Well, both LA & San Antonio got through the 1st round with relative ease. Now comes what has the potential to be the best series of this year's NBA playoffs.

Questions to be answered: 1) will the health of Malone & the Lakers hold up to play the very physical Spurs? 2) does anyone stop Tim Duncan? 3) is the winner of this series the best bet to win the Western conference? 4) does Phil Jackson have one more title run in him to make him the only coach in NBA history to have 10 titles?

My two cents: The Lakers can beat anyone, but can also be their own worst enemy. I originally predicted San Antonio in another post, so I'm sticking with it. But if the Spurs do lose, the Lakers are the only Western team capable, IMHO, to knock off the defending champs.

We'll see how it plays out beginning on Sunday...

Go Lakers! I have them going all the way in Pick N Roll game.

As you said goombah, the Lakers can be their own worst enemy. Therefore, Im going to pick Duncan and company to advance to the Western Conference Championship. I also think they will then take out the Kings who I believe will beat the T'Wolves due to the lack of experience of getting far in the playoffs of Garnett. However, I believe the NBA Champion will come from the East for the first time since Jordan hit his last shot (The Washington Years dont count for me) in the form of the Indiana Pacers. Jermaine O'Neal is the best big man in the East and will give Duncan a good battle in the finals. Ron Artest will be the X Factor tho. If he can keep his cool and play the great D he knows how to play as well as get around 20 a game, then the Pacers can go all the way.

I've got Lakers in 6. I can't STAND the spurs! Go Lakers Go!

I hope the Lakers win, 'cause I hate the Spurs, and I don't even think they're that great. in my opinion, either the winner of this series or the Kings have big chances to get the ring.

I passionately love the Lakers and I think they definitely can take home one more title. However, for sure they'll do it the dramatic way, staying behind 19 points through the whole game until the middle of the third quarter, then tie the game with 12 seconds left, then shoot a three just a half second before the buzzer and win the game. Why do they do that?? It's the most annoying thing ever. The first few times, it was kind of cool, but seriously, the novelty is gone and sometimes they don't make it, which makes it not worth the risk. It's not cute anymore. Fortunately, they don't do it that often anymore, but still, it's a dirty habit they have to kick.
I hope it comes down to the Lakers and the Spurs, because I love watching Ginobili play. I don't know what it is... he has this quiet classiness about him, maybe because he doesn't have an ego the size of Texas (No pun intended) or whatever, I don't know. He's not hot, so it can't be that. He's a pretty good player (far from the best, but still good) but the fact that he's not Mr. Bigshot is cool. And Duncan makes basketball look like art, it's beautiful how he plays. I used to hate to see them against the Lakers because I would be torn, but whatever, I FAR prefer to see them lose than to see the Lakers lose. And hey, it makes for a hell of a game... It's not fun if there's no challenge.
As for Sacramento, I just hope it's not them again this year... Man, what a bunch of drama queens!! They insist on FLYING across the court every time one of the Lakers so much as bumps into them... or they fall down and slide 15 feet, holding one of their knees for dramatic effect... I feel like they make all their points off of free throws while Shaq is fouled out of the game. They're so annoying to watch!!
Anyway, I rambled on and on, sorry about that. And to make it worse, it's all got a girly point of view, which I know you guys aren't going to necessarily get a kick out of. I initially intended to say that the Lakers can indeed win again, but you know how one thing leads to another. :p

I think L.A. will win.

The Spurs will win against the Lakers cuz i predict Kobe will be selfish with his shots. The Spurs have a good team, consisting of Duncan, Parker, Bowen, Rose, Turkoglu, and The 6th Man of the year (IMO) Ginobili. Spurs in 7!

Kobe can very very selfish with his shots. However, if the shots are going in, nobody from LA will be complaining.

Game 1 goes to SA, Manu, Duncan and Parker took over in the 4th and everyone on the Lakers jus fell completely apart. They just cant play well together every game. Once they figure that out, maybe they have a chance, but until then, the Spurs could take this in 5 maybe even 4 games. By the way, the Spurs still havent lost since March 23rd.

The Lakers looked pathetic in the 4th quarter. They kept turning the ball over constantly. If Shaq had even shot 50% from the charity stripe, the Lakers would have been in it until the final minute.

I was talking with someone at work about Shaq's horrific free throw shooting throughout his career. My co-worker brought up an interesting point that I hadn't fully considered. Shaq's hands are so big that it would be like a normal sized person trying to shoot a soft ball through the hoop.

Good point, but did your co worker also add that he is so tall that it would be like most people just droppin a softball in a hoop instead of shooting it. So his size gives him advantages and disadvantages at the line in my opinion. Free throw shooting is somethin he has never taken real seriously.

All good free throw shooters know they have to have a routine when they go up there. For example, Jordan would always take three dribbles and then spin the ball once and then fire away. He shot around 85% for his career which last time i checked wasnt bad. Even if its somethin stupid like Jeff Hornacek rubbing his face everytime so he says hi to his kids, you gotta have a routine when you go up there. Everytime Shaq goes up there, he does somethin different and it throws his rhythm off. Im sure people have told him to have a routine but he hes prolly never taken it seriously. However he still has been able to get away with it and win 3 titles so they could still get away with it this year.

