The Los Angeles Lakers 2008 Playoffs

Unfortunately for the purple and gold of theLakers held on, courtesy of a 30-24 fourth
Lakers Jerseys, they fell short to the Bostonquarter to take the game 111-104 and take a 3-2
Celtics of the NBA's Eastern Conference.series lead. This time it was the Lakers with five
The playoffs started with the #1 seed in theguys in double figures, led by Kobe's 26, and
Western Conference as the Lakers finished with aOdom's 22, the Lakers were now one win from
57-25 record. Their first match in the playoffsmoving on. In game six, the Lakers would have to
was in the form of Allen Iverson, Carmellohead back to Salt Lake City where the Jazz were
Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers4-1 in the postseason coming in. This night
had their way with the Nuggets, winning fourbelonged to the Lakers. After a 33-20 first
straight games- the first two in Los Angeles, thequarter, and a 62-43 halftime lead, the Lakers
next two in Denver. Game one went 128-114 toheld on, despite a 35-22 fourth quarter run from
the Lakers, as Pau Gasol scored 36 points for thethe Jazz to win 108-105 and move on to the
Lakers, and Kobe Bryant added 32. Games twoWestern Conference Finals.
and three were even more of a blowout as theIn the Conference Finals, the Lakers once again
Lakers won game two in Los Angeles- 122-107had the home court advantage, this time to the
and game three in Denver 102-84. The Nuggetsdefending NBA champion- San Antonio Spurs. This
game four a good run, but fell short 107-101 in aseries was not really all that close as the Lakers
game in which Kobe poured in 31 more, and Gasolmade short work of the Spurs winning in five
21. The Lakers were ready to move on to roundgames. Game one started well for the Spurs, as
two.at halftime they held an 8 point lead, but were
Round two started well as the Lakers took onnot able to hold on, as the Lakers outscored
the Utah Jazz. In the first two games in Losthem 24-13 in the fourth quarter to come away
Angeles the Lakers were easy winners 109-98with a 89-85 win. Kobe Bryant matched the
and 120-110. Kobe poured in 38 and 34, helped bySpurs Tim Duncan point for point and the Lakers
Gasol's 18 and 20. The Jazz were led in scoring bydefense did a great job of limited sharp shooter
up and coming star DeRon Williams, who did all heMano Ginobli to only ten points. Game two, the
could scoring 25 and 14, but also added 10 and 9Spurs had no chance. Winning all four quarters, the
assists in the first two games. The series wouldLakers blew out the Spurs 101-71. With five guys
shift to Utah. In Utah, the series quickly becamein double figures the Lakers once again used their
very competitive. In game three, the Lakers lostdepth to take a 2-0 lead in the series and remain
their first playoff game of the year, ending a 6unbeaten at home throughout the postseason. In
game playoff-winning streak. Game 3 went toa must win game three in San Antonio, the Spurs
Utah 104-99, as Carlos Boozer scored 27 pointswere able to knock off the Lakers, this time
and grabbed 20 rebounds. Boozer, Okur andwinning 103-84. Kobe's 30 was not enough as
Williams were not to be denied on this night.Ginobli scored 30 as well, and Tim Duncan added
Game four ended in another Jazz win, this time in22 and Tony Parker poured in 20. The Spurs
overtime, coming away with a 123-115 win. Bryantlooked to still be in the series. In game four the
scored 33 points on 33 shots. Lamar OdomLakers were a two-point winner, and game five
helped the Lakers out with 26 points and 13the Lakers used a 36-29 fourth quarter edge to
rebounds, but those were not enough, as thewin the game and the series. Kobe Bryant was
Jazz had six players in double figures, to leadonce again the star in game five as he scored 39
them to a win, and a 2-2 series tie. The seriespoints, while Pau Gasol added 19 rebounds. The
then went back to the Staples Center, where theLakers were once again back in the NBA Finals!