Il y a quelques jours j'étais à la Nouvelle-Orléans pour le dernier match des Hornets VS Spurs. Une ambiance de feu, une expérience de fou. Le spectacle à l'américaine totale. Et je me connais en expérience totale (comprenne qui pourra). Sauf que maintenant que nous sommes rendus à la finale opposant les Lakers aux Celtics, je suis dégoûté. Tout est déjà joué d'avance. Les dés sont pipés. Les Lakers vont gagner. Je le sais. C'est Electronic Arts qui me l'a dit. Si si. Je peux même vous dire que ça va se jouer en 7 matchs. Kobe Bryant sera sacré MVP avec une moyenne de 29 points et 6 rebonds.

Comment puis-je être si sûr de moi ? Eh bien car c'est NBA LIVE 09  qui me l'a dit ! En effet, EA a essayé (à nouveau) une étonnante expérience : faire jouer la finale en virtuelle par une console. Et la machine a livré son impitoyable verdict (détails des matches en V.O. juste en dessous). Amusant en tout cas. Ça vous rappellerait pas le postulat de départ d'un certain Rocky Balboa ?

Game 1
Celtics strike first over Lakers 105-99
Point Leaders
Kevin Garnett - 20 Points, 9 Rebounds, 4 Blocks
Kobe Bryant - 25 Points, 10 Rebounds, 7 Assists
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 47%
LA - 45%

Recap - The Fleet Center erupts after an exciting Game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Kevin Garnett leads his team in scoring and offensive rebounds. Also a monster on the defensive side of the ball, Garnett's blocking rampage is reminiscent of the Bill Russell era.

Game 2
Lakers quiet Celtic fans at Fleet Center winning 96-90
Point Leaders
Paul Pierce - 24 Points, 9 Assists
Kobe Bryant - 30 Points, 4 Three-pointers
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 47%
LA - 47%

Recap - An uncontested Kobe Bryant slam dunk sets the tone early in the first quarter. Kobe and the Lakers never relinquish the lead resulting in a 6-point victory and more importantly, a split of the first two games in Boston.

Game 3

Lakers dominate at home Game 3, 109-101
Point Leaders
Paul Pierce - 23 Points, 4 steals
Kobe Bryant - 36 Points, 9 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 46%
LA - 49%

Recap - Paul Pierce has a big game but didn't match up to Kobe's near triple-double performance. Kobe's dazzling dunk rejuvenates the Lakers and the fans at the Staples Center. The momentum shifts towards the Lakers after taking Game 3.

Game 4
Celtics come back to win 91-88 victory over Lakers
Point Leaders
Ray Allen - 29 Points, 6 three-pointers, 4 Assists
Pau Gasol - 19 Points, 14 Rebounds, 3 Blocks
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 49%
LA - 44%

Recap - Ray Allen leads the Celtics to an important victory in the Staples Center. Allen's strong perimeter play gave the Celtics a strong lead early in the 4th quarter and ties up the series.

Game 5
LA leads series by winning Game 5, 95-92
Point Leaders
Kevin Garnett - 21 Points, 10 Rebounds, 4 Blocks
Pau Gasol - 25 Points, 12 Rebounds, 5 Blocks
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 47%
LA - 50%

Recap - The battle in the paint was the focus for much of Game 5. Rebounding was the key to the Lakers victory. Gasol outrebounded Celtic muscle-man Kendrick Perkins. Gasol also took a page from Garnett's Game 1 performance by blocking five shots, and kept his number one rank as the leading shot blocker in the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

Game 6
Celtics force Game 7, 98-97
Point Leaders
Paul Pierce - 28 Points, 6 Steals, 8 Assists
Kobe Bryant - 28 Points, 8 Rebounds, 6 Assists
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 46%
LA - 44%

Recap - The Celtics, led by a strong performance from Paul Pierce, overcame the Lakers to force a Game 7. Pierce went shot for shot with Bryant, tying him in points, and rounded out his game with four defensive steals.

Game 7
Lakers win NBA Championship, 106-101
Point Leaders
Kevin Garnett - 29 Points, 7 Blocks, 10 Rebounds
Kobe Bryant - 38 Points, 10 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Field Goal Percentage
Bos - 48%
LA - 51%

Recap -The Lakers win their 15th NBA Finals Championship. After a quiet first half, Kobe scored 29 of his 38 points in the second half in an astounding triple-double performance cementing himself as this year's NBA Finals MVP. The Lakers beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals for the third time in a row. The life-long rivalry now stands at 10 - 3 in Boston's favor.


                   "Mec, tu as perdu... mais tu ne le sais pas encore !"