Update 9/25/22: ABC’s open from Game 1 of the 2004 NBA Finals, which saw the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers go down to defeat against the Detroit Pistons. This was posted to the site the night the Lakers and star Kobe Bryant won the 2009 NBA title, their first since 2002. The 2004 game marked the end of the Shaq and Kobe era, and the 2009 game marked the end of any question that Bryant could lead a team by himself.
As narrated by Al Michaels:
“When you’re down three games to one, the math is simple. Tonight’s the night for a star to shine ever brighter, to draw every ounce from your reserve. It’s about staying alive to keep a dream alive. The stars are assembled, but can they get aligned? When you’ve been there before, it’s about looking inward for the solution.
On the flip side, when you’re up three to one, can you deal the final blow? You’ve been quicker and more resolute and big numbers have come from lesser knowns. Can your late winter move pay off on the eve of summer? Your mantra is ‘do it the right way’ and you’ll try to prove once again that it’s not who you are, but how you play, that matters most.
Lakers-Pistons in the NBA Finals, tonight Game 5.”
