A champion is crowned in NBA Finals
Vaunel Pierre
Issue date: 6/18/09 Section: Sports Column
At the end of every NBA season, there is another season we like to call the playoffs, where regular season records are erased and the teams are reseeded. Then the real fun begins.
Teams battle and fight to move to the next round, some battle out the entire seven-game series, while others crumble and fold in only four games. This year's playoffs were one of the most exciting playoffs in recent memory and the story lines were no different.
The big story of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference comes from our very own Orlando Magic. Many were surprised by the success of the magic early on, but as the season went on eyes began to open and realize that the Magic were the real deal behind a list of superstars including Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis.
When faced with the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round, the Magic proved to the world why they were one of the best teams this season. The Magic went seven games with the Celtics and won game seven at Boston. If that wasn't enough for thrills, in the Eastern Conference Finals the Magic defeated the heavily favored Cleveland Cavaliers 4- 2 and ended the entire Kobe vs. LeBron hype.
The other storyline comes from the west in the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now, ever since Shaq has left the Lakers, the question has always been can Kobe wins a championship without Shaq?
For the past seven years, that has been the question on everyone's minds. Many believe this is the year that once and for all Kobe silences the critics and win his own NBA title.
The Lakers look to avenge the loss in last year's Finals and bring back another title to L.A. Sunday night we all became witness to the amazing Kobe Bryant as he and the Lakers defeated the Magic 4-1 in the NBA Finals in convincing fashion.
This was the franchise's 15th NBA title, coach Phil Jackson's 10th overall and Kobe Bryant's fourth.
But this one was special, and everybody knows why: Because they did it without Shaq.
But that wasn't the focus of this title. Bryant answered whether or not he could do it while tired and beat down from the power of the Western Conference playoffs. Kobe also wins his first finals MVP trophy by averaging 33 points per game, seven rebounds and seven assists.
However, we still need to remember that there were two teams in the finals.
The Orlando Magic were in the finals for the first time in 14 years, and won the franchise's first-ever NBA Finals game. Now, even though they lost the finals in five games, games two, three and four were as close as could be. Games two and four went into overtime after the Magic managed to battle back in the fourth but went on to lose in overtime. And in game three, the Magic were in the lead for most of the game and went on to win by a small margin.
Now that all is said and done, we have crowned a champion, so congrats to the L.A. Lakers.
Teams battle and fight to move to the next round, some battle out the entire seven-game series, while others crumble and fold in only four games. This year's playoffs were one of the most exciting playoffs in recent memory and the story lines were no different.
The big story of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference comes from our very own Orlando Magic. Many were surprised by the success of the magic early on, but as the season went on eyes began to open and realize that the Magic were the real deal behind a list of superstars including Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis.
When faced with the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round, the Magic proved to the world why they were one of the best teams this season. The Magic went seven games with the Celtics and won game seven at Boston. If that wasn't enough for thrills, in the Eastern Conference Finals the Magic defeated the heavily favored Cleveland Cavaliers 4- 2 and ended the entire Kobe vs. LeBron hype.
The other storyline comes from the west in the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now, ever since Shaq has left the Lakers, the question has always been can Kobe wins a championship without Shaq?
For the past seven years, that has been the question on everyone's minds. Many believe this is the year that once and for all Kobe silences the critics and win his own NBA title.
The Lakers look to avenge the loss in last year's Finals and bring back another title to L.A. Sunday night we all became witness to the amazing Kobe Bryant as he and the Lakers defeated the Magic 4-1 in the NBA Finals in convincing fashion.
This was the franchise's 15th NBA title, coach Phil Jackson's 10th overall and Kobe Bryant's fourth.
But this one was special, and everybody knows why: Because they did it without Shaq.
But that wasn't the focus of this title. Bryant answered whether or not he could do it while tired and beat down from the power of the Western Conference playoffs. Kobe also wins his first finals MVP trophy by averaging 33 points per game, seven rebounds and seven assists.
However, we still need to remember that there were two teams in the finals.
The Orlando Magic were in the finals for the first time in 14 years, and won the franchise's first-ever NBA Finals game. Now, even though they lost the finals in five games, games two, three and four were as close as could be. Games two and four went into overtime after the Magic managed to battle back in the fourth but went on to lose in overtime. And in game three, the Magic were in the lead for most of the game and went on to win by a small margin.
Now that all is said and done, we have crowned a champion, so congrats to the L.A. Lakers.
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