The Laker's Championship Game v. The Boston Celtics

The story reads that on Christmas Day in 2008, two great teams, the Los Angeles Lakers (24-5) and the Boston Celtics (27-3), came together to play. One would imagine the goal was simply to win. However, the two teams seemed as if they were competing for something else besides a win. From the jump ball, the Lakers appeared to be on a mission to redeem themselves from last year’s NBA Finals. The Celtics played it as if it was just another game on the way to their ultimate goal of repeating as World Champions. The Lakers won the game with a score of 92-83, but the game can’t be told by the final score. It is told by what each team was playing for: another step in the right direction and redemption. The Celtics learned that they can be beaten. And, the Lakers got their redemption, for this was their Championship game.

Kobe Bryant said in an interview, “The Celtics were tougher, physically and mentally.” He was right. Last year in Game 4, the Lakers were simply out-played, out-hustled and out-thought. The Lakers sought to counter their former weaknesses. Indeed, they seemingly did that tonight. During every play, the Lakers fought back. The defense increased, as seen in the play by Ariza saving the ball on the sideline and Gasol’s block and steal in the last minute of the game to help seal the victory. Their defensive prowess was matched with a hungry offense. This led to another big night for the Lakers’ big players. Kobe Bryant and Paul Gasol scored 27 and 20 points respectfully. However, their major strength was the bench and their weakness was still shown: they couldn’t put away the Celtics.

The starters for L.A. played longer rotations than the Boston Celtics’ starting line-up; however, the number of minutes played didn’t make a real difference. The Boston starters still got over 30 minutes and Ray Allen was in the game for 42 minutes. It goes back to the Lakers’ bench. The Lakers’ bench outplayed the Celtics’ bench. They outscored the Celtics’ bench 22-13. They showed a weakness in the Celtics. The Celtics’ bench needs to get deeper, but the Lakers didn’t exactly play like a championship winning team either. They never really closed the door on the Celtics until the last minute. I know a win is a win, but how you win can say just as much as how you lose. This implies the Lakers still can’t beat the Celtics when the Celtics are at their best. Rajon Rondo was in early foul trouble causing him to be missed at valuable times. This was a learning experience for a point guard that has grown so much from last year. Doc Rivers kept Rondo in the game after two early fouls and allowed him to learn how to play efficiently when in trouble. Nonetheless, the Celtics were still in the game until the very last minute and the Lakers still have to go beyond this redemption game.

This was the Lakers’ Championship game. They played like it was there last game, but this was just one more game in the right direction. If the Lakers want to meet whoever it is that will be representing the East in the Finals (presumably the Celtics or the Cavaliers), they must play with the same intensity night in and night out. If they seek to win the real NBA Championship, they must bring it because the Celtics will bring it or LeBron and Company will surely bring it. It is not about one game unless it is THE last game. John Ireland, a sports writer for the Lakers, said, “Kobe Bryant was managing the game." Kobe doesn’t simply need to manage the game, but he needs to manage the season. If I was a member of the organization, I would never imply that this game, a regular season game, was my Championship game to seek redemption: a regular season game doesn’t compare to a Game 6 in the Finals where a win meant a World Championship.

***Prediction: Lakers and Celtics in the ’08-‘09 NBA Finals. Celtics win 4-1. Just kidding, or am I? GO BULLS!