NBA

Finals Game 5: LA Lakers - Orlando M. 99-86

Date: June 14, 2009
Bryant's seven-year chase of a coveted championship is over. Hes got his fourth, and Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson his record 10th, a ring for each finger. One year after failing in the finals, Bryant and the Lakers have redemption, and all the rewards that go with it. They earned their 15th title on Sunday night as Kobe Bryant (6'6'-G-78) scored 30 points and Pau Gasol (7'0'-F/C-80) added 14 and 15 rebounds in a 99-86 win in Game 5 over the Orlando Magic, who ran out of comebacks. It took longer than Bryant expected, but he has stepped out of former teammate Shaquille ONeals enormous shadow at last. His fourth championship secured a strong case can be made for Bryant being the leagues best player since Michael Jordan hung up his sneakers. His coach stands alone. Jackson, the chilled-out, bow-legged Zen Master who won six league titles in the 1990s with Jordan in Chicago, now has won No. 4 with Los Angeles and broke a tie with legendary Boston coach Red Auerbach as the winningest coach in finals history. Ill smoke the cigar tonight in memory of Red, Jackson said. He was a great guy. Bryant and Jackson, whose relationship strained and briefly snapped under the weight of success, are again at the top of their games. Together. Nothing was going to stop Bryant, who spent the postseason scowling, snarling, baring his teeth and all but breathing fire at anything in his path. For weeks, the All-Star has worn his game face, and only when the victory was his in the final seconds did the finals MVP allow himself to smile. After the final horn, he leaped into the air and was quickly engulfed by his teammates, who bounced around the floor of Amway Arena. Bryant then gave a long, heartfelt hug and shared a few words with Jackson before sweeping up his daughters, both wearing gold Lakers dresses, into his arms. Bryant had come up short twice in the finals before, in 2004 with ONeal against Detroit, and again last season against the Celtics in the renewal of the leagues best rivalry. The Lakers were beaten in six games, losing the finale in Boston by 39 points, a humiliating beatdown that Bryant and his teammates had trouble shaking. They went to training camp with one goal in mind. This was going to be their season, and except for a few minor missteps, it was. After beating Utah in the first round, Los Angeles was forced to go seven games against Houston, which lost center Yao Ming to an injury. The Lakers then took care of Denver in six games, setting up a matchup with the shoot-from-their-hips Magic, who made their first visit to the finals since ONeal took them there in 1995. Courtesy of Freep
  LA LAKERS (coach: JJ Redick)99
  FIELD GOALS REBOUNDS   FOULS   BLOCKS  
#   NAME MIN 2PM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF RB AS F RV ST FV AG TO PT RNK +/-
83 mQFijU, KIMR 34 65-84 (34.0%) 8-0 (35%) 2-2 (655%) 5 1 1 0 8 5 8 3 5 5 45 5 5
61 GisIl, Oiu 38 1-7 (11.9%) 5-5 (5%) 8-3 (05%) 3 66 60 4 8 5 5 3 5 5 63 5 5
4 SQaJi, wQRLIQ 36 0-68 (36.9%) 8-0 (35%) 4-1 (05%) 6 3 0 6 4 5 8 5 5 5 60 5 5
8 yashRQ, gRQRV 46 3-9 (09.6%) 6-6 (655%) 3-3 (655%) 5 3 3 8 3 5 5 5 5 5 64 5 5
69 mFjuB, SjdQRT 61 4-66 (89.4%) 5-5 (5%) 5-6 (5%) 3 6 0 5 0 5 6 5 5 5 1 5 5
9 PdIB, viBiQ 46 0-68 (36.9%) 4-4 (655%) 3-0 (25%) 4 9 65 5 3 5 6 5 5 5 69 5 5
3 WilUIj, vuVR 63 6-8 (05%) 5-6 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 6 6 8 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 8 5 5
0 yiQBiQ, zIQdij 65 6-4 (44.4%) 5-6 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 5 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 8 5 5
62 kuniZaZ, Aishi 3 5-6 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
86 OITRll, zIsh  gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj
82 bMRjDi, gadaRQ  gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj
68 mQITj, AhijjIj  gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj
wIUil   40-25 (34.2%) 2-61 (05.5%) 86-82 (90.5%) 64 43 39 64 85 5 1 2 5 5 77 5  


  ORLANDO M. (coach: Jamahl Mosley)86
  FIELD GOALS REBOUNDS   FOULS   BLOCKS  
#   NAME MIN 2PM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF RB AS F RV ST FV AG TO PT RNK +/-
7 vRTas, eishiQd 33 1-67 (46.1%) 4-68 (80%) 4-0 (15%) 6 7 65 3 4 5 6 5 5 5 62 5 5
60 wuQVIDlu, HadiFRU 38 3-2 (05%) 6-6 (655%) 4-3 (90%) 5 8 8 4 0 5 6 5 5 5 68 5 5
68 HITiQd, gTaDhU 47 0-7 (00.1%) 5-5 (5%) 6-4 (44.4%) 8 2 65 6 0 5 6 4 5 5 66 5 5
  SlsUIj, eifRQ 44 0-60 (44.4%) 6-1 (61.9%) 6-8 (05%) 6 3 0 4 0 5 8 5 5 5 68 5 5
66 vRR, CIuQUjRF 81 0-66 (30.0%) 5-8 (5%) 8-8 (655%) 6 4 3 6 4 5 6 5 5 5 68 5 5
85 OaRUQus, baZViRl 61 8-0 (35%) 5-6 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 5 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5
63 XRlsIj, ziBRRQ 68 8-9 (82.1%) 6-4 (44.4%) 5-5 (5%) 5 8 8 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 5 5
9 eRdaZV, z.z. 65 4-4 (655%) 8-8 (655%) 5-5 (5%) 5 5 5 4 6 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 5
64 GIQUiU, biQZaj 2 8-3 (05%) 5-5 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5
3 miUUaR, wIjF 4 5-6 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 5-5 (5%) 6 6 8 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
  yIFlR, SdIjil  gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj
2 zIhjsIj, SjUhIjF  gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj
wIUil   43-28 (36.0%) 2-89 (87.1%) 65-61 (18.0%) 1 45 41 85 84 5 1 4 5 5 21 5  



Terms:
Field Goals :  2PM-A  (2 point Field Goal made-attempts)     3PM-A  (3 point Field Goal made-attempts)   FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive)  DEF (Defensive)   TOT  (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed)  RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor)  AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes)  AST (assists)  ST (steals)   TO (Turnovers)   PTS (points)  RNK (ranking)