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Last night the Los Angeles Lakers were able to take a 2-0 series lead in the 2009 NBA Finals with an overtime home victory against the Orlando Magic. Five years ago today, the Lakers had similar overtime success in a Game Two at the Staples Center. Led by Kobe Bryant’s 33 points, the Lakers held off the surprising Detroit Pistons to even up the 2004 NBA Finals at one game apiece. Unfortunately for a team with four future Hall of Famers in Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, the Lakers would not win another guy in a series dominated by the Pistons. Continue on to examine the 2004 NBA Finals as it compares with the 2009 NBA Finals.

When played the right way, basketball is a beautiful game characterized by movement, rhythm and flow. Last night’s Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers lacked many of these qualities and was hardly a thing of beauty, especially on the offensive end of the court. Orlando’s Courtney Lee had an opportunity to make up for the poor quality of play with a brilliantly-designed lay up at the buzzer that would have won the game for the Magic, but he missed. Lucky to have gotten to overtime, the Lakers would go on a late 7-point run to propel the 101-96 victory and 2-1 series lead. Continue on to examine the less-than-impressive grades for Game Two of a Finals series that has been very disappointing thus far.

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