NBA Rewind: 2009 WCF
Rewind to the 2009 NBA Western Conference Finals. Prime Carmelo Anthony faces off against Kobe Bryant in a series for the ages. This era of basketball was bolstered by the mid-range game and fierce rivalries. We’ll breakdown these players/teams performances, along with the ramifications with the outcome of this series
What was the league like in the late 2000s?
After watching tape and game film for the 2008-2009 season, the league then compared to now, seems like two different sports. I noticed great aspects of the game that have dissolved away, while also, seeing how the current NBA has refined/improved upon rules and styles of play back in ‘08.
To further understand the NBA landscape back in 08-09, we must look at the talent and competition around The Association.
The Big 3 Celtics were defending NBA Champions after acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen
Kobe Bryant wins MVP, loses to Celtics in NBA Finals (2007-2008)
LeBron James earns his 1st League MVP Trophy
7 seconds or less Phoenix Suns
Photo From: The Undefeated
2008-2009 NBA All-Star Game
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal named CO-MVPS
These were the proverbial last days of smash mouth hoops, using footwork to open up just enough space to get a shot off. Only the elite could pull off these miraculous attempts.
Two of the best at it, were Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. Two technicians of the game who excelled at punishing their defenders one-on-one. The league back in ‘08 was different. Most teams rolled out two big men to start in the frontcourt before Power Forwards were expected to space the floor consistently with their shooting. Floor spacing suffered as a result. Mid range jumpers were taken at nauseam. The league was oddly ugly, yet beautiful.
Despite losing to the Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant received the MVP Trophy in the 2007-2008 season.
The off-season heading into the 2008-2009 NBA Season was the catalyst for many WOJ Bombs that have occurred over the years.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics
The Top 15 Players in the league were selected to represent the United States for the gold medal. Players such as Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony were just a few individuals that became members of the “Redeem Team” after the USA’s bronze medal finish in 2004.
Friendships and competitive rivalries were formed, as the best players in the NBA went head-to-head day after day, sharpening iron with iron. The infamous “Heatles” composed of LeBron, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade began to bud in Beijing. While some All-Stars used this opportunity to get to a better situation, another pair of individuals did no such thing.
Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony formed a great bond during the Olympics, with Kobe stating, “I love him, he’s actually...he’s the one that I’m closest to from the [Redeem Team]. I look at him as a brother”.
“Last summer he was the butt of a lot of jokes, but it’s good to see him here”
The jokes?
About Carmelo’s lack of playoff experience.
Although they were joking, their slander came from a place of truth. Carmelo had made the playoffs in all 5 of his seasons, subsequently losing in the 1st round each year.
But this was not that year.
These two friends were pitted against each other, with the winner earning a bid to the NBA Finals. This was no time for pleasantries, it was game on.
Photo From: Bleacher Report
Game 1: Both Superstars Put On A Show
Melo and Kobe were on fire, and they could not be put out.
“Denver Melo” was truly a different breed. Not often does a 6’8”, 240 lb human have the dexterity, fast twitch, and shooting ability of an elite 2 guard. The beginning of this game was the Melo show. His hesitation, dribble pull-up was unguardable. With the quickest release at the apex of his jump, defenders just had to hope that he missed.
Although Carmelo was elite, Kobe was just….simply better. Melo’s ability to hit tough shots was good, Kobe’s was great. This game served as a masterclass lesson to everyone watching, Kobe was a true artist. With a counter, to a counter, you could never guess what The Mamba was going to do in the mid-post. Right shoulder, left shoulder, turnaround, pump-fake fade, you name it...Kobe had it in the duffle bag.
What made this opening game of the series so great? The referees.
They kept their whistles in their pocket, and allowed the two best players in the Western Conference to duke it out. I counted 3 plays in the 1st half alone that would’ve been subject to review for a flagrant/unnecessary foul in today’s game.
The tension between these two teams was palpable. Only making for better basketball.
In the 2nd half of this game, the chemistry between Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant was accentuated.
Pau Gasol was an exceptional passer. Once Denver started to deny the ball from Kobe, he chose to get his buckets off-ball. Free throw line pin-downs and curls off a screening-cutting Andrew Bynum were how Kobe came alive in the 3rd quarter, ultimately allowing him to score 18 points in the 4th.
Did Carmelo shy away from this offensive blitz by the Lakers?
No. Instead, he countered with his own effective way of scoring. Carmelo Anthony used his size against Kobe to his advantage. Attacking the boards and boxing out with vigor, earned Carmelo not only 4 put back layups on offensive rebounds, but also, 2 separate trips to the foul line. Each star had their own way of producing, making this game an instant classic.
