1st congrats to the Celtics
2nd You have to wonder how Phil Jackson won 9 rings when he can't sense when the road team has taken the momentum and find a way to get it back.
3rd This wasn't Kobes fault, just like last year wasn't Lebrons fault; when the series meant the most, guys like Fisher, Odom, and Gasol didnt' hit shots.
But let's give a little credit too....
Gasol's addition got them home court advantage all the way to the conference finals. Had he been with LA all season they would have had home court in the finals too.
He's just played timid against Garnett, something that will be remedied next year when Bynum does the majority of the banging and Gasol can play the 4 and guard the smaller slower of the 4/5 matchups.
(eg. Gasol would have guarded Perkins in this series)
9/10 "experts" picked La to win this series, but the Lakers that ran through the western conference have not shown up in the finals. Congrats Celtics and to our boy Danny Ainge... you just bought yourself a lifetime contract with the Celts.
other issues:
We're forgetting how young this LA team is compared to Boston, and aside from an awfil 4th quarter, this series would be tied.
Where's LAs bench been this series?
On another note, Farmar is the starting pt. guard next year, Derek Fisher just looks spent.