Suns and Lakers to Battle in 2010 NBA Western Conference Finals

The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns have taken eerily similar paths to the Western Conference Finals.

Each team won its first-round series 4-2. Each swept its conference-semifinal series 4-0. The Lakers won 57 regular-season games; the Suns won 54.

There is one glaring difference between the two teams as they begin play on Monday, May 17 in Los Angeles for the right to represent the West in the NBA Finals: the Lakers have been down this road recently, and they know it well.

Los Angeles lost a total of seven games during the 2009 NBA Playoffs, reached the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season and claimed the franchise's 15th NBA championship.

Phoenix hasn't been in the conference finals since 2006, and missed the playoffs in 2008-09 after being swept by San Antonio in the opening round of the 2007-08 postseason.

Here's a complete look at the Western Conference Finals series between the Lakers and the Suns:

Conference Semifinals

Los Angeles Lakers: Defeated Utah Jazz 4-0. Game results:
• Sunday, May 2: L.A. Lakers 104, Utah 99
• Tuesday, May 4: L.A. Lakers 111, Utah 103
• Saturday, May 8: L.A. Lakers 111, Utah 110
• Monday, May 10: L.A. Lakers 111, Utah 96

Phoenix Suns: Defeated San Antonio Spurs 4-0. Game results:
• Monday, May 3: Phoenix 111, San Antonio 102
• Wednesday, May 5: Phoenix 110, San Antonio 102
• Friday, May 7: Phoenix 110, San Antonio 96
• Sunday, May 9: Phoenix 107, San Antonio 101

First Round

L.A. Lakers: Defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2. Game results:
• Sunday, April 18: L.A. Lakers 87, Oklahoma City 79
• Tuesday, April 20: L.A. Lakers 95, Oklahoma City 92
• Thursday, April 22: Oklahoma City 101, L.A. Lakers 96
• Saturday, April 24: Oklahoma City 110, L.A. Lakers 89
• Tuesday, April 27: L.A. Lakers 111, Oklahoma City 87
• Friday, April 30: L.A. Lakers 95, Oklahoma City 94

Phoenix Suns: Defeated Portland Trail Blazers 4-2. Game results:
• Sunday, April 18: Portland 105, Phoenix 100
• Tuesday, April 20: Phoenix 119, Portland 90
• Thursday, April 22: Phoenix 108, Portland 89
• Saturday, April 24: Portland 96, Phoenix 87
• Monday, April 26: Phoenix 107, Portland 88
• Thursday, April 29: Phoenix 99, Portland 90

Regular Season

Records: Los Angeles Lakers 57-25, first seed in Western Conference; Phoenix Suns 54-28, third seed in West.
Season series: Lakers won 3-1. Nov. 12 - Los Angeles 121, Phoenix 102. Dec. 6 - Los Angeles 108, Phoenix 88. Dec. 28 - Phoenix 118, Los Angeles 103. March 12 - Los Angeles 102, Phoenix 96.

Western Conference Finals Series Schedule
(All times Eastern; remaining game dates/times TBD)

Game 1: Monday, May 17, Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, May 19, Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m.

The Lakers

Kobe Bryant has averaged 26.9 points per game, and Pau Gasol has averaged 20.2 for the defending champions through the first two 2010 NBA Playoff series. ... Gasol and teammate Andrew Bynum are tied for fourth among playoff participants with a 56.4-percent field-goal-shooting average in the playoffs. ... Gasol is second with 13.1 rebounds per game and Bynum 10th with 8.9. ... Bynum remains listed as day-to-day on the Lakers' injury report, but he continues to work out in practice, showing no signs that his previously injured knee is limiting his abilities.

The Suns

Jason Richardson has led the Suns in the playoffs with a 21.9-points-per-game average, and Amar'e Stoudemire is close behind at 20.5. ... Steve Nash is third among playoff participants with 9.0 assists per game in the Suns' first two series. ... Phoenix is hoping to get back 7-foot center Robin Lopez, who has been out since March 28 with a bulging disk in his back but has been participating in scrimmages this week. The Suns hope that with several days of rest before the Western Conference Finals begin, Lopez could at least be active at some point in the series.

The Bottom Line

On paper, Los Angeles has the edge in this series, if for no other reason than the Lakers have recent history and playoff experience on their side. However, I like Phoenix to pull an upset in this one. No pun intended, but Suns are hot; they're shooting the ball well and dictating the pace, and getting back Lopez will go a long way toward trying to slow Gasol and Bynum in the paint and making it more difficult for Bryant to get to the rim. The Lakers can run the court, but if the Suns can keep Los Angeles playing their up-tempo game throughout the series, Phoenix could pull off a win in six or seven games and reach its first NBA Finals since 1993 (Chicago beat the Suns 4-2).

Sources:
Lopez Could Be Available For Suns, ESPN
Los Angeles Lakers Playoff History, Yahoo! Sports
Phoenix Suns Playoff History, Yahoo! Sports