When we last spoke here, Kobe had just inked his three-extension and the Lakers were preparing for the playoffs. Since then, the Lakers have rolled through three rounds, though it was interesting for a while.
As the top seed in the West, they drew a very good eight-seed in Oklahoma City. The Thunder won two games in the series, and pushed the Lakers in a couple of the other games. But in the end, it was just too much Kobe, and too much Laker experience for the Thunder.
The Lakers then got a match-up with the Utah Jazz, and promptly swept them right out of round two. They manhandled the Phoenix Suns in the first two games at Staples in the Conference Finals, but looked lost in games three and four in Phoenix. With the series tied 2-2 in Game Five, the Lakers looked like they were on their way to another home blowout against the Suns. Instead, the Suns erased an 18-point deficit and with the score tied with 3.5 seconds left, the Lakers got some more of the playoff magic.
Ron Artest continued his hot streak in Game Six at Phoenix last night, and although the Lakers nearly blew another large lead, they hung on for an eight-point win and a third straight trip to the NBA Finals.
The Lakers will get a rematch, and home court, against the Boston Celtics. They split the season series 1-1, with each team winning on the road by one point. But the C's have the Lakers number when it comes to the Finals. In the previous 11 match-ups, the Lakers are just 2-9 overall against Boston in the Finals, including a six-game thumping by the Celtics in 2008. You can bet the Lakers are looking for revenge.
And for what it's worth, the Lakers are making their league-high 31st appearance in the Finals to go with their 15 titles, second most in the league behind Boston, who have 18 titles in just 21 total appearances in the Finals.
It should be a fun series.
More to come as it closer to Game One on Thursday night at Staples.
