The question after L.A.’s hard fought First Round Series win over Oklahoma City was whether or not the Lakers, forced into full engagement from the start, would be able to carry the kind of effort they were forced to summon to quiet the Thunder heading into future rounds.
The team certainly thought it would, and with a resounding 4-0 sweep over Utah in Round 2, the premonition was confirmed: the Lakers looked like the defending champions once again.
After Utah dispatched of L.A.’s 2009 nemesis Denver in six games, the Lakers became the first team – ever – to sweep the Jazz in a seven-game series.
Riding superior size, four games of at least 30 points from looking-healthier-every-game Kobe Bryant, terrific all-around play from Pau Gasol and the same tough defense that led the NBA in field goal percentage against in the postseason, the Lakers silenced the Jazz by a total of 29 points in four games.
As such, the dry-erase board in L.A.’s locker room read: “8.”
Eight games down, eight to go.
Over on the other side of the Western bracket, the Phoenix Suns were impressive themselves in dispatching the San Antonio Spurs with a 4-0 sweep, setting up a South-Western Conference Finals that surely whets a basketball fan’s appetite.
The Lakers controlled the regular season series between Bryant and Steve Nash’s respective squads, winning by a combined 39 points on November 12 and December 6 home victories, dropping a 118-103 decision in Phoenix on Dec. 28 and concluding with a 102-96 victory in the Valley of the Sun on March 12.
The matchup doesn’t begin until May 17, affording the Lakers six days of rest and recuperation (and sure, some practice) before STAPLES Center welcomes what’s sure to be an entertaining series.
To get you ready well in advance, we’ve included position-by-position breakdowns with declared advantages for either side.
Coming soon, we’ll have a series preview video with assistant coach Brian Shaw and a preview podcast with Lakers Scout/Director of Video Services Chris Bodaken, who began dissecting the Suns on film before L.A. had even finished off the Jazz.
The team certainly thought it would, and with a resounding 4-0 sweep over Utah in Round 2, the premonition was confirmed: the Lakers looked like the defending champions once again.
After Utah dispatched of L.A.’s 2009 nemesis Denver in six games, the Lakers became the first team – ever – to sweep the Jazz in a seven-game series.
Riding superior size, four games of at least 30 points from looking-healthier-every-game Kobe Bryant, terrific all-around play from Pau Gasol and the same tough defense that led the NBA in field goal percentage against in the postseason, the Lakers silenced the Jazz by a total of 29 points in four games.
As such, the dry-erase board in L.A.’s locker room read: “8.”
Eight games down, eight to go.
Over on the other side of the Western bracket, the Phoenix Suns were impressive themselves in dispatching the San Antonio Spurs with a 4-0 sweep, setting up a South-Western Conference Finals that surely whets a basketball fan’s appetite.
The Lakers controlled the regular season series between Bryant and Steve Nash’s respective squads, winning by a combined 39 points on November 12 and December 6 home victories, dropping a 118-103 decision in Phoenix on Dec. 28 and concluding with a 102-96 victory in the Valley of the Sun on March 12.
The matchup doesn’t begin until May 17, affording the Lakers six days of rest and recuperation (and sure, some practice) before STAPLES Center welcomes what’s sure to be an entertaining series.
To get you ready well in advance, we’ve included position-by-position breakdowns with declared advantages for either side.
Coming soon, we’ll have a series preview video with assistant coach Brian Shaw and a preview podcast with Lakers Scout/Director of Video Services Chris Bodaken, who began dissecting the Suns on film before L.A. had even finished off the Jazz.
Position Break Down included in Link
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