[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS 2009 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2009

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution 
``Celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers 2009 NBA Championship''. This 
legislation will commemorate the Los Angeles Lakers 15th National 
Basketball Association Championship. Prior to the 2008-2009 season, the 
Lakers won 14 National Basketball Association (NBA) championships, with 
a cast of Hall of Fame players and coaches, which included NBA greats 
such as Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Earvin ``Magic'' Johnson, Kareem 
Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Pat Riley, and current head coach Phil 
Jackson.
  This season Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol led 
the 2008-2009 Lakers to a 65-17 regular season record and the #1 spot 
in the Western Conference Playoffs. The Lakers entered the NBA playoffs 
with home court advantage as a result of the team's regular season 
performance. In the first round the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz in 5 
games to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers then 
faced the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, winning 
in 7 games; advancing to the Western Conference Finals where they faced 
the Denver Nuggets.
  The Lakers clinched the Western Conference finals in 6 games, thanks 
to the outstanding play by Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, which closed out 
the series. In the NBA Finals, the Lakers matched up with the Orlando 
Magic, led by Dwight Howard. The Lakers won the first 2 games of the 
finals in Los Angeles, including a hard-fought Game 2 during which Kobe 
Bryant and Pau Gasol combined for 53 points propelling the Lakers to a 
101-96 victory. The Lakers lost Game 3 in Orlando by a score of 108-
104; however, Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant scored 31 points and played all 
but 8 minutes of the game. The Lakers followed their loss in Game 3, by 
winning the next two games in Orlando to win the 2009 NBA Championship.
  For his outstanding play during the NBA Finals, Lakers' guard Kobe 
Bryant was presented with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable 
Player Award; and his fourth NBA Championship. Lakers head coach Phil 
Jackson, won his 10th NBA Championship as a head coach and his 12th NBA 
Championship overall. Congratulations to the Lakers players, coaches, 
and staff on winning the 2008-2009 NBA Championship.

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