2010 NBA Champions: Big Shot Ron Artest's Clutch Shot Lifts Lakers To 16th Title

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but it didn’t matter.  Thanks to an unlikely hero, the Los Angeles Lakers are NBA Champions for a second consecutive season.

Ron Artest’s three-pointer with 1:01 remaining in the game gave the Lakers a 79-73 lead and all but secured a 16th NBA title for the franchise.

Artest hit a number of big baskets and finished with 20 points while harassing Paul Pierce on the defensive end.  With Kobe Bryant having one of the worst shooting nights of his career and Pau Gasol struggling to get the ball inside, Artest emerged as a competent third option.

After the 83-79 victory, he was unable to get his thoughts and words on the same page.

Artest had the presence of mind to give props to Queensbridge, promote his upcoming rap album, and thank his psychiatrist.  But as for what had just happened on the court, he had no answers.

Until the last minute-and-a-half of the fourth quarter, the highly anticipated Game Seven had been a puzzling disappointment.  Tough defense and really bad shooting produced a slug-fest filled with physical play and sloppy execution.

Bryant finished six-of-24 from the field and looked completely out of sorts.  Gasol shot six-of-16 from the floor and an uncharacteristically poor seven-of-13 from the free throw line. 

Ray Allen hit his first three-pointer in the game but shot a woeful three-of-14 on the night, missing a number of open looks.  Thanks to Artest’s defense, an exhausted Paul Pierce shot five-of-15, capping off a surprisingly lackluster performance in the Finals.

Artest’s resolve was contagious.  The Lakers kept attacking the boards and dug in defensively, eventually appearing to wear down the aging Celtics.

In the end, 32 percent shooting was good enough to win Game Seven of the NBA Finals.

Artest looked tentative early but began to assert himself in the second quarter.  He didn’t pass up shots or hide from the moment.

When he caught the ball on the wing with barely a minute remaining, he did what he has done for his entire NBA career. 

He didn’t think—he simply acted on impulse and took the shot.  Just like that, Ron Artest became an NBA Champion.

Meanwhile, the Celtics absolutely wilted down the stretch after blowing a 13-point lead.

Rajon Rondo had some nice moments in this final game but was a non-factor for much of the fourth quarter.  The Celtics as a whole slowed down the tempo drastically, allowing the Lakers to clamp down in the half court.

Boston’s health issues were clearly a factor in Game Seven.  The injury to Kendrick Perkins forced Rasheed Wallace to play huge minutes and hurt the Celtics on the boards.

The Lakers held a 53-40 edge on the glass, including a 23-8 advantage in offensive rebounding.

Don’t look now, but Kobe Bryant is suddenly only one championship behind Michael Jordan.

The Lakers face a number of tough questions in the offseason, including one regarding the future of Head Coach Phil Jackson, who after the game said he is considering retirement because of multiple health issues.  He is also concerned about taking a pay cut and could be lured elsewhere depending on what happens in free agency later this summer.

Bringing back Derek Fisher is another priority.  His performance in the 2010 playoffs suggested that he isn’t done quite yet.

Regardless of what happens with Jackson and Fisher, the Lakers figure to contend for a three-peat next season.