BOSTON -- Beaten L.A.
The Lakers came to their final resting place in the frenzied home of their most hated historical rival, drifting far from victory in a 131-92 Game 6 loss to the Boston Celtics that was every bit as uneven as the score indicated.
Looking nothing like the team that ripped through the Western Conference, the Lakers were yanked apart at the seams by a Boston team that pushed them from one end to the other in one of the most decisive games in NBA Finals history.
The Celtics won the series, 4-2, and took their 17th NBA championship, three more than the Lakers, in front of a jubilant crowd Tuesday at TD Banknorth Garden. The most one-sided game in Finals history remained a 42-point victory by Chicago over Utah (96-54) in 1998.
Game 4 will be the one that bothers the Lakers over the next 3 1/2 months, a lost 24-point lead all that needs to be said, but Tuesday night will also sting, the Celtics leading by as many as 43 in the final minutes.
There were too many culprits to name for the Lakers, from the recurring frontcourt issues to Kobe Bryant's continual shooting woes to another night of lethargy from the reserves. There will be plenty of time to ponder it all on the Lakers' six-hour flight back home this morning.
Bryant spoke in short, clipped sentences after the game, frustration evident in his words and posture.
"Just upset more than anything," he said. "But I'm proud of the way that we performed all year. I'm proud of my guys. At the same time, understand that second place just means you're the first loser."
Paul Pierce was the Finals most valuable player, hitting the Lakers hard on numerous fronts throughout the series -- points, assists, free throws. He had 17 points, 10 assists and made seven of eight free throws in Game 6. He began dancing on the Celtics' bench during a timeout in the final minutes, much to the crowd's delight.
Pierce outplayed the regular-season MVP, Bryant, who again shot poorly in Game 6 -- 22 points on seven-for-22 shooting; he made only three of his last 17 shots. For the series, he averaged 25.7 points and shot only 40.5%.
As if on cue, the Garden crowd derisively chanted "Where is Kobe?" while the Celtics hovered near a 30-point lead early in the fourth quarter. At the time, Bryant was sitting on the bench with three other starters.
"Kobe started off that game with a hot hand and then I think his legs, you could see his shot was flat, he didn't get his shot going, and it really changed the course of the game," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.
