Kobe Bryant scored 32 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 8 assists in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
And he was the third most important player on his team.
That's because, when the game was on the line, it wasn't the greatest closer in the game who carried the Lakers to a 3-1 series lead, it was their role players.
Trailing by 12 points at halftime, the Lakers needed a furious run to get back in the game. Enter Trevor Ariza, Los Angeles' defensive specialist. Ariza sparked the Laker comeback in the second half, scoring nine consecutive points at one point and finishing the third quarter with 13 of his 16 points. Behind Ariza's brilliant play, the Lakers erased the entire 12-point halftime deficit and took a four-point lead heading into the final quarter after outscoring the Magic 30-14 in the third.
Usually when Kobe Bryant is on the floor, a four-point lead heading into the fourth quarter is as good as gold. But in Game 4, it would take more than the usual Kobe Bryant onslaught to defeat the Magic.
Enter Derek Fisher.
Fisher came into the game trailing only Robert Horry (56) and Michael Jordan (42) for the most three-pointers in NBA Finals history. After starting 0-of-5 from behind the long line in Game 4, the 34-year-old came up through with what very well could be the two biggest shots of his career, a career in which he's made a living out of making big shots.
After Dwight Howard missed two free throws that would have iced the game with just over 10 seconds to play, the Lakers were given one last chance to tie the game in regulation. With 11.1 seconds left, the Lakers called timeout and opted to take the ball the length of the floor instead of advancing the ball, a strategy they've used throughout the playoffs.
Everyone in the building knew that the building knew the ball was going to Kobe Bryant. If ever there was a time for Bryant to trust his teammates, it was that play.
After an immediate double-team, Bryant swung the ball to Trevor Ariza who quickly passed ahead to Derek Fisher. With Jameer Nelson giving him plenty of room, Fisher stepped into a 27-foot three-pointer and tied the game. Overtime.
The greatest closer in the game deferred to the player who had struggled the most of any Laker starter in this series. And it worked like a charm.
As you would expect, Kobe tried to put the Lakers on his back in overtime. He scored the first two Laker baskets in overtime. He took four of the teams first five field goal attempts in overtime.
Yet just like in regulation, it was everyone but Kobe who stepped up down the stretch when the Lakers needed a basket.
With the game tied with just over a minute left, Ariza retrieved his own miss and gave the Lakers a new shot clock. After a Kobe miss and yet another Lakers offensive rebound, it was D-Fish time again.
With Kobe posting Mickael Pietrus, Jameer Nelson was forced to double-team Bryant, leaving Fisher all alone from the top of the key.
Bryant quickly passed out of the double-team and hit Fisher in rhythm for another 27-foot three pointer. Game over. Series all but over. Another heartbreaking and back-breaking loss for the Magic.
Kobe did everything he possibly could to win this game for the Lakers and it wasn't enough. In the midst of a poor shooting night (by Kobe's standards anyway), Bryant had no choice but to rely on his teammates. As a result, the most "selfish" superstar in the NBA became the only Laker besides Magic Johnson to record 8 assists in six consecutive postseason games, and the first player since Jordan to have at least 25 points and 8 assists in three straight NBA Finals games.
It took Jordan a while to finally trust his teammates enough to let them win a game for him, too. But because he finally did, Jordan has the John Paxson's and the Steve Kerr's of the world to thank for his run of six NBA titles.
Kobe may not have that same level of trust M.J. had with his teammates yet, as evidenced by his 31 shot attempts in Game 4, but if and when the Lakers go on to win their 15th NBA title, he'll have his role players to thank.
No one player can win a title by himself. With players like Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza on the floor last night, one player didn't have to. Now the Lakers are one win away from an NBA title.
And the beauty of it: it took a total team effort to get to this point.
Visit Sports Central each day after every NBA Finals game to read Scott Shepherd's immediate reaction to the game. You can also follow Scott before, during, and after every NBA Finals game on Twitter at twitter.com/scottosports.
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