Lakers vs. Celtics Game 6: Kobe Bryant’s Teammates Set the Stage for Game 7

Kobe Bryant was asked how the Los Angeles Lakers would prepare for game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals after the Lakers' dominating 89-67 victory over the Boston Celtics in game six, and his response was classic.

Bryant coolly responded by saying, "I ain't tripping", which was much different from his words questioning the efforts of his teammates after the Lakers' loss in game five.

Maybe Bryant's not tripping because if Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and the Lakers' reserves can match their performance from game six, Los Angeles could very well capture their second consecutive NBA Championship.

The Lakers extended their season because of Gasol's near triple double of 17 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists and they won because of Artest's 15 points in his latest reclamation project.

But most importantly, the Lakers won because of suffocating defense which limited Boston to 33 percent shooting from the field and 67 points—the second lowest point total in NBA Finals history.

Los Angeles' 52-39 rebounding advantage didn't hurt either and now the Lakers have a very different look going into game seven, the first in Bryant's NBA Finals' career.

Some people had very vocally declared the Lakers' season over after their dismal showing in game five, but now the momentum has once again shifted in Los Angeles' favor.

The series has turned into the epic battle of style and wills that everyone was predicting and Boston may have to face the prospects of a game seven showdown without their starting center.

Kendrick Perkins injured his knee seven minutes into game six; and if he is unable to play on Thursday, the Celtics will be forced to rely on seldom used players like Shelden Williams and Marquis Daniels.

I'm not sure if Perkins would have made much difference in this game because the Lakers responded to Bryant's criticism by dominating game six from beginning t...

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