The Lakers narrowly defeated the title-contending Miami Heat by 1 point.
With this victory, the Lakers were now just one win behind the league-leading San Antonio Spurs.
Of course, that did not mean the Lakers had already entered the ranks of championship contenders.
Frankly speaking, even die-hard Lakers fans believed the team was merely a "spoiler" in the league this season.
After all, the playoffs were not like the NCAA, where one game decided everything, but a best-of-seven series.
The Lakers had put plenty of thought into winning this game.
Before the game, they had rested Zhou Ze during the matchup against the Houston Rockets.
During the game, Phil Jackson had Chris Mihm and Andrew Bynum battle Shaquille O'Neal at close range, increasing his physical exertion and easing Zhou Ze's defensive burden.
Furthermore, at the crucial moment, the Lakers unveiled the unorthodox "Death Five-Out," pulling Old Shark away from the basket. The calculating Pat Riley tried to gamble as well, but he had clearly bet wrong.
Zhou Ze hit the clutch three-pointer.
Lamar Odom and Luke Walton also showed respectable three-point threats.
Kobe traded blows with Wade and Gary Payton, preserving the lead.
If...
Zhou Ze had missed that clutch three-pointer.
If...
Phil Jackson had not deployed the Death Five-Out in the final moments, the Miami Heat would most likely have left Lamar Odom and Luke Walton open on certain possessions.
If they made them, great.
But if they missed, would they still have the courage to take the next open shot?
After all, they were not Kobe or Zhou Ze. They did not possess that kind of shooting confidence.
Of course, there were no ifs in this world.
Still, Chris Mihm and Andrew Bynum, who had both fouled out after being drawn into six fouls by Old Shark and