Melo Gets His Roses
Jeff Van Gundy & Mark Jackson give Carmelo the stamp of approval in the 4th quarter
“Nobody thought that Kobe Bryant didn’t have the will, but you didn’t know about Carmelo Anthony. Does he have the will at the highest level? To compete and go for it, you’re seeing here tonight, the will of a championship caliber player. He’s going at Kobe Bryant, going at the Lakers, he’s not shying away from the contact. This is big-time competitive spirit by the two best players…”
4th Quarter: Tied at 99, 33 seconds on the shot clock. Laker Ball. Kobe Bryant receives the inbound pass and gets fouled on a reach in by Kenyon Martin. Makes both free throws, which turn out to be the game winning points. Lakers escape on a late-rally to beat Denver.
Kobe: 40 Points - 6 Reb
Carmelo: 39 Points - 6 Reb
Kobe 1 Melo 0
Game 2: All Hail Jack Nicholson
Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Lakers get out to an early lead.
One quick thing that I love about this era. Pre-recorded interviews that played during the game. A reoccurring highlight of this series is the sheer amount of nuggets that were dropped during these one-on-one interviews.
During the broadcast, a Carmelo Anthony interview appears. He states that he told Denver Coach [George Karl], “ We not putting Kenyon on Kobe...I’ll guard him”.
This defensive adjustment turned out to pay off dividends for the Nuggets down the stretch of this game.
Carmelo Anthony encompassed what it meant to be a true 3 level scorer in the NBA. The explosiveness from his first step, paired with the ability to finish through contact was truly impressive. However, his best move was undoubtedly the triple-threat. In this Game 2, Carmelo constantly lulled the defender to sleep with a triple threat. Baiting, fainting, waiting for the moment when he can either explode by the defender or rise up for a bucket.
The second Melo interview puts it perfectly
Melo says, “I always tell myself, there’s no one man that can guard me….on this planet. I don't want to sound cocky or arrogant, but that’s just my confidence, when I got the ball in my hands with one guy, I feel like, you know, they are at my mercy. So that’s why you see them double-teaming, triple-teaming, 5 guys guarding me at one time. But, in this league, it’s hard to guard one person, with one person”.
Melo was clearly feeling himself in Game 2, as he should. This became Carmelo Anthony’s 5th straight postseason game scoring at least 30 points. The man was on fire. Not only did he help out on the offensive side of the ball, he took the defensive responsibility of checking Kobe Bryant.
Jeff Van Gundy commented early in the 4th quarter:
“Kobe Bryant has been taken out of the easy low-post opportunities, Melo has made him into a jump shooter…”
Late 4th Quarter: Kobe rises up for a three pointer contested by Carmelo Anthony….book it.
Tied at 99.
Once again, Kobe ties the game at 101, but the collective effort from a desperate Nuggets team prevailed. Melo evens it up, Game 3 in Denver.
We have a series.
Kobe 1 Melo 1
Photo From: Zimbio.com
Game 3: The Kobe Death Stare
It’s put up, or shut up time. It is said that a series hasn’t really started until a road team has won. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers head into a hostile Denver, to take on a confident and reeling Nuggets team.
The Result? A Lakers Thrashing
Kobe goes for 41 Points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds, as the Lakers rout the Denver Nuggets. The level of difficulty in Kobe’s shots were breathtaking. Watching him break down opposing defenders' double teams and traps through his footwork and IQ, was like watching a grandmaster chess player always being 5 moves ahead.
A seemingly pedestrian game from Carmelo Anthony, could not have come at a more inopportune time. Shooting a bleak 4-13 FG (1-7 3PT) led to him finishing with 21 points as the Nuggets fell short of taking a commanding lead heading into Game 4.
Lakers steal a game on the road, take a 2-1 series lead
Kobe 2 Melo 1
Game 4: Denver Shows Grit
The Los Angeles Lakers have a 2-1 series lead behind Kobe’s 41 Points in Game 3. This Game 4 essentially serves as a do or die game for Denver, as a 3-1 deficit almost certainly spells defeat.
These are the games I love. Superstar has their back against the wall, in a big moment, do they rise to the occasion, or plummet back down to earth?
Unfortunately, Carmelo Anthony earned two quick fouls.
How will the Nuggets respond to their leader on the bench? Surprisingly well.
The Nuggets starters + role players showed up big in Game 4. A young JR Smith turned it on in the 2nd quarter, scoring and also assisting Nene on multiple occasions, pushing the Denver lead to double digits. In the 1st half, the Denver Bigs (Kenyon Martin & Nene) had each notched a double double. With 18 offensive rebounds in the game, Denver was able to capitalize on second chance points, while also limiting the Lakers transition offense. It was evident from the start of this game, Denver had no intention of going down 3-1. To put the cherry on top, Future Hall of Famer and 2004 Finals MVP Chauncey Billups showed out. After being traded for Allen Iverson from Detroit to Denver, Chauncey’s leadership and big time shot making proved to be vital in Game 4, as he scored a team high 24 points.
Late 4th Quarter:
Chauncey Billups draws the double and kicks the ball out to JR Smith...here’s the call
“SMITH FOR 3, IT’S GOOOOD, THAT MAY SEAL IT!”
JR brought the house down with this humongous bucket, celebrating in a fashion which only he could pull off (See Picture Below).
