NBA Finals Game Five: Lakers Punctuate Season of Validation

With the chances of Orlando winning the title all but gone after their Game Four meltdown, Game Five was all about the heart of the participants involved.

Would the Magic have the will to take yet another cannonball to the gut and keep on fighting? Would the Lakers play complacently, knowing that a loss might allow them to celebrate their championship in front of their home court fans?

Behind scintillating performances from nearly everyone on the roster, the Lakers proved the sole motive in their 99-86 victory was to take care of business as ruthlessly and efficiently as possible.

After four games of taking Orlando’s temperature, the Lakers dropped the hammer on the Magic offense. Screen/rolls involving Hedo Turkoglu were nullified by Trevor Ariza...

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