Former Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol revealed Kobe Bryant’s support overcoming 2008 Finals loss
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Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant
NBA has always been about winning and winning big. More evidently winning the championship at the end of the season. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are two of the teams tied at 17 championship titles each. Los Angeles Lakers have had a rich history with a big man in every championship run. While the team was in drought without a title, they acquired Pau Gasol. The big man Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant inched the team towards another title very soon. However, Pau Gasol revealed how Kobe Bryant helped him overcome the phase when they lost to Boston Celtics in 2008 finals.
As soon as Pau Gasol was a part of the Lakers’ roster, he helped the team into finals. The Los Angeles Lakers faced the mighty Boston Celtics in the 2008 finals. However, they faced a defeat in the finals that was not normal for the reigning champions. But finals defeat was not only the lose he faced. The Spanish international also lost to USA in the Olympics. These were trying months for Paul Gasol that had demoralized him a lot.
Overcoming failure with Kobe Bryant; Pau Gasol
In a recent interview Pau Gasol revealed how Kobe Bryant took on the situation. The Mamba was a spine support at the Los Angeles Lakers. He said, “When we lost to the Celtics in the Finals and they beat us in the Olympic finals in China in 2008, he came in the next preseason training camp and he brought his gold medal to the locker room. He put it in my locker.” It was the 2nd finals loss for the Lakers after 2003 finals. But they were determined to put the loses behind and play for glory.
Gasol added, “‘We lost the Finals last year, which was very painful. You lost the Olympics against us. Don’t allow yourself to lose again in this season. We gotta win the championship.’ That’s how he motivated me to step it up a notch that season,” acknowledging Kobe Bryant. Kobe was the support system at Lakers. Whenever the executives failed to get players out of their comfort zone on game, Kobe took the responsibility. Los Angeles Lakers had finished the season with 65 wins before facing Utah Jazz in playoffs.
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The 2008 season is still of remembrance with multiple records being shattered to pieces. Gasol was very comfortable with the Lakers having Kobe Bryant by his side. Soon he tripped the team into the finals like no other season. They won the title once again with his dominating big man game.
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Sumeet Singh
(384 Articles Published)