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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 15: (L-R) Kobe Bryant #24 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers share a laugh on the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 15, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 126-86. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 15: (L-R) Kobe Bryant #24 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers share a laugh on the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 15, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 126-86. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Lamar Odom was arguably a key piece for a Lakers team led by Kobe Bryant, which won two championships. Arguably one of the most stacked and balanced teams of the decade, the Lakers was absolutely unplayable in their prime.
But the side saw a massive challenger before their championship triumph. Arch rivals Boston Celtics had their own big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and with young players like Rajon Rondo, the Celtics were primed for success.
They did just that in their first season itself.
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Boston, MassachusettesJune 17, 2008 Lakers Kobe Bryant walks off the court as the Celtics celebrate the championship in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at the TD Banknorth Center Tuesday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
On their way to a championship, the Green and White steamrolled past LeBron James and the Cavs and a gritty Pistons side. The stage was set for the biggest stage of them all, the 2008 NBA finals.
The Celtics were going up against the Lakers. Pierce, Garnett and Allen were too much to handle for Kobe and Co. and had eased to the championship in six games.
Former Lakers’ forward Lamar Odom speaks about scary experience in 2008 Finals Defeat
The 2008 Finals concluded in six games, and the Boston Celtics were crowned champions in their own TD Arena. The arena was absolutely buzzing with the team’s win and much to Lakers’ dismay, so did the heckling.
Lamar Odom recently made an appearance on Vlad TV. There, the 2-time NBA champion recalled the terrible loss the team suffered against the Celtics in finals.
Odom also recalled the traumatic experience the team had as the Boston Celtics fans absolutely went crazy.
“We not only lost, they beat our a**. In that sixth game, they beat us so bad, they wouldn’t even let our bus to leave. They were shaking up our bus when we were leaving. So God knows what would’ve happened had we won that game.”
The loss to the Celtics was key for the Lakers to play harder, and they certainly built a firm resolve for the team mentally. The 41-year-old also spoke about how the loss helped the team and how they approached the next season.
“It was a short, short, short, hurt. Then you got your party on for a week or two, and then you had your a** right back in the gym, getting ready for the season.”
He added, “The whole team had the same uh mindset that we were going to go back to the finals next year everybody was on the same it was on the same time we just knew it.”
This loss might have stranded the Lakers initially, but the Purple and Gold ultimately had the last laugh as they won the 2010 NBA championship, beating the big three Celtics in seven games.
