Lakers Win 17th NBA Title!

Image Courtesy of SportsMax.TV

Image Courtesy of SportsMax.TV

Stefan Erwin, Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Lakers are once again NBA Champions!  After a 10 year “drought”, which is hardly a drought to almost every other team, the Lakers have done it again and won their 17th NBA Championship tying the Boston Celtics for the most NBA titles in league history.

Led by their two stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis the Lakers had a terrific season getting the first seed in the Western Conference, then losing only 5 games in the playoffs and winning the NBA Championship.

The Lakers had been one of two favorites to win the title after acquiring superstar Anthony Davis last offseason to pair with the man who has been dominating the league for over a decade, LeBron James.  While they had the star power of two superstars, many doubted them as there were concerns with the Lakers’ depth and LeBron’s aging body.  However, they proved the doubters wrong this playoff with many role players showing up in big moments and LeBron showing no signs of slowing down.  After steamrolling their way through the Western Conference, they were set to play the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

This was a very entertaining finals between two great teams that went to six games.  Unfortunately, in game 1 two of the Heat’s stars, all-star Center Bam Adebayo and star point guard Goran Dragic went down with injuries.  The Lakers then took games 1 and 2.  In game 3 Jimmy Butler had an outstanding performance with a 40-point triple-double.  Many thought this performance had turned the tide in the series, but the Lakers proceeded to win game 4 to take a 3-1 lead on the Heat.

Then, in game 5 Bam Adebayo returned and in a fantastic duel between LeBron James and Jimmy Butler, the Heat won with a great performance from sharpshooter Duncan Robinson also.  Finally, in game 6 the Lakers won in a blowout with great performances from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

LeBron James won his fourth NBA title and his fourth Finals MVP becoming the first player to ever win Finals MVP with three different franchises.  His finals performance was unreal which we have gotten used to at this point.  He averaged 29.8 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, and 8.5 assists per game.  These numbers are unprecedented, and we are lucky to watch this greatness in the NBA Finals.  Congratulations, to the Lakers on their 17th Championship!