The Western Conference has lived up to its billing of competitive playoffs in the early series. Throw out the Lakers running all over the defenseless Nuggets in the first round and the rest of the series have been competitive. The Lakers received a scare in the second round versus the Utah Jazz when Kobe hurt his back on a jump shot. The Laker fans were soon relieved to see their MVP shake off the injury and wrap up the series in six games in Utah. The Laker bench has been impressive through the playoffs and will be needed if they are to knock off the defending champions. The Spurs are ready to defend their trophy but first have to stop off in Los Angeles before they can play for back–to– back titles. In their first series the Spurs had to tango with a common opponent in the playoffs when they faced the Phoenix Suns, a team that they have eliminated from the playoffs last season. Tim Duncan saved his only three pointer of the season for the playoffs and forced overtime in game 1 and then led the Spurs to a 4-1 series record that sent the Suns home for the playoffs. The second round was no cake walk for the Spurs when they had to take on the Hornets. The first six games were decided by the home by an average of 18 points per game. The Spurs turned up their defensive intensity over their last four games allowing an average of just 85 points per contest. Experience was ultimately the deciding factor when the Spurs went into New Orleans to wrap up the series in game seven. The Spurs and the Lakers both won their home games during the regular season. Neither team has yet to lose on their home court and sets up to be a great series. There are interesting match-ups all over the court in what might be the best series in the playoffs. Point Guard Tony Parker is hands down the best point guard in the league when it comes to the postseason. Parker is leading the Spurs in scoring with 23.7 points a game on 50.5% shooting from the floor. Parker has been deadly driving the paint and hitting 46.2% of his shoots from beyond the arc. Parker also leads one of the best passing teams in the league with 6.3 assists. Parker compiled these stats by taking on two point guards that are considered to be better players at the point guard position and eliminated them both from the playoffs. Tony Parker is a phenomenal scoring point guard that is going to give the Laker defense fits. Derek Fisher was huge acquisition for th4e Lakers in the offense. He brought championship experience and more importantly gave Kobe Bryant a player that he trusts on and off the court. Fisher is known for knocking down the big shot in the playoffs and is still a dangerous threat from the outside. Fisher has been very efficient in the playoffs scoring 11.9 points per game, shooting 51.4% from the floor while dishing out 2.7 assists. Regardless who is playing the point for the Lakers; Tony Parker will have a big game. Advantage Spurs Shooting Guard Kobe Bryant is not only the best shooting guard in the league but he might be the best basketball player anywhere. Kobe is coming off a season where he was named the Most Valuable Player for the first time. Kobe is leading the way for the Lakers with 33.3 points per game and 6.8 assists. The Spurs know that stopping Kobe is impossible and hope to make work hard for his shots and work on the defensive of the court. Manu Ginobli will have top be put in as the starter in this spot even if he does come off the bench. Ginobli is arguably the best left-handed finisher in the game and is tough as nails on the defensive end. Ginobli is knocking down 20 points per game and helping out with 4.3 assists per game. Like Parker,Ginobli has the ability to hit the game winning shot at any time. Advantage Lakers Small Forward Vladimir Radmanovic will have the advantage of size in any match-up in the series. The Lakers will need to use the size by crashing the boards and hitting the three point shot when he is open. Radmonovic is scoring 8.2 points a game and grabbing 2.9 rebounds. Bruce Bowen is the defensive specialist that every playoff team wish they had. Bowen draws the assignment of the best guards and forwards in the league. Despite only scoring 5.7 points and snatching 2.30 boards per game Bowen is one of the best players without the ball in the league. Advantage Spurs Power Forward Lamar Odom is one of the most talented players in the league. He can defend in the paint, take his man off the dribble from the top of the key and rebound with the best of them. Odom is averaging 15.6 points and is leading the team with 10.7 boards per game. Lamar has been known to lose his focus and disappear from the game at times. The Lakers will need to make Duncan work and tire the veteran out. Tim Duncan is easily the best big man in the game today. Duncan is netting 19.3 points per game and is leading the Spurs with 13.3 boards per game. Duncan rounds out the real “Big Three” as far the NBA goes with Ginobli and Parker. One of the best players ever to play the game, Duncan can only be contained down for a short period of time at best. Advantage Spurs Center Pau Gasol was a huge acquisition for the Lakers during the season. With Andre Bynum going down, Gasol has filled in nicely for the Lakers Gasol is averaging 20 points and 8.6 boards per game. Gasol is a threat to score in the paint and plays very well within the triangle offense. Gasol is not the most physical of players and will have to step up and counter the physicality that the Spurs big men will bring to the series. Fabrico Oberto Oberto is the tough physical player the Spurs like in the paint. He is scoring just 3.8 points per game and grabbing 4.8 rebounds. His splits time with tough Kurt Thomas, one of the best pick ups during the regular season that no one talks about. The center position for the Spurs is designated to control the paint and give Duncan room to operate. Advantage Lakers Series result: Spurs in seven
 

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