Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sure knows how to make a first impression.

Although Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak thought he would have to get lucky Thursday to draft a player who could make his roster this fall, he was feeling fortunate after grabbing two forwards widely expected to go a bit higher.

Phil Jackson thinks he is just about ready to walk away from his unparalleled NBA coaching career. The Los Angeles Lakers are all hoping he will change his mind in the next week.

Kobe Bryant sprinted after the ball, which Lamar Odom joyously flung downcourt to burn the remaining seconds in Game 7 of the NBA finals. With the celebration starting behind him, Bryant chased it down and then held it aloft to his teammates.

Here come the Lakers.

When the Celtics wrapped up Game 5 and moved one win away from an unprecedented 18th championship, the jubilant Boston crowd sent them off to the West Coast for the final time this season with one last chorus of that age-old "Beat L-A!" chant.

The Boston Celtics are in foul trouble before Game 5 of the NBA finals even begins.

Rajon Rondo's interception of a pass by Kobe Bryant in the final minute of Game 4 will go into Celtics lore along with some other important steals.

The Boston Celtics watched the misery unfold again, a poor performance that was tough to take the first time around.

For once, the fourth quarter didn't belong to Kobe Bryant.

The number can't be ignored.

So the Celtics want to play rough again? Kobe Bryant and the Lakers look ready this time around, and they barged into an early lead in the NBA finals.