The 2009 NBA season concludes.

The National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers won the 2009 NBA finals last night after eliminating the Orlando Magic on their home court, 99-86.  Early on in the game it was all Magic and for a time they looked like they were going to force a game 6 back in Los Angeles, as guaranteed by Dwight Howard.  More than half way through the first quarter, the Magic lead 19-12.

But Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Lakers kept the game close before pulling away in the second quarter, opening up a double digit lead.  The Magic only showed a little bit of life after that point and the Lakers pretty much cruised to the title.

Kobe Bryant was named the MVP as he took down his fourth NBA title and first without Shaquille O'Neal.  It was the 15th NBA title for the Los Angeles Lakers and 10th for Phil Jackson who, besides winning multiple titles with the Lakers, won with Michael Jordan's and Scottie Pippen's Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

Apparently guarantees aren't quite what they used to be.  Not only did the Magic lose, but Dwight Howard, who said they would win, only scored 11 points in falling. It's one thing for a guarantee to fall short because of failures on the part of teammates, but to guarantee victory and then not play your best game is another thing.

It was the Lakers first title since 2002.