It is almost fitting that we’re where we are now. One game for all the marbles. One game for all the glory. In the NBA’s most storied rivalry it is only fair that we get a Game 7 to decide the latest chapter in this epic saga. While the 2010 NBA season will end tomorrow night, the effects from the final game will be felt for years.
When you really consider just what is at stake for both these teams, it is very overwhelming. Countless legacies will be cemented while others break down, legends may be born while goats will live in infamy. For the Lakers, there have been 104 games played in the 2010 season. There have been times when they were destined to repeat, and times where they were doomed to fail. However, none of that matters anymore because the focus now is on one final game.
After the Lakers impressive 89-67 victory over Boston in Game 6 to force the winner-take-all Game 7, many feel the momentum has shifted again. Boston looked dreary and slow on Tuesday night, whereas the Lakers hustled to every loose ball and rebound. This will not be the case on Thursday, as both teams know exactly what is at stake. The team that starts to play with a half-hearted effort will fall behind and fail to catch up. The winner of this game will need to play a complete 48 minutes in order to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy when the final buzzer sounds.
Next: Throwing History Out the Window…
In terms of analysis and debate surrounding Game 7, much of it can be thrown right out the window. Nobody on either team has played or will play another game as big as the one looming on Thursday night. For Kobe Bryant, this is the biggest game of his career. While he is a sure-fire Hall of Fame player who may go down as a Top 5 NBA player by the time he’s done, if Bryant fails to pull his team to victory one last time in 2010 he will never be in the same sentence as his idol, Michael Jordan.
In many cases this game is a complete crap-shoot. The previous six games mean nothing, as both teams are just focusing on the one game still in front of them. Who will play well and who will not? Since the game will be played at Staples Center you would think the Lakers have the advantage, but that doesn’t mean Boston is going to roll over. The most crucial element to Game 7 will be the statistic that decided the previous six games, rebounding. If Perkins is unable to contribute much for Boston, the Lakers will have an extreme height advantage with Bynum and Gasol in the paint that they must use to their advantage.
The other important factor to this game is the bench. Before Game 6 I stated that bench play is usually drastically improved at home compared to on the road, and that rang very true on Tuesday when the Lakers bench outscored the Boston reserves 24-0 through three quarters. In Game 7 the Lakers bench must bring the same level of intensity and ferocity that they brought on Tuesday night, if not the Celtics are going to have a very good chance of taking this game.
Next: Important Factors and Bold Predictions…
Since this is the biggest game of the season, you have to expect the biggest players to show up. Guys like Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce,
Pau Gasol, and Kevin Garnett are going to have impacts on the game you would have to believe. The key will be the role players and supporting cast for each squad. Will either team feature players trying to do too much with the basketball? Will that result in turnovers or missed opportunities? In a game where emotion and pressure is off the charts, it is the team that best deals with the scenario that will have the advantage.
Overall I would really have a hard time picking a favorite to win this game. It feels a lot like the beginning of the series, where the Lakers won Game 1 convincingly and were on the fast track to another NBA title before Boston bounced back to win Game 2 in Staples Center. However, when in doubt look for obscure facts and statistics to push the answer you want to give – So far during these playoffs the Los Angeles Lakers have never lost when wearing their golden home uniforms. On Thursday night, Kobe and Co. will put on the gold for the last time this season. Let’s hope it helps them bring home the gold as well.