Bryant, Lakers reign one more
By manayonboy
@manayonboy (511)
Philippines
June 15, 2009 12:01am CST
Kobe Bryant has the NBA title he needed most the one without Shaq.
Bryant's seven year chase of a converted championship is over. He's got fourth, and Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson his record 10th, a ring for each finger. One year after failing in the finals, Bryant and the Lakers have redemption, and all the rewards that go with it.
They earned their 15th title on Sunday night as Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasul added 14 and 15 rebounds in a 99-86 win in Game 5 over the Orlando Magic, who ran out of comebacks.
It took longer than Bryant expected, but he has stepped out of former teammate, Shaquille O"Neal's enormous shadow at last. His fourth championship secured a strong case can be made for Bryant being the league's best player since Michael Jordan hung up his sneakers.
6 responses
@lpduncan (4)
• United States
15 Jun 09
so i hate to admit that i was rooting for the magic, but there's no doubting that kobe bryant deserved the win. now i'm just wondering how the playoffs would have gone if lebron james and the cavs had made it to finals instead of magic. how would the match up between lebron and kobe have gone do you think?
@khayshenz (1384)
• United States
15 Jun 09
You know what - that would be something that maybe we'll have to wait to see for next season. I'm sure Lebron is a fierce competitor - and I honestly thought that the Lakers will have an easier time with the Cavs than the Magic because the Magic can make it rain.
Lebron VS. Kobe - I don't know. I do know that the Lakers would have won against them.
Interesting regular season facts;
There is only one team who beat Cavs in their home floor during the regular season - the Lakers.
There are only two teams who swept the Lakers during the regular season - Magic and Bobcats.
@slyvanus2001 (53)
• United States
15 Jun 09
I was rooting for the Magic. I can't stand the Lakers. I can't stand Kobe The World Bryant. And I can't Phil Jackson. I hate the Lakers.
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
15 Jun 09
the lakers won their 15th nba title. kobe bryant also won his 4th title while jackson his 10th overall. kobe bryant finally proved to the world that he could win a championship without the big man, shaq. the lakers have prepared for this moment. and they deserved this moment because they worked hard on it. bryant has established himself as one of the greats of the game.
@Philbo (578)
• Canada
15 Jun 09
I honestly thought the Magic were going to give them more of a run for it than this. Kobe's focus was for this moment all year long and he certainly earned it. I also think Phil Jackson out coached Van Gundy. I don't think there is much doubt that if they just tweak what the have right now they could be holding that trophy again next year.
@imacRuel1 (258)
• Philippines
15 Jun 09
And hopefully not the last... We're gonna see this same Lakers team battling it out for another sets of championship in the coming years... As long as they stay healthy & out of injuries... This current Laker line-up will always be the favorite team to win the championships next season & the succeedng years.
Kobe will only turn 31 years of age in August... Still far from retiring his jersey & pair of sneakers... His game is improving every year... He might not be most explosive player in the NBA today, but he still is the most dangerous competitor in the hardcourt... His jumpshots accuracy is improving each year... thus making him the hardest to defend ever.
