Adam Pantozzi / NBA E
Less than two hours ago, the Lakers went up, 2-1, in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns when Los Angeles emerged victorious, 109-95, in Game 3 at STAPLES Center. This was the first time Anthony Davis and LeBron James played an NBA postseason game at STAPLES Center, and also the first time since 2012 that the Lakers won a playoff match in their home arena. Kobe would've been proud.
Speaking of Kobe, today also marks 20 years since he, Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher and the rest of the Lakers swept the San Antonio Spurs, 111-82, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers were undefeated in the postseason, 11-0, up until their Game 1 loss in the 2001 NBA Finals. At the end, however, the Lake Show prevailed over Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games to win the NBA championship...and made history by having the best postseason record in league history at 15-1. The Chicago Bulls had a 15-2 record at the conclusion of the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
Here's hoping that Anthony Davis, LeBron and Co. continue to play well and eventually move onto the next playoff series (obviously). I don't wanna jinx it, but with the Clippers currently down 0-2 in their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, and the Memphis Grizzlies having taken homecourt advantage away from the No. 1 Utah Jazz, the Lakers might have a considerable chance of reaching the NBA Finals two decades after Shaq and Kobe won their back-to-back title. Happy Thursday.
PS: The photo below is actually inaccurate. It's from Game 1 of the 2001 Western Conference Finals. Game 4 took place at STAPLES Center. I'm only using this image because you know, Mamba Forever.
JAMES NIELSEN / AFP via Getty Images
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