Sadly, Game 5 of the NBA Finals was the only game The Blot didn’t get to watch all playoffs. Our flight home from Tahoe was delayed and then it took an additional 30 minutes for our luggage to hit the baggage claim once we finally made it back to Houston. When we landed it was halftime and the Lakers were up by 10¸but by the time we were in our car heading home there was only 4:30 left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers were up by like 11-15 points. Listening to the end of the game wasn’t all bad since Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown and Dr. Jack Ramsay are some of the best basketball commentators in the industry.
Thankfully Aly and I got home just in time to see the Lakers celebrating the franchise’s 15th World Championship and Kobe accept the NBA Finals MVP award. It feels like these playoffs went on forever, but it was well worth it to see the Purple & Gold finally back on top of the NBA for their fourth title this decade. It’s hard to believe the Lakers have now been in the NBA Finals 6 times since 2000. I might also add that it has truly been amazing to see this team mature over the past three years. From barely making the playoffs to surprising everyone last year with their unexpected run to the 2008 Finals to this year’s championship, it has been a very exciting ride indeed.
Kobe now has his fourth championship and first without Shaquille O’neal, while Head Coach Phil Jackson now has his 10th NBA Championship, giving him more professional championships than any coach in the NBA or in the four major professional sports leagues of North America. Hopefully winning ten NBA titles will not be Jackson’s final act as the Lakers’ head coach and he’ll be back to steward the Lakers to a 16th NBA title.
With the roster as it is currently constituted there is no reason the Lakers can’t win it all again next year, giving Kobe and Derek Fisher their fifth championship and Jackson his eleventh. But to do that team owner Jerry Buss will need to open up his check book and resign Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. I guess this summer will be a busy one for Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupcheck. Here’s hoping for back-to-back world championships!