The AP reports:
Police will deploy hundreds of officers at Game 7 of the NBA finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics to prevent the kind of unrest that broke out after the Lakers won last year’s championship.
Police Chief Charlie Beck issued a stern warning Wednesday to anyone thinking of spoiling a potential celebration should the Lakers seize their 16th victory.
“If you vandalize, if you graffiti, if you assault somebody in conjunction with one of these (celebrations), I take it personally,” Beck said Wednesday. “By those actions, you defame the reputation of the city we all love.”
Beck said he doesn’t expect problems, and a strong police presence should deter anyone from causing trouble. Perimeters will be set around Staples Center on Thursday to keep out people without tickets to the game, and tactical units will stick around afterward to dissuade fans from congregating outside the arena, he said.
