Kobe Bryant said it months ago. Tonight he’ll get a chance to live the dream or crash into reality.

“I’ve said it all along,” Bryant said, “if we don’t win a championship, this season is a failure.”

He played like it in Game 6. But now comes  Game 7 at Staples Center for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, an all-or-nothing game for all involved.

There have been so few of these over the years that I’ll admit, I woke up this morning with butterflies of my own, knowing that this is more than just any ol’ Finals game.

Game 7s are sacred.

You win these and you live on in people’s memories forever.

You can win the title in four, five or six games and it just doesn’t have the same impact. Do you remember the clinching game from last year or the year before that? You know who won it. You know how they celebrated. But do you remember the game?

You won’t forget a Game 7.

Not when the players, coaches and fans embrace the moment the way the folks on both sides of this rivalry have.

“Well, I mean, I just love the pressure truthfully, man,” Celtics captain Paul Pierce said. “I love the fact that I get to play against the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 7 on the road.  I love the fact that if I don’t win multiple championships that I probably won’t be mentioned amongst the other guys in Celtic history that’s done it before.  That type of stuff motivates me.  That type of stuff, I think, helps me play at my best when I’m put to that type of test.  To win another championship would be the best thing that can ever happen.

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