depend on where the free agents of 2010 decide to make their new homes. In getting to the finals the C’s did what the Orlando Magic had done the previous year in beating both Cleveland and Boston without homecourt advantage. I was impressed with the C’s defense but as all writers keep saying the C’s are getting older. This, however, didn’t seem to make much of a difference in the playoffs until the very end. Garnett just didn’t seem to be there in the 4th quarter of game 7 and Pierce, a great player, didn’t have enough support. Rajon Rondo just continues to improve, but needs to be able to overcome the best defensive players. Phil Jackson was brilliant in putting Kobe on Rondo, but in future years I expect Rondo to be able to run opposing teams ragged no matter who is guarding him. Davis was nowhere to be seen once the series shifted back to Los Angeles.

As far as the future for the Lakers, it continues to look bright, especially if Kobe and Bynum can come back at full strength from their off season operations. Some of this also depends on Ron Ron and how his psychiatrist helps him to function. (I was amazed at Ron Ron’s comments after the game as he thanked his psychiatrist along with everybody else). Of course Phil Jackson’s decison as to whether he will remain the coach will have a huge bearing on how the Lakers do during the 2010-11 season. Other questions also remain with the bench and who the Lakers end up signing, as well as whether Derek Fisher can continue to be a big play option.

At least for now the Lakers are champions again. I’m looking forward to the draft, the free agent signings and all of the other things that make basketball my favorite sport. And, at least for now, the Boston fans can relish in the fact that the Boston Red Sox have taken two straight from the Los Angeles Dodgers in baseball. Yes, there are other sports and I’ll follow baseball and the WNBA but I’m already counting down until October when the NBA season will start again!