About 50 feet away, Kobe Bryant held court at courtside. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar sat on the edge of the scorer’s table, surrounded by so many reporters, one fellow fell off while trying to step down.
“Kobe’s just like Michael Jordan,” Ron Artest said of his luminous teammate while sitting alone far from the media horde during an off day in the Western Conference finals.
Everyone knows the story lines with Bryant — chasing Jordan and his six championship rings, seeking redemption from the Lakers’ loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals. But for Bryant to get “one for the thumb,” the Lakers will need their X factor, Artest, to deliver on defense.
The testy Artest will be assigned to defend Boston’s Paul Pierce beginning with tonight’s Game 1 of the Finals, as much of a heavyweight fight as the NBA postseason can provide.
In one corner, there’s arguably the best defender of this NBA generation, the 6-foot-7, 260-pound Artest. In the other corner, there’s the 6-7, 235-pound Pierce, the 2008 Finals MVP and his team’s leading scorer.
“It’s such a game of momentum, confidence and mojo,” NBA TV analyst Chris Webber said when talking about Artest, who hit the winning shot in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against Phoenix moments after a knucklehead decision to fire up a 3-pointer. “He found it — but can he bring that and can he stop Paul Pierce?”
Nuggets fans know what Artest can do. Remember the game in L.A. this season when he rattled Carmelo Anthony and egged him into silly offensive fouls? Well, Boston fans are aware of this too. In two regular-season games against the Lakers, Pierce averaged just 13 points and 10 shots. In other words, Artest won by knockout. Pierce shot about 40 percent from the field in those two games and averaged just four free throws.
Pierce is a catch-and-shoot small forward who uses multiple screens to slither through the defense. He leads the Celtics in postseason scoring (averaging 19.1 points) and has taken advantage of lesser defenders to get to the paint.
Two years ago Pierce cemented his place in Celtics lore, averaging 21.8 points and 6.3 assists in the Finals while battling through injuries. His success seemed to epitomize the Celtics’ toughness.
When it came to physical play, Boston dominated — sapping the Lakers’ will in the end, a 131-92 blowout in Game 6.
The Lakers regrouped and won the NBA title a year ago, defeating Orlando in the Finals. Then they had a decision to make. Should they try to re-sign Trevor Ariza, a hometown hero who was terrific during the postseason, notably against the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals? Or, for similar money, should they try to sign Artest as a free agent? Artest is frighteningly erratic at the offensive end but can be disruptive at the defensive end, much like a blitzing linebacker.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson decided he wanted Artest, for moments just like these.
“With Phil and Kobe here,” Artest said, “I didn’t even think. I just asked, ‘Where do I sign?’ I’ve been a fan of Phil even before Kobe, back when he was with the Chicago Bulls. And Kobe’s just like Michael Jordan. It’s fun for me. It’s like playing for the Bulls, my favorite team as a kid.”
Well, Kobe and Phil are at it again, the defending champion Lakers hosting Boston tonight in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. They’re eager for redemption, but this time with an ace in the hole.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
Worth answering
Denver Post NBA writer Benjamin Hochman analyzes three key questions for each team in the NBA Finals:
BOSTON CELTICS
1. If starting center Kendrick Perkins gets a technical foul, he faces an automatic one-game suspension. How much will this affect his aggressiveness and demeanor?
2. Concern about Boston’s age disappeared with its impressive showing in earlier playoff rounds. Can veterans Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace hold up for an entire series against L.A.’s imposing frontcourt?
3. Ray Allen can destroy any defense with his long-range shooting, but can he do it against the Lakers? He has struggled notably in the 2008 Finals.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
1. In the 2008 Finals, Lakers star Kobe Bryant shot 38 percent or worse in four of the six games. Can he be more efficient against the Celtics’ defense?
2. The Lakers need big man Andrew Bynum against a rugged Celtics frontcourt. But Bynum has been limited because of an injured right knee that has refilled with fluid after getting drained Monday. How much can he play and how effective can he be? That could swing the series.
3. Ron Artest is a defensive stopper, but erratic on offense. Can he maintain discipline at that end of the court?
NBA Finals
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Best-of-seven series * — if necessary
All games on KMGH-7
Today: Boston at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Boston at L.A. Lakers, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: L.A. Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 10: L.A. Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 13: L.A. Lakers at Boston, 6 p.m.*
Tuesday, June 15: Boston at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.*
Thursday, June 17: Boston at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.*
