Triumph of human will as Lakers take 16th title

These tests of trust have always been a challenge for Kobe Bryant when to extend it,when to reel it back,and most of all when to let the bonds carry him through the most important moments....

These tests of trust have always been a challenge for Kobe Bryant when to extend it,when to reel it back,and most of all when to let the bonds carry him through the most important moments.

Bryant passed,and Ron Artest hit a 3-pointer. Bryant misfired,and Pau Gasol made things right. And finally,when time had run out and the ball was in his arms once more,Bryant leaped,confident his team mates would catch him. Only then were the streamers unleashed,turning Staples Center into a purple-and-gold snow globe.

In the middle was Bryant,bursting with joy on Thursday night,after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a strenuous 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics and a second straight championship,concluding a memorable seven-game series. Only when it was over,and the Champagne corks had popped,did Bryant confess to the intense emotions that drove him to this point,to his fifth championship and his first against the Lakers historic rivals. I just wanted it so bad, he said. I wanted it so,so bad.

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Bryant now has as many rings as Magic Johnson,one more than Shaquille ONeal and one fewer than Michael Jordan. He was named Most Valuable Player of the finals for the second straight year,after averaging 28.6 points,8 rebounds,3.9 assists. Asked what the championship meant to him individually,Bryant said gleefully,Just got one more than Shaq, his former co-star and co-combatant. You know how I am I dont forget anything.

It was just their third finals victory over the Celtics in 12 meetings,dating to 1959. No two teams have met more for the championship. The Lakers will soon raise a 16th banner,one shy of the Celtics record. It was not Bryants best playoff game,or even close. He forced shots and forced the action,admitting later that he had let himself succumb to the emotions. He went 6 for 24 from the field,missed all six of his 3-pointers,turned the ball over four times and had to earn every one of his 23 points. He also grabbed 15 rebounds.

And in the games critical moment,he reached out to his most enigmatic team mate. Wallace had just hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 76-73. Bryant had the chance to take the shot himself,but passed to an open Artest,standing alone in the corner. Artest launched the shot and found the net,giving the Lakers the cushion they needed. He trusted us and made us feel so good, Artest said,turning giddy,and he passed me the ball. He never passes me the ball,and he passed me the ball. Kobe passed me the ball,and I shot a 3.

It was a strange series,lacking a single dominant performer or theme. Pierce and Rajon Rondo faded in and out of the series. One night,Kevin Garnett looked old and slow. The next,he looked renewed and dominant,an offensive force and a defensive menace. Allen set a finals record for 3-point shooting in Game 2,then lost his touch for a week. The Celtics won one game solely on the strength of the combination of Glen Davis and Nate Robinson. The Lakers won one solely through the will of Fisher,their aging and oft-doubted point guard. The finale was all about human will,and one human in particular.