It’s an often-used expression to compare a non-boxing sporting event to a heavyweight fight, and it’s just as often incorrect. Yet the atmosphere, the ebb and flow, the style in which it was played made Thursday’s Lakers-Celtics matchup feel just
It’s an often-used expression to compare a non-boxing sporting event to a heavyweight fight, and it’s just as often incorrect.
Yet the atmosphere, the ebb and flow, the style in which it was played made Thursday’s Lakers-Celtics matchup feel just like the greatest of the great heavyweight slugfests of all-time.
The Celtics came out landing the hardest shots in the first three rounds, using their team defense and hustle to disrupt the Lakers’ offense and keep Kobe Bryant out of a steady rhythm. Boston held Los Angeles to 5 of 21 shooting in the opening quarter, moving together as one and establishing the physical style that would continue for the rest of the evening.
The Lakers countered by stepping up their own defense and focusing on making life difficult for the Boston perimeter players. Their increased effort saw L.A. score the first 11 points of the second quarter, erasing a nine-point deficit and grabbing a brief lead, making it clear this would be no one-sided bout. The Celtics weathered that storm and regrouped to take a six-point halftime lead, with the two teams combining for just 74 points in a brutally physical half of basketball.
Much like the first quarter, the Celtics came out of the locker room throwing haymakers that the Lakers seemed unprepared for, grabbing their biggest lead of the game at 49-36. They seemed to have L.A. all figured out. They were running extra defenders at Kobe Bryant, sending late double-teams to the post, moving with such speed and precision, they seemed to have an extra man on the court.
It was at that point that this battle turned once again and the Lakers showed their resiliency, counterpunching like champions against an opponent that had been setting the pace. L.A. managed to get back even on a Derek Fisher 3-pointer with 6:11 to play in the game, setting up what all hope for in a highly-anticipated Game 7.
Both teams delivered in that closing stanza, neither hitting the canvas, neither slowing down its pace, each team connecting with combinations and heavy-handed blows. One would knock down a three, the other would come down and respond.
The Celtics, with all their experience and all their future Hall of Famers, ended up being the team to blink first, beginning to unravel — just slightly — by giving the Lakers too many chances at the free-throw line and not forcing difficult opportunities on each offensive possession.
Ron Artest capped off what may have been his best, and will certainly be his most-remembered, game in a Laker uniform by connecting on a 3-pointer with 60 seconds to play, giving the Lakers a 79-73 lead.
Artest held the Lakers in this game when the Celtics were threatening to run away with it. His defensive pressure and activity created the only easy chances the Lakers had all night and took precious possessions away from the Celtics. He easily swung this game by 12-15 points.
It was this performance which seals last season’s signing as an ultimate success. Nobody can further question the decision to bring in Artest and let Trevor Ariza leave town after the effort he put forth Thursday night. The entirety of the five-year contract has already paid its dividends.
Bryant may have also forever changed his legacy because it was his lack of offense that defined his effort. His second half was all about hustling and hitting the boards. Where he may have forced shots in the past, he stayed within the offense and got the ball into the post. He pulled down 15 rebounds and played terrific help defense.
The knock on Bryant has been that when things start to go bad in the postseason, he has either given up or begun to play just for himself.
Thursday, he did neither. And he took home the Finals MVP and his fifth NBA championship because of it.
Artest, Pau Gasol — who had a monster second half and finished with 18 huge rebounds — and Fisher ended up being the offensive shining stars in key spots, mainly because Bryant allowed them to shine on a night when he had slightly faded.
It wasn’t a knockout, as the Celtics were still swinging at the final bell, but the Lakers are undisputed champions in a unanimous decision.
