The Lakers are not the same team that lost in the 2008 NBA Finals to these Boston Celtics.
Just ask Kobe Bryant who led the Lakers with 30 points and added seven rebounds and six assists, as he and L.A. more than proved it tonight in their 102-89 win over the Celtics to take Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
He had something to prove to the Celtics, who defeated his Lakers in six games when the two teams last met in the NBA Finals two years ago.
He put an exclamation point on Boston's evening as he drained a three-pointer with seconds left to give him 30 points for the night.
In the 12th finals meeting between two of NBA's most storied franchises, both teams tried to assert themselves early.
Just 27 seconds into the game, Ron Artest and Paul Pierce picked up double technical fouls for tumbling onto the floor after locking elbows with each other.
The Lakers were clearly the aggressors as they outrebounded Boston by a 42-31 margin.
Los Ang ...
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Article written by Louie Longoria