A Hollywood Ending

Vindication for Los Angeles.

One year after being blown out in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals by the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers came back this year and capped off their 15th championship with a 99-86 Game Five elimination of the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena.

Finals MVP Kobe Bryant had 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks in the clincher, but unlike last year, also got big contributions from big men Pau Gasol (14 points, 15 rebounds in Game 5) and Lamar Odom (17 points, 10 rebounds) both on the offensive end and defensively against Magic superman Dwight Howard. Notable, too, was the defense and strength of center Andrew Bynum, who missed last year's finals with a knee injury. Who knows where the series would be without Derek Fisher, who shook off a terrible shooting slump throughout the West playoff bracket to hit two big threes (to tie game, to take lead) to give the Lakers a Game 4 win in OT. But the focus should be on Bryant, who displayed tremendous leadership and determination to get his 4th title, and first without Shaq as a sidekick.

"To have the attitude of we're going to become a better defensive team, a better rebounding team and then to actually do it and to see it all happen, it feels like I'm dreaming," Bryant said. "I can't believe this moment is here."

The championship is also head coach Phil Jackson's record-breaking 10th title, as he breaks a tie with Boston's late Red Auerbach who had 9.

"I'll smoke the cigar tonight in memory of Red," Jackson said. "He was a great guy."

Meanwhile, for the Magic, it was a disappointing end to a great season, as they advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 14 years, taking down the defending champion Celtics and LeBron James and the heavily favored Cavaliers in the process. They had chances in Games 2 and 4 to win down the stretch, but ultimately caved under pressure. Magic superstar center Dwight Howard never got going in the series, and finished with just 11 points in Game 5.

"It hurts," Howard said. "It hurts a lot. But you can learn a lot from losing. Sometimes you've got to lose to win."

In addition to Howard's struggles, the Magic, which had depended on three-pointers the whole season to get them to the Finals, could not convert them in the series, and shot just 8 of 27 in Game 5.

In the end, Kobe Bryant was not going to be denied his 4th title, and he led the Lakers to a magical ending.