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For the sixth time in nine seasons the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs will square off in the NBA Playoffs. This will be the second time since 2001 that these two teams will meet in the Western Conference finals and the fourth overall.  In all three previous ocassions the Lakers have come up victorious

In 1982 the “Showtime” Lakers of Magic Johnson swept the series and the following season the Lakers won again but this time it took them six games. 

In 2001 the Lakers, then led by Shaquille O’neal defeated the Spurs wth another sweep and advanced to conquer the first of three consecutive NBA titles.

Despite the Lakers 3-0 record against the Spurs in the Western Conference finals, this time it would be surprising if the series don’t go to seven games and a Lakers victory is not guaranteed despite having home-field advantage.

After two difficult series, first against the Phoenix Suns and then seven grueling games against the New Orleans Hornets, the defending-champion Spurs will have to deal not only with the top-seeded Lakers but with the fatigue of their veteran players. However, the Spurs are an experienced team that has faced a situations like this before and found ways to come out on top. 

For an inexperienced team fatigue might be a big factor, but to a team as battle-tested as the Spurs this might be an issue a bit overrated.

But if the Spurs have fatigue to worry about, injuries could be what derails this Laker team that so far has looked very solid in the playoffs and holds an 8-2 record.

Not only the Lakers have to hope that Kobe Bryant’s finger holds up, but that his back won’t stiffen up again any time soon. Fortunately for Los Angeles their victory over the Utah Jazz in six games allowed them to rest Kobe and the rest of their hobbled players.

Sasha Vujacic was still banged up yesterday from the game in Utah, Pau Gasol was resting his ankle, Lamar Odom was resting his knee, Andrew Bynum is preparing to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and swingman Trevor Ariza , who hasn’t played since breaking his foot in January and undoubtedly benefited from the few extra days of rest, is supposedly ready to return to action.

When these teams finally meet the Lakers hope that Kobe and the Lakers large bodies (Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf)will find a way to overcome Tim Duncan and company. With a large frontcourt that is among the biggest in the NBA even without the injured Bynum, the Lakers hope they can contain Tim Duncan and use a fast-paced game to dethrone the Spurs.

The Spurs on the other hand have to find a way to stop Bryant, however that is easier said than done. They will put the league’s top perimeter defender Bruce Bowen on the league’s MVP to try and slow him down.

Although Kobe has said before that Bowen is the toughest defender to ever guard him, he already has managed to score 40 points with Bowen on him so we will have to wait and see what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich comes up with in case that has no effect on KB24.

Another option would be to let Bryant get his good share of points but lockdown the other key players like Odom and Gasol, however with the Lakers deep bench even that might be a stretch. 

 No matter what happens and who wins this is a matchup that has most basketball fans salivating because in the last five times these two franchises have met in the playoffs the winner has gone on to win the title. The Lakers might be the slight favorites but until Duncan and the rest of the defending champions Spurs are out of it you would have to be insane to bet against them.