Lakers win 15th NBA Championship
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 06/18/2009
ORLANDO — Disneyland beats Disney World, Los Angeles over Orlando in theme park Finals. Mr. Next is Kobe Bryant — the misunderstood superstar is a world champion again after the Los Angeles Lakers wore down the Orlando Magic in game five 99-86 to win the Lakers' 15th NBA Championship.
The championship was the 10th for Phil Jackson, allowing him to pass legendary Boston Celtic Coach Red Aurbach for most NBA Championship wins all-time by an NBA coach.
Six of Jackson's 10 titles were in Chicago, and now four of them are with Los Angeles. Aurbach won all nine of his championships with the Celtics. “I'll smoke a cigar tonight in memory of Red,” said Jackson. “He was a great guy.”
Jackson has now improved to 44-0 when his team wins game one of a best-of-seven series. He has also won 51 series as a coach. His ability to master handling egos and getting great players to work together to achieve the greatest is his strength as a leader of men.
Bryant (Mr. Next) wins his fourth NBA Championship and his first without Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal, Bryant and Jackson won three straight titles in Los Angeles as the Showtime Lakers from 2000-2002.
O'Neal was the MVP in the Finals on all three of those championship teams.
Bryant was selected MVP of the Finals, this time averaging 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds per game. Bryant was once called out in Jackson's now-famous book as being a “selfish player.” Two years ago Bryant wanted to be traded, but seven years later he is a World Champion again.
This may be Bryant's defining moment as a player, because he led this team.
Along the way he had to finally trust in his teammates to do their share, be humbled by the greatest coach of all, and then had to prove he was not a selfish player. Make no mistake about it: This Lakers team was supposed to win the championship. Losing to the Boston Celtics last year was a great motivation to get back to the Finals and win it.
On winning with Pau Gasol, Bryant said, “We're always talking to each other — always. The things we see…the defenses were always lined up against me and Gasol, so he and I constantly had to dialog what we see to make adjustments on the fly.”
The talented Gasol was Bryant's compliment as Bryant was to Shaq; he was outstanding with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom were dynamic, and veteran Derek Fisher's strength of character and ability to make big shots made this Lakers team the best.
The Magic in losing did account well for themselves. They lost two overtime games that they very well could and should have won in regulation. Inexperience and the failure to make free throws will haunt them throughout the summer, as well as how the Magic could have traded Ariza to the Lakers for Brian Cook.
Now they are a footnote in history: Orlando is the first NBA team in history to have to play three 60-win teams in succession in the playoffs — Boston 62-20, Cleveland 66-16, and the Lakers 65-17. The Lakers broke the young Dwight Howard-led Magic's will.
Being Mr. Next for Bryant means he's still the best player in the NBA today and the best player in the NBA since Michael Jordan. LeBron James was the regular-season MVP, but Bryant led his team to back-to-back Finals. He, along with O'Neal and Tim Duncan of San Antonio, are the only players to have four NBA Championships since Jordan won six.
Jackson with 10 championships also clears up the other water cooler debate: Is Bryant as good as Jordan? The answer is no. Jordan's Chicago Bulls won six titles in six trips to the Finals over eight years. Bryant has been to the NBA Finals six times now, but he has lost twice.
Jackson coached all 12 of those teams. He was 6-0 with Chicago and Jordan, and now he's 4-2 with Los Angeles and Bryant.
Bryant therefore is Mr. Next, the best since Jordan — but no Jordan.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
