After the Lakers’ game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics, 92-86, the Celtics sit one win away from the title. Kobe Bryant, on the other bench, sits one lost game away from his third loss in the finals, which would further diminish his great legacy.
The game, although close, came down to getting stops. In general, the Celtics were able to stop the Lakers, as they had in 2008. In general, the Lakers were prevented from getting good shots. While the Lakers could, for most of the game, stay close to the Celtics because L.A. can score; they could not stop the Celtics. Each time the Lakers scored at a crucial period and needed a stop, they could not get one.
Game 5 of the 2010 NBA Finals: http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100614/daily-dime
At the same time, we cannot expect much more from Kobe Bryant. 33 points in game 4. 38 in game 5. 29.6 ppg in the series. He’s scoring; he’s getting teammates involved.
Compared to the Lakers’ last two trips to the Finals, Bryant’s numbers are all about the same, if not better. Although the differences are slight, the Celtics have pressured Bryant into more fouls and more turnovers.
In order to fend off the Celtics and win the 2010 title, Bryant probably needs to average double-digit assists while scoring 30-40 a game. The team needs to get involved and be effective.
Despite Bryant’s brilliant 38 in game 5, no other Lakers’ player really stepped up.
Gasol, in particular, needs to be more of a force on offense and defense. His 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 0 blocks will not be enough for the Lakers. The Lakers need to force-feed Gasol the ball until he has more like a 30 point-15 rebound game. And somebody get a blocked shot! How is Kobe Bryant the only Lakers’ player with a blocked shot? That’s embarrassing.
If the Lakers can make these changes and make it easier for themselves to score by driving and kicking more effectively, they may still have a chance, albeit a small one.
But, at the end of the day, no matter what the other players do, these are Kobe’s Lakers and their losses are his losses. If the Lakers lose to the Celtics like they did in ’08, this will hurt Bryant’s legacy.
Bryant’s career has been almost legendary, more than any could have imagined for a shooting guard coming out of high school picked 13th in the first round. After his career, and once the dust settles, we’ll cement his place in NBA history. For now, we’ll take Bryant for what he is: a 4-time champion, one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, who has been to three straight NBA Finals, but who has yet to beat the Celtics in the Finals.
There are only three possible outcomes now: Celtics in 6 or 7 (or) Lakers in 7. Should Bryant lose, again, to the Celtics his legacy will be forever tainted.
No more talk about him ever matching up to the great Magic Johnson as the greatest Laker ever. Now, all we’ll hear will be endless comparisons between Kobe Bryant and his mentor Jerry West. Both were clutch. Both were tremendous scorers. Both were incapable of beating the Boston Celtics.
Game 6 is Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EST, on ABC.
R.S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. One of his life-long pursuits has been writing and covering anything related to sports, specifically the NBA. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.
