With the most storied franchises in NBA history coming together
for the second time in three years, and 12th time overall, the Lakers
were looking to let the Celtics know how much they learned over the past
two seasons, how much they've improved, and how much they weren't going
to get manhandled again. In Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals on Thursday, the teams reversed roles for
at least one night, as the Lakers dominated the Celtics, 102-89, at Staples Center
to take a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series.
"I thought they were terrific today," Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought they were by far the more physical team."
The defending champion Lakers still need to win three more games, which could still take a while, but they can take some comfort in knowing that Coach Phil Jackson is 47-0 in playoff series after winning the first game. "We've got to play this out," Jackson said of his record. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but it's nice to know that that's on our side."
Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 30 points and offered some flashback moments from his younger days -- when he rocked an Afro and the No. 8 -- as he had two dunks, including an alley-oop lob from Derek Fisher, and blocked a Tony Allen dunk attempt in the third quarter. No matter how much praise Bryant has received over the past few weeks -- for leading the Lakers to their third consecutive Finals and wrestling back the title as the game's best player from two-time league MVP LeBron James -- his poor performance against the Celtics remains a stain on his championship legacy.
"A good start," said Bryant, who is in pursuit of his fifth championship
with the Lakers. "That's absolutely the key. [But] it's not necessarily
about having a great start as much as it is trying to win the series."
Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett took turns two years ago shoving around Pau Gasol, who was saddled again with the "soft" label that dogged him throughout his career in Memphis. But Gasol flipped the tables on Thursday, as he grabbed 14 rebounds, matching the Celtics by himself with eight offensive, and scored 23 points.
"I thought he was the best player on the floor," Rivers said. "He was more aggressive. He attacked us. If you heard for two years what you couldn't do, you're probably going to come in and try to prove that, and I thought Gasol proved a lot tonight."
Gasol also had three blocked shots, swatting attempts by Ray Allen and Rondo on consecutive possessions. Gasol got the ball in the low block in the third period, and attempted a left-handed hook over Perkins. He missed, but batted the ball off the backboard to himself and made a layup over Perkins to give the Lakers a 69-58 lead. He even flattened the thickset Davis while setting a screen.
"I like the challenge and I'm ready to step up and play. That's all I did," Gasol said. "There was no statements to be made. My goal, our goal, is to win the championship, not just the first game."
Jackson may have broken a tie with late Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach in claiming a record 10th title last year, but the former New York Knick - with his allegiances to the late Red Holzman -- never claimed one against Auerbach's former team. He revealed his intentions last summer, when he spotted Paul Pierce, the 2008 Finals MVP, walking his dog in Los Angeles and encouraged him to get his team back to the Finals.
The Lakers showed early on that they weren't the same team. After Rondo made a layup to start the game, Ron Artest, a member of the Sacramento Kings when the Celtics won two years ago, collided backs with Pierce under the basket. Both players wrapped their arms behind each other, pulled themselves to the ground and charged each other after they got to their feet. Words were exchanged and Pierce and Artest both received technical fouls. A few moments later, center Andrew Bynum, who missed the playoffs two years ago with a knee injury, caught a fumbled pass off Gasol and dunked. Bynum finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
"I thought they were terrific today," Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought they were by far the more physical team."
The defending champion Lakers still need to win three more games, which could still take a while, but they can take some comfort in knowing that Coach Phil Jackson is 47-0 in playoff series after winning the first game. "We've got to play this out," Jackson said of his record. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but it's nice to know that that's on our side."
Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 30 points and offered some flashback moments from his younger days -- when he rocked an Afro and the No. 8 -- as he had two dunks, including an alley-oop lob from Derek Fisher, and blocked a Tony Allen dunk attempt in the third quarter. No matter how much praise Bryant has received over the past few weeks -- for leading the Lakers to their third consecutive Finals and wrestling back the title as the game's best player from two-time league MVP LeBron James -- his poor performance against the Celtics remains a stain on his championship legacy.
Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett took turns two years ago shoving around Pau Gasol, who was saddled again with the "soft" label that dogged him throughout his career in Memphis. But Gasol flipped the tables on Thursday, as he grabbed 14 rebounds, matching the Celtics by himself with eight offensive, and scored 23 points.
"I thought he was the best player on the floor," Rivers said. "He was more aggressive. He attacked us. If you heard for two years what you couldn't do, you're probably going to come in and try to prove that, and I thought Gasol proved a lot tonight."
Gasol also had three blocked shots, swatting attempts by Ray Allen and Rondo on consecutive possessions. Gasol got the ball in the low block in the third period, and attempted a left-handed hook over Perkins. He missed, but batted the ball off the backboard to himself and made a layup over Perkins to give the Lakers a 69-58 lead. He even flattened the thickset Davis while setting a screen.
"I like the challenge and I'm ready to step up and play. That's all I did," Gasol said. "There was no statements to be made. My goal, our goal, is to win the championship, not just the first game."
Jackson may have broken a tie with late Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach in claiming a record 10th title last year, but the former New York Knick - with his allegiances to the late Red Holzman -- never claimed one against Auerbach's former team. He revealed his intentions last summer, when he spotted Paul Pierce, the 2008 Finals MVP, walking his dog in Los Angeles and encouraged him to get his team back to the Finals.
The Lakers showed early on that they weren't the same team. After Rondo made a layup to start the game, Ron Artest, a member of the Sacramento Kings when the Celtics won two years ago, collided backs with Pierce under the basket. Both players wrapped their arms behind each other, pulled themselves to the ground and charged each other after they got to their feet. Words were exchanged and Pierce and Artest both received technical fouls. A few moments later, center Andrew Bynum, who missed the playoffs two years ago with a knee injury, caught a fumbled pass off Gasol and dunked. Bynum finished with 10 points and six rebounds.