The man that needs to pick up for the Lakers is GP. Payton hasnt done anything this whole playoffs and this is a series where they need him to step up because tony parker will kill them if he doesnt.

If Paytoon picks it up, Malone can remain healthy, Shaq can avoid the line, and Kobe can be smart, the Lakers can pull it off. But thats a lot to ask for and im not sure if they can do it.

I will get MAD if the Spurs win. even not being a Lakers fan, 'cause the Spurs Suck

Spurs lead 2-0 now. I know both games have been in SA so they shouldve won them but LA will have to win at least one game in SA to win the series. GP only had 7 points and 2 assists while his counterpart Tony Parker had 30 points. Until Payton can step up and play some D on Parker as well as contribute at least 12-15 points and 6-8 assists, the Lakers will continue to struggle. Kobe was also subpar with only 15 points. Shaq is the only player playing well for the Lakers right now.

F**king L.A. can't even win one game in SA. They've got Shaq, Kobe, Karl, and Gary! What else do they want!??

Wow, the Lakers looked awful again last night. If they play this way in LA, it will be a clean sweep. Too many turnovers and bad shot selection for the Lakers. The Spurs are too good defensively for all of these turnovers.

I don't have a rooting interest either way. But what would gall me if I were a diehard Lakers fan is the play of Payton & Malone in this series. They came to LA to win a title. But the way they're playing, you wouldn't know how "hungry" they are for a ring.

In Game 1, Kobe had a big game but everyone else didn't do much. In Game 2, it was Shaq by himself. LA doesn't have a prayer if only one player is stepping up.

The Fakers are having a tough time. Goes to show that even if you have high-profile names, doesn't mean it will lead to W's. Malone and Payton are washed up. Like Charles Barkley said during yesterday's game, "The Lakers have Kobe and Shaq, the Spurs have Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. But,the Spurs have better role players than the Lakers." The series should be over in 5 games.

That was a good point by Sir Charles and also a good point by Goombah by sayin how Malone and Payton arent playin with desire a hall-of-fame-veteran that has never won a title should be playin with. The big four on LA all need to contribute somethin. Otherwise this series wont be over in 5, itll be over in 4.

Lakers take game three. Notice Paytons numbers: 15 points and 7 assists. Like I said, if he picked it up, they could win and they did.

I don't think this series will be that easy. (I even picked Phil Jackson on Fantasy Basketball on games 2 and 3). I hope this series go to game 7 and the Lakers win, 'cause I HATE THE SPURS

The series gets more interesting each game. The Lakers looked terrible for Games 1 & 2, then the Spurs do the same for Game 3 and lose a lead in Game 4. It'll be interesting if Duncan turns it around in Game 5. Shaq & Kobe are playing tough now, but again in Game 4, where were Malone & Payton? If I were a Laker diehard, I would be hugely disappointed in Payton's performance this postseason. I thought he came to LA to win a title - did he think he could just show up & his teammates would do all the work?

I hope the Lakers dont win. I like Sacramento

I really don't like Sacramento; probably to the same extent that Tony Mosrite dislikes the Spurs. I think Vlade Divac should have won an award for Best Actor last season, because he's always looking for the foul call whenever he gets close to somebody on the court.

As for the Lakers, they looked much better in the last 2 games. It seems like Kobe does better whenever he has to fly in from Colorado after court. The Lakers have to find a way to win over there in San Antonio, because in this series home court advantage is everything, as well as good defense.

How bout those Lakers! Man what a great game and they didn't blow it! Nothing could be better than lossing the first 2 games in SA, and then winning the next 3, going back to LA with a game lead! Go Lakers Go!!

what a game last night! I'll remember it forever. and how about the Lakers' D? it was awesome...I hope they keep like this and get better in the offense to WHACK the spurs. then the Pistons can win it all

I'd worry about them getting past the Nets first, TM. :p

Oh my god! I couldn't believe it! I was watching the game, and when Duncan made the shot, i knew it was over. Since it was four tenths of a second, i thought they couldnt make it. Boy was i wrong! I didn't watch the end, but I was watching sports center this morning and i saw it all! My man Ginobilli couldn't stop Fisher. But it's not over. I guarantee Spurs win at Staples and they go to game 7 and win at SBC like i predicted.

Looks like the Fakers are heading back to the Western Conference Finals. Son of a bitch. Spurs can't even play D for 0.4 seconds. I hope the T'Wolves or Kings can take care of them. -Pat

I'd worry about them getting past the Nets first, TM. :p [/b][/quote]tell me about it! I couldn't believe when I got home last night and saw the first page of NBA.com with Kidd celebrating the win

How bout them Lakers? F**k you Spurs, you guys SUCK!! GO LAKERS GO!!