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Hard Work and Determination Bring 15th Championship to the Lakers

Bamababe2k9 Written by Bamababe2k9, Sunday June 14 2009
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 It wasn’t easy. But what championship ever is, the Los Angeles Lakers are NBA Champions for the 15th time second only to the Boston Celtics who have 17.


 

 
Although at times the Lakers struggled especially against the Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant said that this series would make his team stronger; he was right. They beat the Rockets in seven and it seems like from that point on the real Lakers showed up.
 
They took care of the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals and defeated the Orlando Magic in five games to win the title.
 
But the hard work started last season after they were embarrassed by the Boston Celtics in last year’s finals by 39 points, from that point on, Bryant and the Lakers were determine not only to make it back to the Finals, but to win it all as well.
 
Unlike last year, when the experts questioned their toughness after they were manhandled, this team stepped it up. It was no longer the Kobe Show, it was the Lake Show again. It was Lamar Odom coming alive finally and playing like he can play.
 
It was Pau Gasol taking up the slack when Kobe would go to the bench for a rest and showing why he was the second best player on this team. No one can question his toughness any more.
 
It was Trevor Ariza when the Lakers were down by 12 at halftime of game four stepping up and bringing a spark to this team when they needed it the most. He also did it again in game five when the Lakers were down by nine.
 
 It was the veteran Derek Fisher who struggled throughout the playoffs making big shots as he normally does to help bring home the championship. Though some thought he should have been benched, Phil Jackson believed in Fish and stayed with him because he knew eventually, one of those shots would go in.
 
And finally it was Kobe Bryant showing why he is one of the best players of all time. It has been a long time since he has won a championship and most experts didn’t think he would do it without Shaq on this team. People question his heart, maturity and even his talent. But he hung in there and kept playing hard.
 
There were times when Bryant didn’t seem to have the maturity to win another championship, but as he has got older he not only matured, but his game has gotten better. He learned to play within himself and to trust his teammates, when he did that, the results were a fourth NBA Championship.
 
What can you say about Phil Jackson? Sometimes he doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he coached two of the best players of all time with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but neither won championships until Phil arrived. He stands alone as the ONLY and I mean ONLY coach in a major US sport to win 10 championships.
 
With all that said there is only one thing to say:
Ladies and Gentleman, your 2009 NBA Champions the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
 
 

 


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6 comments


0 up down 0
Greg ShelleyGreg Shelley, over 2 years ago said:

Congratulations Bama! Seems to me you were the only one, or at least the only one proudly boasting the likelihood thereof, of another Championship for Kobe and LA. And, you were doing it before they even finished off my Rockets. I humbly bow before your NBA knowledge and wisdom.

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tribefan2010tribefan2010, over 2 years ago said:

You're welcome Bama!

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Bamababe2k9Bamababe2k9, over 2 years ago said:

Thank you Tribe.

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tribefan2010tribefan2010, over 2 years ago said:

I missed that little fau paux, but still a good article.

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Daniel DoyleDaniel Doyle, over 2 years ago said:

And I thought the Lakers beat the Magic in five games.... Guess I missed an Orlando win somewhere...

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tribefan2010tribefan2010, over 2 years ago said:

Nice article Bama, I really enjoyed reading it!