The Quest For 15 Continues...

And it's back to the Finals for the 30th time in franchise history.

The Lakers completely dominated this game in every aspect, and used another solid balance scoring attack, coming away with a 119-92 blasting of the Nuggets. Kobe topped off his Game Five performance with an even better one in Game Six, pouring in 35 points, while shooting 60% from the floor, making all nine of his free throws, and most importantly, dishing out 10 assists. The Lakers got solid contributions from Paul Gasol, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton. All four scored in double figures, with Gasol and Odom scoring 20 and Ariza 17. Gasol and Odom also combined for 20 rebounds. Walton hit a couple of big baskets along the way for 10 solid points.

Game One of the Finals is June 4th. If Orlando wins the East Finals, they'll open in L.A. If the Cavs win, the Lakers will travel to Cleveland for Game One.

The Lakers dominated this game inside and outside, playing aggressive basketball, smothering defense, and penetrating and breaking down the Nuggets defense. In the process, they shot 57% from the floor and made all 24 of their free throws. They came with a purpose, the executed their game plan, played with a sense of urgency, and they conquered. This was, arguably, the Lakers best performance of the season, and most certainly, of the playoffs.

Carmelo Anthony scored 25 for Denver, and J.R. Smith added 24. Chauncey Billips took just seven shots in the game again, five before halftime, and finished with 10 very quiet points. Denver shot just 43% from the field while missing 11 of 19 from behind the three-point line.

The Nuggets gave the Lakers a series in the first four and a half games, but the Lakers took control of the series mid-way through the third quarter of Game Five and never really looked back. They exposed the Nuggets weaknesses, and tonight, they nailed Denver's coffin shut.

Goodnight, "Birdman."

Now That's What I'm Talking About

Well, that was a better performance by the Lakers last night. A well-balanced scoring attack propelled the Lakers to the brink of another trip to the NBA Finals with a 103-94 win at Staples. The Lakers slashed and dashed their way through the Nuggets defense all night, in particular from the middle of the third quarter to the end of the game. Kobe penetrated, drew double- and triple-teams while breaking down the Nuggets defense, and dished the ball out to the open man all night, racking up eight assists in the process, to go along with his 22 points on just 13 shots.

The result was a big night for Lamar Odom, who poured in 19 points with 14 boards, and Pau Gasol, who added 14 and 10, as the big men dominated the inside game.

The game was tied at the end of the first three quarters, but the Lakers used a 21-3 run that began mid-way through the third. They started the fourth with an 11-0 run to bust the game open. The balanced attack also featured 12 points each from Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher. And Shannon Brown, who had just six points, hit a big shot late in the game to beat the 24 second clock that would turn out to be a huge basket.

Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 31 points, but unlike Game Four, when Denver had seven players in double figures, he had very little support from his teammates. hauncey Billips was limited to just seven shots all night for 12 points, the second highest scorer for the Nuggets. Only two others scored in double figures for Denver, who now trail the Lakers 3-2 in the series with Game Six back in Denver tomorrow night.

The Lakers were out-rebounded again, but this time by one board, but they did a much better job on the offensive glass, finishing with 14 offensive rebounds to Denver's 10. The game was more balanced from an officiating standpoint, as the Lakers shot just five more free throws than Denver. And despite that, Nuggets coach George Karl, much like Phil Jackson did after Game Four, criticsized the officiating after the game, although using much lighter words. Jackson was fined $25,000 for his comments. The league didn't fine Karl.

A little something to ponder heading into tomorrow's showdown...

Lakers Roll Past Denver; Kobe To Win MVP

Well, that was a rather easy first round series for the Lakers. There really isn't much to say about it. Denver didn't really show up, and the team was accused by Carmelo Anthony of quitting in Game 3. But then again, consider the source. The Nuggets come across as a bunch of egos with issues. They might have been the worse 50-win team in history in the playoffs. As for the Lakers, Kobe and Pau pretty much did their thing, while the rest of the team contributed its share throughout the series. The offense was clicking; the defense was good enough. Next up: Utah, who defeated the Houston Rockets four games to two. Tip-off is 12:30pm PT tomorrow on ABC.

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Kobe Bryant will be named league MVP next week, according to the L.A. Times. The Times reports Commissioner David Stern will be in L.A. to officially present Kobe with his first MVP award during a pre-game ceremony, likely before Game 2 of the Utah series. How close the balloting was is still uncertain, but Hornets PG Chris Paul was likely a close second. Kobe led the Lakers to the top-seed in a very competitive Western Conference after asking for a trade in the off-season. Several other Laker players had breakout seasons, in large part because of Kobe's willingness to make his teammates around him better.

Now, for those of you who hate Kobe because of his legal battles in 2004, let me remind you of several things:

1. The accuser wanted NO part of a trial.
2. The accuser's stories consistently changed as witnesses came forward.
3. The DA dropped the charges.
4. He was NEVER tried.
5. He was NEVER convicted.
6. The accuser filed a civil suit BEFORE a criminal trial ever started, or ended.

So yeah, according to the "haters", he's still a rapist. Which leads me to say this:

GET OVER IT ALREADY!! MOVE ON!!