1. Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals
While there have been countless big playoff games in Los Angeles Lakers’ history, the biggest (and most tense) playoff game in franchise history has to be Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers were coming up against the Boston Celtics and were not only battling a rival but were looking for revenge after losing the 2008 NBA Finals.
This was an extremely gritty playoff series that would look completely out of place in the 2021 NBA and Game 7 fit the exact same billing. Both sides felt the pressure of this matchup and could not get much going offensively, instead battling in a defensive showcase.
The Lakers obviously got the job done with an 83-79 victory but they were fighting from behind for most of the game. The Lakers did not take the lead in the second half until there were less than six minutes left in the game and from there the team was barely able to hold off the Celtics to win Championship no. 16.
Of course, we did not know it at the time but it would wind up being the last championship that Kobe would win in his career as Laker fans would have to go another decade before they won another in the Orlando bubble.
What is even crazier is that the Lakers only recorded another seven playoff wins in the Staples Center before changing its name 11 years later. If I would have told you that back in 2010 you would have called me crazy.
It was an all-time classic series and an all-time classic game, even it was not the prettiest basketball being played. It definitely should go down as the best Los Angeles Lakers moment in the Staples Center.