The Defiant Ones

ORLANDO

They held the golden, gaudy trophy together again, the night Kobe Bryant forever put an end to the refrain, "You never won one without Shaquille O'Neal," and the night Phil Jackson forever put an end to the refrain, "Give him a lottery team and let's see him win a title."

These were the I-Told-You-So Lakers who overwhelmed Orlando for their 15th franchise title, and they were led by a coach and a player whose fourth championship together in 10 seasons killed old, tired perceptions about them. Their 99-86 clinching victory in Game 5 was as an exercise in close-out execution as much as an act of defiance against their detractors.

"It was annoying," Kobe said of the incessant criticism, his smile returning the night the NBA Finals MVP hoisted his first trophy without Shaq. "It was like Chinese water torture. Every time I would hear it, I would cringe every time. But it wasn't going anywhere until I eventually did something about it."

Jackson, his 10th NBA title surpassing Red Auerbach's nine in the game's annals, is not just a caretaker of future Hall of Famers after all. He took the least talented team of his 20-year coaching career from the depths of the lottery back to the pinnacle of the sport.

"Watching those games clicked down, and a championship of all different forms and fashions, on the road, at home, players that vault themselves into team play is a remarkable thing to have watched," Jackson said after Kobe gave him his first champagne bath in seven years.

On the list of players and coaches went, each one determined to change the knock on them.

Pau Gasol is not the soft, European player afraid to lower his shoulder and get to the rim against the Celtics a year ago, the team Memphis thought so much of it shipped him to L.A. for Kwame Brown's expiring contract.

Lamar Odom is not a drifter who never realized his potential.

Derek Fisher is not just old for an elite athlete.

Trevor Ariza is, well, just a smidge better than Smush Parker.

The kudos extended beyond the court. Mitch Kupchak is not a soft-spoken role player in the organization just waiting for more jewelry. The general manager needs to take a bow, too.