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By Michael LeeWashington Post Staff Writer Monday, June 15, 2009
ORLANDO, June 14 -- It had been seven years since Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson had been fitted for championship rings, a drought that seemed even longer given the arduous road for the Los Angeles Lakers since Shaquille O'Neal steamrolled through the New Jersey Nets in 2002. O'Neal left. Jackson left and came back. Bryant thought about leaving, stayed, demanded a trade, but still stayed.
But while Bryant expressed his hunger for a fourth title with a clench-jawed glare this season, Jackson maintained the calm, cool demeanor that brought him nine championships. No matter their approaches while leading the Lakers back to the top, it led to the same gratifying result. With a 99-86 victory against the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at Amway Arena, the Lakers won the NBA Finals in five games and added a 15th championship banner to a storied franchise that has stayed relevant through the days of George Mikan, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal and Bryant, and now Bryant.
After stumbling his past two trips to the Finals against Detroit and Boston, Jackson finally broke his tie with Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach now has 10 championships -- which is more than 28 other NBA franchises.
Bryant, the Finals MVP, led the Lakers with 30 points and won his first ring without O'Neal. When the game and the series appeared to be in his grasp with less than two minutes remaining, Bryant couldn't contain his joy as he anxiously rocked and smiled on the bench during a timeout.
But Bryant didn't do it alone. He needed some help all series from two players who got the blame for the Lakers' loss to Boston last June (Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom); an old backcourt mate for 10 of his 13 years in the league (Derek Fisher); and a Los Angeles native who grew up idolizing him (Trevor Ariza).
See---http://davidsradiotv2000.blogspot.com/
ORLANDO, June 14 -- It had been seven years since Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson had been fitted for championship rings, a drought that seemed even longer given the arduous road for the Los Angeles Lakers since Shaquille O'Neal steamrolled through the New Jersey Nets in 2002. O'Neal left. Jackson left and came back. Bryant thought about leaving, stayed, demanded a trade, but still stayed.
But while Bryant expressed his hunger for a fourth title with a clench-jawed glare this season, Jackson maintained the calm, cool demeanor that brought him nine championships. No matter their approaches while leading the Lakers back to the top, it led to the same gratifying result. With a 99-86 victory against the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at Amway Arena, the Lakers won the NBA Finals in five games and added a 15th championship banner to a storied franchise that has stayed relevant through the days of George Mikan, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal and Bryant, and now Bryant.
After stumbling his past two trips to the Finals against Detroit and Boston, Jackson finally broke his tie with Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach now has 10 championships -- which is more than 28 other NBA franchises.
Bryant, the Finals MVP, led the Lakers with 30 points and won his first ring without O'Neal. When the game and the series appeared to be in his grasp with less than two minutes remaining, Bryant couldn't contain his joy as he anxiously rocked and smiled on the bench during a timeout.
But Bryant didn't do it alone. He needed some help all series from two players who got the blame for the Lakers' loss to Boston last June (Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom); an old backcourt mate for 10 of his 13 years in the league (Derek Fisher); and a Los Angeles native who grew up idolizing him (Trevor Ariza).
See---http://davidsradiotv2000.blogspot.com/
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