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In the Western Conference Finals two old arch enemies collide – the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers come to the WCF after beating the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. The Spurs arrive after knocking off the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Hornets.
Obviously, the best player in the series is Kobe Bryant. Bryant, who won the 2008 NBA MVP, is playing at an amazingly high level. He’s shooting very well from the field and more importantly, he is getting his teammates involved better than ever.
The Lakers also owe a lot of their success to Pau Gasol. Gasol, who was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, has been fantastic in the playoffs. He gives the Lakers a bigman who can score, rebound, pass and defend. He’s basically playing a similar role to what Shaquille O’Neal used to do next to Bryant.
The Spurs, on the other hand, aren’t nearly as exciting. Their three best players, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, have more substance than style. In their seven-game series against the Hornets, none of the three players played too well. Whether that was due to good defense from the Hornets or poor play will be better understood after the series against the Lakers.
This series will likely ride on which of the teams get better play from the role players. Bryant, Gasol and Lamar Odom versus Duncan, Ginobili and Parker is a pretty even matchup. It’s likely that the other players on the teams will decide who is victorious.
If forced to pick a winner, I’ll go with the Spurs in seven games. The Spurs are the champions until someone beats them – which the Lakers are very capable of doing.
Photo: Newscom
