We knew it was going to happen sooner or later during these NBA Finals. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was going to have one of those games where anything he put up was going in. Game five this past Sunday night in Boston with the series tied 2 games each, Bryant turned up the heat on the Boston Celtics and nearly won this game by himself. Literally, by himself. Unfortunately, Bryant was all by himself and the Celtics took the all important game five 92-86 to take a 3-2 lead in this best of seven NBA Finals.
One thing I’ve noticed thus far in this series is the Celtics are without a doubt built on a team chemistry & mentality. All their players are key to their success. It’s a team effort on a nightly basis. Coach Doc Rivers stresses that on a daily basis. Some nights it’s Rajon Rondo & Kevin Garnett, other nights it’s Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and some nights it’s Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson & Tony Allen. In the three games won by the Celtics, it’s been one or more of these combination of players who have made it happen. Teamwork, hustle, effort, passion, aggression, & wanting it more. Win or lose, Boston plays with the “US” against you mentality.
TheLA Lakers are the defending NBA champions and are fighting to defend their title. They’re here because of Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. It’s no knock on Pau Gasol. He’s very, very goodand has been solid for the Lakers throughout the playoffs. Gasol puts forth the effort nightly, he’s just run into a buzz saw defense in Boston that makes him work his ass off every trip down the court. We all know about Ron Artests time bomb of a personality. He can still perform but you never know where his head is at and how hard he’ll play. Same goes for Lamar Odom. He’s an incredibly gifted player with uncanny skills but you never know what you’re getting each game. His brain cells and effort level seem to float in and out like, well like….hell, I don’t know yet. Andrew Bynum is a great young talent but his bum knee won’t allow him to help Kobe much at all. That leaves who to help Kobe Bryant win another NBA Title? Derek Fisher is a hell of an athlete and makes big plays more often than he doesn’t. He’s had several big moments already and something tells me he’s not done. We’ll see.
Where the Celtics might have to work harder at winning games than the Lakers, it’s really easier for them because of the teamwork. They don’t have to rely on “one guy”to win it or hit the big shot. They have several options each game. The Lakers lean on Kobe Bryant a lot. Why not, he’s the best in the game today and has proven time and time again he can carry his Lakers on his back and WIN IT FOR THEM.Kobe needs help big time. Pau Gasol has been great and he’ll need to be really good again for the next two games for the Lakers to repeat as champions. However, it’s not just Gasol. Kobe needs Odom, Artest, Jordan Farmer, Luke Walton, Shannon Brown, & Fisher to step up and help out. Teams wins championships, not players.
Game six tonight at the Staples center will be a Hollywood lick fest. Oh god, you’ll see more movie stars tonight than we’ve seen in the previous five games combined, Bank on it! How will the Lakers approach tonight’s game? More importantly, how will Kobe approach tonight’s game? Kobe goes at things in two ways. First, he’ll be the screw everyone, give me the freaking ball and I’m going to win this sucka myself. That works against most other teams in the league, but not against the Boston Celtics defense. They’re that good and Bryant knows it. Or, will we see the Bryant we’ve seen several times in the past where he is the assist man, rebounder, and defensive specialist early on? He gets everyone else involved in the flow of the game and then turns up the heat when it’s “KOBE TIME”.
Great teams usually beat great players. Can Phil Jackson light up enough incense and leave enough mind vitamins in the lockers for his other Lakers to step up and help Kobe? Can you become a team over night? Boston does not want a game seven at the Staples Center. No Celtic fan dead or alive wants a game seven in LA. That’s a tough win no matter how you slice it. I think the hay makers will be flying tonight from both teams. Both will land serious blows and will be staggered a few times throughout the game. What player gets off the deck? Who fights through the fouls, physical play, and momentum swings and emotions to make it happen?
As much as I’d love to see Boston win it tonight, I smell a game seven. Come on, how can you not want a game seven in the NBA Finals? It’s Boston versus LA, it’s supposed to end this way!
