As we expected, the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2010 NBA championship on Thursday night with an 83-79 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of “The Finals.”
It was not so much a basketball game as a brick throwers convention. For example:
1. Boston’s Paul Pierce, a great shooter, went 5-for-15.
2. Boston’s Ray Allen, just as good a shooter, went three-for-14 (two-for-seven from the three-point line).
3. The Celtics shot 40.8 per cent as a team. Clang!
4. Kobe Bryant, the best player on the floor and the championship MVP, went six-for-24 and 0-for-six from the three-point line.
5. Pau Gasol, the second best player in the game, went six-for-16. Ron Artest went seven-for-18. Andrew Bynum was one-for-five. Lamar Odom was three-for-eight.
6. As a team, the Lakers shot 27-for-83, 32.5 per cent.
Those lovers of professional basketball — and there are many — will tell you that a sensational defensive effort by each team was the reason for the pitiful shooting performances.
I like to think it’s the clear fact that referees refuse to protect the shooter anymore. If you have the basketball, you’re fair game.
Unless, of course, you’re one of the brick-throwing Lakers. Here’s the most important stat of the game: From the free throw line, the Celtics were 15-for-17. From the free-throw line, the Lakers were 25-for-37.
There’s the difference in the final. 20 freakin’ free throws. The Lakers made 10 more free throws than the Celtics (and they still weren’t worth a crap from the charity stripe).
Sorry, but just by looking at that stat, you have to figure hat the NBA had (has?) more than one Tim Donaghy.
Look, it was an exciting series. Badly played, but exciting. I’m afraid I’m just too old. I remember when pro basketball players could shoot. I also remember when almost every NBA game ended with two aggressive basketball teams going to the line about the same number of times.
I picked the Lakers. I’m happy that Kobe won his fifth title and was named series MVP.
I just can’t believe that such a lousy basketball game was the game that determined the 2010 NBA champion.
Related posts: