Published on : 12/10/2020 – 07:29
Ten years after the last coronation of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers go back to the top of the NBA. Worn by LeBron James, they won their 17th title, tying Boston’s record, after their victory in the final against Miami in the final.
Led by LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned NBA champions for the 17th time in their history, tying the Boston Celtics record, after beating the Miami Heat 106 to 93 on Sunday, October 11 in the Disney World bubble in Florida.
The Californian team has won four wins to two. It is a very special title which is added to its formidable list of achievements, with the supreme pleasure of making a place for itself in the Pantheon alongside the Celtics, hated rivals.
But pride is mixed with immense emotion. Nine months after former club star Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others, it was consoled Lakers who lifted this Larry O’Brien trophy to the sky, where the star “Bryant” will have accompanied them well during this season decidedly not like the others.
“We have experienced a heartbreaking tragedy with the loss of our beloved Kobe and Gianna. May this trophy remind us that when we come together, believe in each other, amazing things can happen,” he said. says owner Jeanie Buss. This extra soul was useful to them to overcome a Heat team still admirable in courage, but which had no more gasoline in the engine, like Jimmy Butler who will nevertheless have passed into a another dimension in this final with performances worthy of those of a champion.
LeBron James in MVP mode
But opposite there was the one who remains at 35 years the best player in the world and who had promised to the “Lakers Nation” to bring back the title to him, in order to “perpetuate the legacy” of Kobe. In doing so, he too now has a place in the hearts of fans. LeBron knew that his previous coronations in the Miami (2012, 2013) and Cleveland (2016) jerseys did not matter to them and that his heartfelt tribute paid in tears to his glorious elder, five days after his death, would not be enough. So he kept his word on the floor.
“This title means a lot. I told Jeanie when I came here that I wanted to put this franchise back in its place. We just want respect. Rob Pelinka (the general manager), coach Frank Vogel, the club, the Laker Nation want respect and I also want fucking respect, ”he responded.
Logically designated MVP of the final, the “King” still reigned over the meeting, evidenced by his triple-double (28 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists), the 28th of his career in the play-offs, two units from the record by Magic Johnson. He was not alone. Anthony Davis dominated in the racket and was still a very dissuasive bulwark (19 pts, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks). Behind this explosive duo, the second knives were this time very sharp, like Rajon Rondo, a real X factor with his 19 points (8/11) off the bench, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17 pts).
Such a special season
So much so that for the Heat, for which it was the sixth final in fifteen years (three were won in 2006, 2012, 2013), the last step was a little too high. And this final defeat, quite severe, does not illustrate to what extent they were rivals for unwavering self-sacrifice in this final. Butler limited to 12 points (8 assists), Bam Adebayo was the most bleeding in attack (25 pts, 10 rebounds). It was he who allowed his team to get closer to the score in the last quarter.
As for Goran Dragic, who made an unexpected return, after three matches without playing because of a plantar aponeurosis, he logically lacked rhythm (5 pts), while shooters Tyler Herro (7 pts) and Duncan Robinson ( 10 pts) did not weigh. This does not detract from the beautiful course of Miami. But 2020 was the year of the Lakers.
It started in tragedy, it ends in jubilation, at the end of a single season in the NBA, the longest in its history, the most chaotic too, after four and a half months of interruption due to the coronavirus and in a climate of fight against racial injustice at its peak this summer.
With AFP
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