There only needed to be five games for the Lakers to defend and reclaim their chmapionship title. Ending their season with the best winning percentage in postseason play at .937 with a 15-1 playoff record, the Lakers becoming the first team to remain unbeaten on the road.

Despite impressive play from Allen Iverson (with 37 points) and Tyrone Hill (18 points, 13 rebounds) the 76ers finally just didn't have enough to ovecome the multi-faceted Lakers. Game Five, beyond the usual Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant considerations, was a Laker symposium on behind the line three point shooting. Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Kobe Bryant combined for a total of six while Derek Fischer proved the most devastating with an incredible six of eight from downtown.

For the second year in a row the Lakers have earned the right to call themselves the best team in the NBA and likewise Shaquille O'Neal was once more named the finals MVP. Each trophy resting easily in larger than life hands, Shaquille O'Neal smiled and gave persepctive to this, and maybe other future championship wins, "The rest are to stamp myself in histroy."

Already there was the talk of a Laker dynasty. Of being one of the best teams ever. While the champagne bubbled and fizzed. And still, not too far off, was the lasting rebellious echo of the other teams' fans. In their own way pointing the Lakers to an uphill road. Chanting their preference of something otherwise.

Such was how the last game of the 2000-2001 NBA season ended and gave way to excited thoughts of season's upcoming.

The stadium lights dimmed late last night in Philadelphia; the fading light seeming to echo the 76ers dwindling hopes of an NBA championship.

It was the other team, the Los Angeles Lakers, that showed up in championship form last night, prevailing over the Philadelphia 76ers, 100-86. It was the closest thing to a rout either team has had during this usually hard fought, hard won series. Even more impressive in the Lakers' dominating victory was that, up until this point, the Philadelphia 76ers had amassed a 6-0 record when faced with a must win pressure situation. Usually at the hands of the venerable league MVP Allen Iverson.

But it was a different story last night with Iverson hitting only five for 19 before getting hot in the fourth quarter; instigating the closest thing to a challenge the 76ers were able to establish. Which was contrary to the wrecking ball that Shaquille O' Neal was/is/continues to be for the Lakers' offense. Shaq ended up with 34 points while Kobe Bryant was one assist away from a triple double. Equally important for the Lakers was the well rounded play from the rest of the team - especially from behind the three-point line (hitting 10 of 19).

Now it comes down to whether the Lakers can close out the series with a victory on Friday in Game 5 or if the 76ers have enough spark and energy to prolong what might be the inevitable; what with no team ever having won a series after being down by three games.

Game 5 will be played Friday, June 16th in Philadelphia.

The mourning bell was ringing for the Philadelphia 76ers long before they took the court in Game One of the 2001 NBA Finals. The hallowed Hall of Records Long Standing were in the none too silent discussions of a Los Angeles Lakers' errorless championship run. Meanwhile, the pundits were pontificating on high in evaluation of how the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers fared among the greatest of the greatest. The series, in other words, was a joke and a perfunctory gesture.

That is until the Philadelphia 76ers' MVP Allen Iverson led his team to a stunning first game win (on the road!) against the supposedly impervious Lakers. Iverson was a hurricane of energy and emotion; was near impossible to guard; was everything the MYP title promises, and he ended up with 41 points in four quarters before clinching the game in overtime with seven unanswered more. Last year's MYP, Shaquille O'Neal, had 41 but the rest of the Lakers' game looked desperate and confused. Kobe Bryant was held to 15 points shooting seven of 22.

The Lakers vowed to take the next game at home and Kobe Bryant expected himself to perform near miracles. On one hand the Lakers' accomplished everything they wanted to do. Shaquille O'Neal tied the NBA record for blocked shots in an NBA Finals game (eight), Kobe Bryant had 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and even Derek Fischer, who was scoreless in the first game, scored 14 points. But on the flip side, the game nonetheless became a white knuckler with the Lakers winning the game only in the final few minutes. Iverson and the 76ers were and remain far, far, from intimidated and their passion to win discounts any mention of the word 'blowout.'

The real test so far, with the series tied up 1-1, was in last night's Game Three thriller in Philadelphia. The Lakers led pretty much from the second quarter but still the 76ers managed to claw their way back into a tight game. O'Neal fouled out with roughly two and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter giving way to a tight pressured situation for the Lakers. Somehow they managed to hold on to victory despite Iverson bringing the 76ers within one and with only 26.7 seconds left in the game.

There are four games left in this year's NBA Finals; two more in Philadelphia and two more in Los Angeles. And while the talk of record breaking sweeps have deservedly been brushed aside, there is the more relevant talk of heart and guts and integrity and toughness -- and that the team that can muster the most of these will be the rightful bearer of the 2001 NBA Championship Trophy.

Game Four will be played Wednesday June 13th in Philadelphia