Game 7

I watched it. And I just can't seemed to get enough of it. I am watching videos and interviews of after the game up to now.

Artest was special this night. Most brave when he told everybody in an interview that he sought psychiatric help to handle the mental part of the game. In my mind, he was most brave because to become a champion, he needed to work on, not on his strength but had to accept his weakness and do something about it. He was the MAN of Game 7.

Pau Gasol had, as always, his steady and silent magnificence in full view. Derek, was being Derek. Clutch. And let's not forget Sascha. He knocked down two free throws after a timeout. Apparently, it was a play designed by the 11th time champion Coach Phil for him. A play that will have LA inbound and Sascha will be the receiver. Phil had the foresight, he will be fouled and he will knock down the two free throws even if he did not play a single second of the game before that. Brilliant.

Last point.

Most people would argue that Kobe's imprint was not in the game. To that, I would say, you are missing the point.

Kobe was everywhere. The mere fact that Boston tried everything to contain him and in doing so dared his teammates to step up that's the time when Kobe showed up everywhere, in his teammates. Kobe's imprint was obvious for me when Boston was up eleven points and LA had to claw themselves back in. That spirit. That drive. That competitiveness. That's Kobe. Only this night, Kobe did not have the monopoly of being Kobe. Kobe was in his teammates.

My hats off to Boston. But this night, belonged to the purple and gold.

As Doc Rivers said a day before Game 7, "They are a great team. We are a great team. May the best team win..."