2010 NBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics, NBA Finals, Game 7
Information about game 7 of the L.A. Lakers vs. Boston Celtics series in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, with score, recap, pictures, stats, highlights, quotes and Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol performance.
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June 17 - Staples Center, Los Angeles. In a classic game 7 the Lakers players gave everything they had to get an 83-79 win over Boston and give the franchise its 16th NBA Championship. This way the Lakers won their second consecutive title and took revenge from the 2008 Finals. It was a bad shooting night for the Lakers (32.5% from the field making just 20 % of their 3-point attempts) but they compensated it with their will and their energy at both ends of the floor. They stayed in the game basically by grabbing 23 offensive rebounds and outrebounding Boston 53-40. Kobe Bryant won his second Finals MVP after averaging 28.6 points in the series. He had 23 points in one of the worst shooting games of his playoff career, but he contributed 15 rebounds and 10 of his points came in the fourth quarter. Taking advantage of Kobe's struggles against an excellent team defense, the Celtics build a 13-point lead but Kobe's teammates stepped up for him led by Pau Gasol's 19 points and 18 rebounds (9 offensive) and the Lakers could slowly erase the deficit. Gasol's activity under the baskets was the biggest problem for the Celtics who used Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis trying to contain him in the absence of injured Kendrick Perkins. Ron Artest, the only Laker on the roster who hadn't win a championship was a big factor, this time not only defending Paul Pierce (18 points on 5-for-15 shooting) but also contributing on the offensive end. He had 20 points that included a 3-point play to tie the score at 61 with 7:28 left in the fourth. With 3 free throws by Ray Allen the Celtics took the lead again 64-61 but that was the last time they were going to be close to their 18th championship because Derek Fisher hit another of his big time three-pointers to tie it and Kobe scored the next 4 points. The Celtics didn't give up until the end but every shot they made had a response by the Lakers, with Gasol fighting under the basket, Kobe making free throws, a three-pointer by Artest or even Sasha Vujacic making 2 free throws to seal the title. It is the fifth championship for Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, the only survivors from the 2000-2001-2002 three-peat. For Jackson it is his 11th title as a coach. The Lakers moved one championship behind Boston's 17 titles for the overall NBA lead. |
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The QuotesKobe Bryant (Lakers): "This one is by far the sweetest, because it's them. This was the hardest one by far. I wanted it so bad, and sometimes when you want it so bad, it slips away from you. My guys picked me up." About Phil Jackson's return next year: "He knows how bad I want him back I've been openly blunt about how much I want him back." Pau Gasol (Lakers):""It's very sweet, it definitely adds up when you beat Boston, especially the rivalry, the history of the franchise." Ron Artest (Lakers): "We fought together. This was one of the best games in, I don't even know, man. I don't want to be in a game like this, where the game can go either way. ... I'm just like, OK, what did I get myself into?" Doc Rivers (Celtics Coach): "Listen, give the Lakers credit, they were terrific." "There's a lot of crying in that locker room. A lot of people who care. I don't think there was a dry eye. A lot of hugs, a lot of people feeling awful. That's a good thing. Showed a lot of people cared." Ray Allen (Celtics): "There's a lot of crying in that locker room. A lot of people who care. I don't think there was a dry eye. A lot of hugs, a lot of people feeling awful. That's a good thing. Showed a lot of people cared." |
Highlights
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Complete Boxscore
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