2010 NBA Finals: Torch Passed in Renewed Rivalry

Whether it was the renewed rivalry from the 1980s, the comeback of a troubled superstar on the decline or the jewel in the crown for a new NBA dynasty, the 2010 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers had all the makings of classic championship basketball. In a league that has seen many of its most heated rivalries die out, the finals pitted an east coast powerhouse against a west coast dynasty. With the Big Three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce combined with Rajon Rondo coming into his own at the point guard position, there was no question Boston was going to have the deepest lineup in the league, putting the ball in the hoop with outside jumpers and threes. Just outside of Hollywood, you had the invincible Bryant and head coach Phil Jackson looking to uphold the Lakers’ status as NBA champions. Kobe can make any shot look easy and make defenders look like statues. He is second only to Michael Jordan as the best shooting guard to ever play the game. But would the rest of the Laker team be able to step up when it counted and not have to rely on the 2007-08 NBA MVP? Boston and L.A. were dead even after four games, winning games by nearly identical margins. The Celtics had all the momentum going into Game 5, with the duo of Nate Robinson and Glen “Big Baby” Davis coming off the bench to lead a 25-12 run that produced a 96-89 win in the prior game. Both went a combined 5 for 7 shooting and scored 15 points collectively. In Game 5, the Celtics continued to ride their momentum, overcoming a 38-point performance by Bryant. Long-time Celtic Paul Pierce scored 15 points in the first quarter and finished with 27, while Rajon Rondo lived up to his ‘Big Ticket’ nickname, dishing out eight assists. He would go on to average 14 points and six rebounds in the Finals. The Lakers cruised to a victory in Game 6, outscoring the Celtics by 22 and showing that they had the supporting cast that could compete in the Finals was just as good. Outstanding performances from forwards Pau Gasol, who had a team-leading 13 rebounds and three blocked shots, and Lamar Odom, who chipped in with 10 boards in his best game in the series, helped L.A. force a decisive Game 7. It was in the final game that all aspects of the series came together for a dramatic conclusion. From the opening tip at the Staples Center, it was clear that neither team would go away quietly in Game 7, with only one leaving the court as NBA champions. The Lakers shot just 26 percent from the field and trailed by as many as 13 in the third quarter, but veteran guard Derek Fischer came off the bench to make two clutch shots from behind the arc; one that tied the game at 64 and another that extended a lead with just over three minutes remaining. Gasol’s offensive rebounding and Bryant’s free throws in the final minutes would seal an 83-79 win and a second consecutive title. The cliché that defense wins championship rang true in Game 7, as the Celtics could not compensate for the lack of Kendrick Perkins, who defended the Lakers Andrew Bynum in the middle and occasionally matched up against Gasol and Odom. Perkins suffered a knee injury in Game 6 and was replaced by Rasheed Wallace in the starting lineup. The underrated Tony Allen was a defensive force against Lebron James in the first round of the playoffs, forcing an average of three turnovers per game and averaging just under 17 minutes of playing time. Head coach Doc Rivers made a poor decision in not utilizing him against Bryant and Gasol in the absence of Perkins. This year’s feel-good story in the NBA was the road of Lakers power forward Ron Artest. To understand his journey from troubled basketball player in Queens to hero in the City of Angels, look no farther back than five years at the Palace of Auburn Hills. In a regular season game between the Detroit Pistons and Artest’s Indiana Pacers, one of the most infamous brawls in the league’s history occurred when Artest charged a fan in the stands that he believed had thrown a cup of soda at him. He was suspended for the remainder of the season for his violent outburst. Three years later, he was arrested for domestic abuse and spent time in prison. Questions arose regarding his work ethic when he revealed in a Sporting News interview that he drank cognac and Hennessey during halftime of games when he played with the Chicago Bulls. While his legal troubles will never be erased, Artest enjoyed a 20-point, five steal performance in Game 7 that will forever be in integral part of the 2010 Lakers championship. He felt like he had reached nirvana after the game, giving a special word of thanks to his psychiatrist in his post-game interview. Kobe Bryant also proved himself yet again, showing that he could complete a second championship run without Shaquille O’Neal, who was Finals MVP during the Laker three-peat from 2000-02. But questions of retirement surround head coach Phil Jackson, who won his 11th career championship. He is expected to make a final decision early next week. And with five championship banners from the last decade hanging in the Staples Center, how much longer will veteran role players such as Derek Fischer stick around to help Laker rookies and superstars adjust to the professional game? Boston faces questions of their own about the return of their coach Doc Rivers and unrestricted free agents such as Ray Allen. The Celtics and Lakers have combined to win 33 of the 64 championships in NBA history. Bill Russell handing this year’s Finals MVP trophy to Kobe Bryant was like a parent sending their oldest child off to college. The former Celtics player with the most championships of any player in NBA history was reluctant to do it, but it was his way of passing the torch, as the Lakers are now the most decorated team of the decade, and one title away from tying the Celtics for the most in NBA history.