Back in 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to get some revenge against their arch rivals by beating the Boston Celtics in seven games in the NBA Finals. It was the second of back-to-back titles for the Lakers with Kobe Bryant winning his fifth and final championship ring.
The loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center back in 2010, and all the frustrating nights trying to figure out how to stop Kobe Bryant, has stayed with current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers to this day.
Apparently Bryant’s retirement can’t come soon enough for Rivers via Dan Woike of OC Register:
“I’ll be very happy when Kobe retires. He’s inflicted pain on me – personally.” Doc Rivers
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) April 3, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Two years prior to winning a title in 2010, the Lakers lost to the Celtics in the Finals in devastating fashion. Rivers’ Celtics squad got the best of Los Angeles in six games with the final game being especially painful for Bryant as the Lakers suffered a 39-point blowout defeat.
Bryant used the loss to the fuel his fire to get back on top and was able to accomplish that feat. Kobe led the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals appearances and two titles while playing alongside Pau Gasol.
After Sunday’s game against the Celtics, Bryant will have only six games left in his NBA career with two of those games coming against Rivers’ Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers will face the Clippers on back-to-back nights at the Staples Center with Bryant and company being the away team on Tuesday and the home team on Wednesday.