Other DBSF Closing Thoughts on Game 7 and the Finals

Way not to be too bitter Kobe: When asked about what this fifth title meant to him, Kobe (6-24 shooting, yes that equals 25%) exclaimed "Just got one more than Shaq." It's good to see that Kobe's matured personally and emotionally, and that he doesn't hold grudges anymore. No comment of 'I want to thank my teammates/ family/ fans.' No, no Kobe just wants us to remember (presumably in the event that we lack the finger digits necessary to add to four or five) that he has one more ring than Shaquille O' Neal.

Ron Artest establishes himself as an all-time DBSFer: Most people will remember Artest's 20 points, 5 steal game 7 as a high-light of his career. DBSF, however, revels more in Artest's comments and personality. Artest was already on his way to an all-time DBSFer when a few seasons ago with the Bulls he announced that he would occasionally drink liquor at half-time of games (he was playing in). Last night he solidified his position after the game when he thanked his psychiatrist.

Another memorable Artest post-game quote from game 7: “Late in the second half, [Kobe] started to move the ball and attack and pass. He trusted us . . . and he passed me the ball. He never passes me the ball, and he passed me the ball. . . You can hear him in your head, ‘Ron, don’t shoot . . . don’t shoot.” Not only does this make DBSF like Artest more but it increases DBSF's hate for (the non-playing) Kobe.


Lamar Odom's +/-: Kobe did it! Fifth Championship! He's Jordan! That last statement is not only categorically untrue but it bothers the nether regions of DBSF's conscience about as deeply as USC's Pete Carrol acting surprised over the recent allegations that he ran essentially a professional NCAA football team for almost 10 years. Look at the +/- stats over the last 10 playoff games for the Lakers (so the Celts' series plus the last three from the Suns' series). Bryant is third on the team in +/- with 29.

The leaders are Artest (48) and Odom (43). And, Odom leads all Lakers with a +/- per minute with 0.143 (Kobe is less than half--half!!--at 0.69). This means for every minute Odom plays the Lakers gain a lead at twice the rate they do when Bryant is on the floor. For all of the Kobe-love that all the sportswriters with one-week memories will heep on Bryant, keep in mind that--at least in terms of his team's scoring (that is still the primary measure of "winning" in basketball, isn't it?)--Odom was a critical factor coming off the bench in this series.