Kobe Bryant cradles the Larry O'Brien championship trophy in his left arm while holding the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy in his right after landing his fourth NBA title.
FINALS ANALYSIS: GAME 5 |
|
 |
|
 Turning point: The Lakers’ 16-0 run late in the second quarter, led by Kobe Bryant and Trevor Ariza, seemed to take the air out of the Magic. X factor: The Lakers shot a commendable 50% from beyond the arc, including Lamar Odom’s 3-for-3 on three-pointers. The Magic, who made the most three-pointers during the season, couldn’t effectively counter with their best weapon – outside shooting. They shot 41.5% from the floor and 29.6% from beyond the arc. Unexpected: The ease with which the Lakers dominated the deflated Magic, who lost two of three Finals games at home. ABC analyst Mark Jackson, noting Orlando’s collective body language in the third quarter, said it appeared the team had “quit.” How teams respond: Lakers: Party. Magic: Enjoy what they accomplished as underdogs and learn from it. Losing to the most talented team in the NBA is no shame.
– By Jon Saraceno (via USAToday.com) |
