When the Philadelphia 76ers shocked the Los Angeles Lakers by taking Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals, some thought the two teams would be in for a prolonged war.
It was the first time L.A. had lost a game in over two calendar months, and although it won Game 2, it looked a bit vulnerable.
But instead of letting the Sixers make things competitive, the Lakers quickly regained their mojo and took the next two games in Philly.
In Game 5, the Lakers looked to close things out.
Although Allen Iverson and company were competitive early, L.A. turned a 52-48 halftime lead into a large advantage in the third quarter, and the Sixers never really threatened again.
Shaquille O’Neal was an immovable object with 29 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots while Kobe Bryant added 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
But guard Derek Fisher also shined brightly, as he hit 6-of-8 3-pointers en route to 18 points.
The Lakers’ 108-96 victory wrapped up their second straight NBA world championship and a 15-1 postseason record, the best ever to the point.
After all the struggles and intra-squad tension they went through during the season, it was a surreal fairy tale finish for the team that most outside of Southern California associate with Hollywood.
It was an emotional moment for Bryant, who spent much of his childhood in the Delaware Valley area. He had to be briefly excused from the postgame ceremony because he was overcome with emotion.
Usually, the presentation of the Larry O’Brien trophy, emblematic of the world championship, is done at center court regardless of which team wins it. But league officials were so concerned about the unruly and vile nature of Philly sports fans that the ceremony was held in the locker room.
The Lakers didn’t seem to care, as it signified their team reaching their full potential after going through so many failures and struggles not only that season but also in the late 1990s before head coach Phil Jackson arrived.
