Pierce reveals the difference in Gasol's approach when facing Celtics in 2010 NBA Finals: "I saw that Kobe installed that in him"
When the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a crushing loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant knew it wasn't the end of the story. Two years later, the rematch arrived, and this time, the Black Mamba and the rest of the Purple & Gold came prepared. C's legend Paul Pierce reflects on what made the difference for Bryant and the Lakers when they met again in the 2010 Finals.
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"He took (Pau) Gasol, All-Star, top player, and put a new battery pack in his back," The Truth said on Fox Sports' SPEAK. "That was the difference. Gasol was a different player. He played meaner, he played tougher, and I saw that Kobe installed that in him."
Pierce's point highlights how Bryant's impact extended beyond his numbers. That's not to say he didn't work on his own game, but he knew he had to instill the same mindset in the Spaniard to get past Boston.
As a result, Gasol returned with a tougher, more physical edge, the type of mentality the Black Mamba demanded from his teammates. That transformation helped change the complexion of the series that went seven games, turning a weakness into one of the Lakers' most significant strengths.
Different Pau
Gasol was still clearly the second-best player for the Lakers in their first Celtics matchup. After all, he averaged 15/10 and three while shooting over 53 percent from the floor. Nonetheless, Pau often looked like a deer in headlights when Boston put on the pain. It was the Spaniard's first trip beyond the early rounds of the playoffs, and the intensity seemed to catch him off guard.
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After another title run in 2009, Pau showed a glimpse of his newfound dog mentality. He helped hold Dwight Howard to 49 percent shooting in the Finals and increased his per-game averages in several categories. Of course, that would have been all for naught if Gasol hadn't shown up against the Celtics a year later. In 2010, the big man (11.6) averaged more rebounds than Boston's starting frontcourt (Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins combined for 11.4 RPG), including an 18-board effort in a Game 7 slugfest.
Kobe doubled down on his belief that Pau was the difference-maker in that series, thanks to KB's influence. Paul already explained and used the same "battery pack" analogy in an April 2025 guest appearance on the All the Smoke podcast. It was evident to Pierce that the dude they pushed around in 2008 was a different animal altogether after two years.
Related: "Yeah, they'll probably have to do something" - Bird says the NBA will be forced to move the 3-point line back if high volume continues
Other game-changers
The 2009 Lakers championship squad was more dynamic, with Trevor Ariza starting at small forward; however, the L.A. brass refused to rest on their laurels. They felt the team still needed to upgrade the position from a physicality standpoint, so they convinced then-named Ron Artest to sign the dotted line.
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"They added Ron, so they added some toughness that was able to match us. That's why it's like a battle of two Goliaths going seven games where it could go either way," noted Pierce.
Artest earned his paycheck that series by checking Pierce. After averaging 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 2008 when he was named Finals MVP, Paul was held to 18/5/3 with Ron sticking to him like glue. The man who later ended up being known as Metta Sandifor-Artest was also the Lakers' third-leading scorer in the series, inspiring a 13-point comeback in Game 7 as he scored 20.
With tweaks here and there, Los Angeles came back built for the fight. Gasol shed his 2008 struggles and met Boston's physicality head-on, while Artest gave them a defensive stopper who made Pierce work for every shot. Bryant set the tone, but it was his supporting cast that embodied the mindset he demanded. That collective edge was what carried the Lakers to the top.
Related: "It's not going to happen on our home court" - Pau Gasol discusses what motivated him to not lose the 2010 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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