Despite a mere 15 points on another inefficient night from Melo, Denver’s group effort led to a runaway win. Denver responds, series tied 2-2
Kobe 2 Melo 2
Photo From: ESPN
JR Smith after hitting 2 big 3 Pointers late in the 4th Quarter
Ties Chauncey Billups with a team high 24 points in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals
Game 5: The Championship Rounds
So far, this series stacks up to be an instant classic between two heavyweights of the NBA. Both teams got punched in the mouth, and are still standing. It’s a Best of 3 series now, who will reign supreme? Who will rise to the occasion?
After two pedestrian games from Carmelo Anthony, he made it a point to start out aggressive. In the 1st quarter, Melo was getting to his spots. His aggressiveness early, allowed him to draw and kick for open 2s and 3s. The Lakers kept a steady attack, gaining a lead early.
However, Melo kept Denver in the game, going shot for shot with the Lakers. The ease at which Carmelo Anthony was able to get to the line during this era was ridiculous. Many teams would try to put a power forward on him, only to get beaten off the dribble, giving him two free throws.
The Lakers received ample help from their role players as they hit big shots, one after another. Then the play happened. A vicious Lamar Odom poster dunk on Chris “The Birdman” Andersen.
Photo From: YouGotDunkedOn.com
This sequence seemed to encapsulate the rest of this series.
Denver looked defeated before the game was over. Carmelo Anthony managed to score 31 points, but had 23 shot attempts. Lakers win at home, claim a 3-2 series lead.
The Lakers had their foot on Denver’s necks, how would they respond?
Kobe 3 Melo 2
Game 6: Does Denver Have Enough in the Gas Tank?
The Denver Nuggets have fought back twice to even this series. Can they pull off the unthinkable, in order to force a Game 7?
Rewatching this game, validated why the Lakers went on to win the NBA Championship this season. They had every excuse to lose this game. A hungry and desperate Denver Nuggets were looking for revenge, at home, hoping to get a boost from the fans.
The Kobe Call
“Kobe called me and said...you got what you was looking for. I was like, what you talking about? You know, everybody joking over the summer, now I got what I’m looking for…”
“He told….he told me back then, he said if you do what you gotta do, I’ll see you in the Western Conference Finals, and here we are”
Game - Set - Match
Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets had little to nothing left in the tank. At the tail end of this series, the Lakers made a vital adjustment that helped them win Games 5 and 6. Kobe trusted his teammates. Denver’s game plan was to solely cut off Kobe, and force floor spacers such as Sasha Vujačić, Derek Fisher, and Shannon Brown to consistently hit open jumpers. Well, they did…and that was all she wrote. At the half, the Lakers led Denver 53-40. They never looked back.
This series between two Hall of Fame scorers showed the absolute best of what the league could be. Two franchise players, friends and rivals...battling it out for the right to represent their conference in the NBA Finals.
One thing can be for certain, those Olympic jokes about Carmelo…no longer held any weight.
Even though he did not come out victorious, Carmelo showed the rest of the league he was here to stay.
Kobe 4 Melo 2
Photo From: ESPN
Takeaways from this series
Rewatching this series highlighted how naive the NBA was, regarding playing style and offensive schemes. I felt as if I was watching the Stone Age of Basketball, and this was only 12 years ago.
The starters for the Los Angeles Lakers were as follows:
PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Andrew Bynum
The first thing that I noticed with this lineup, was the abysmal floor spacing that it produced. Andrew Bynum served as a rim protector, while only being able to operate on offense within 6 feet from the basket. I get that this may seem trivial, Bynum was an impact player for that team during their back-to-back NBA Championships, however, it consequently made Kobe Bryant’s job that much harder. Having Odom at the 4, with Gasol at the 5 would not have only spaced out the floor for Kobe Bryant, it would’ve allowed Pau Gasol to attack a slower defender off the dribble (Marcus Camby, Nene), while also, allowing Lamar Odom/Trevor Ariza to pull Kenyon Martin to the perimeter, rendering him useless to protect drives to the paint. Interestingly enough, the 7 seconds or less Phoenix Suns had the modern blueprint for success, however, they could not capitalize on their futuristic playing style.
Denver encountered the same problem, hell, the whole league ran into it. Kenyon Martin with Nene, or Marcus Camby, made it harder for Carmelo Anthony to get to his mid range spots, due to the over clogged lane.
I can only imagine what numbers Prime Kobe and Carmelo Anthony would be putting up in today’s game. The increased room to operate would only spell trouble for opposing defenses.
Rewatching game tape for these years of the NBA gave me an increased respect for the past, and the few remaining players still playing from that era.
In today’s game, not many players have the ability to use footwork, post moves, shooting-touch to dismantle defenses from the mid-range. That part of the game has become a lost art. Only the elite still hold that skill set.
Seeing Kobe go to work in the post, reminded me of Kyrie Irving. Moves and technique passed down from one generation, to the other.
So enjoy this current NBA, it won’t be like this forever.