As the 2009-10 season wound down, the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the best record in the Western Conference, but they had a significant problem.
Kobe Bryant’s right knee was troublesome, as it was swelling up and causing him discomfort. He was also dealing with a fractured index finger he had sustained months ago.
As a result, he had some embarrassing shooting performances towards the end of the schedule.
He wasn’t feeling much better as the playoffs started, and to make matters worse, L.A. had to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The Thunder had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, all in their early 20s, and their supporting cast wasn’t too shabby either. Durant had just become the youngest player to win the NBA’s scoring title.
The Lakers won an ugly Game 1, and they struggled to hold off the young and feisty Thunder in Game 2.
But Bryant shook off his knee ailment to score 39 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, which was just enough for a 95-92 win.
When the series moved to Oklahoma City, the Lakers struggled, losing the next two contests, but they would take Game 5 in a blowout and close things out in Game 6.
It was a reminder that while the Thunder had a bright future, the NBA still belonged to Bryant and the Purple and Gold.
