"Once you master the mental part of the game, you become a master of the game of basketball" - When Paul Pierce gave Kobe ultimate respect before the 2010 Finals
An NBA Finals win for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics would seriously elevate Kobe Bryant’s resume. After spending the last 14 years trying and successfully reaching virtually every attainable milestone, there was one thing Bryant had left on his wish list: beat the Celtics. Everyone recognized the mission the Black Mamba was on, and his peers respected him dearly for that grind. Paul Pierce pinned Bean and Michael Jordan in the same sentence before the series began.
"Once you master the mental part of the game, you become a master of the game of basketball," Pierce said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. "There's only been one master in basketball ever, and that's Michael Jordan, but Kobe is pretty close."
Bryant and Jordan had been linked since No. 24’s entry into the NBA. Because of their vast similarities in style, talent, and mindset, fans saw a modern-day MJ in the late Laker legend, especially on the game’s biggest stage.
What 2010 meant for Kobe’s legacy
Entering the 2010 NBA Finals, Bryant’s legacy was already cemented in the eyes of many. He had gotten over the “can’t win without Shaq” hurdle a year earlier when his Lakers took down the Orlando Magic. But if he could pull off consecutive titles as the “man” on his team, even the staunchest KB24 naysayers would submit to his greatness.
In addition, Bryant was already the leading scorer in the franchise’s decorated history. He had four NBA championships and numerous All-NBA selections — what was there left to add? Oh yes — another banner at Boston’s expense.
After losing the '08 NBA Finals to those very same Boston Celtics, Kobe had an intense internal drive to avenge his loss and give the Lakers franchise another tally in this all-time rivalry. Some doubters had already begun saying that he's not nearly the same player he was two or three years ago. Of course, the “shot-chucker” and “ball-hog” claims weren’t going to go away regardless of what he did.
The turning point game
The Lakers had the best player in the series, and the best player was doing his thing in Game 5. Bryant’s relentless attack saw him register 38 points thanks to some pretty shot-making and fearless drives to the basket. There were several moments in the series that depicted The Black Mamba’s arguable status as the greatest tough shot maker of all time. While Kobe’s squad lost Game 5, the Mamba’s offensive explosion spilled enough life back into the Lakers to perform in Game 6.
The Lakers won Game 6 by 22 points, as Pau Gasol had a brilliant all-around game with a 17-point double-double. Other auxiliary players for Los Angeles stepped up big time. Using their newly discovered collectiveness, the Lakers won a Game 7 dogfight and an NBA title, No. 5 for the late Laker legend.
