Lakers Defeat Rockets, Make Playoffs

After Wednesday’s win over the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers have secured the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  This coming Sunday, the number two seeded San Antonio spurs will host the Lakers for game one of the first round match up.  http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/130419lakers_spurs_preview

The Spurs will be without forward, Boris Diaw for 3-4 weeks (which won’t matter long since they won't make it past the Lakers) due to surgery to remove a synovial cyst from his lumbar spine.  Kobe Bryant will be missing for the Lakers due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered during last week’s game against Golden State.  However, star point guard, Steve Nash, who sat out against the Rockets with nerve pain, should be cleared to play in time for Sunday’s game one.          

The Lakers have no doubt struggled this year to make it this far and have fought through their fair share of injuries and drama, including firing head coach, Mike Brown, after an 0-8 preseason and 1-4 regular season start.   The Lakers brought on former New York Knicks coach, Mike D’Antoni, who was recently named Western Conference coach of the month for the month of April.  Bryant, too, was honored in April being named player of the week for three games played from the 8^th to the 14^th.  Bryant scored a total of 111 points during three games against New Orleans, Portland, and Golden State, leading his team to victory on all three occasions. 

Ending the regular season with a record of 45-37, which by Lakers standards is absolutely horrific, doesn’t mean they should be counted out.  The team has clearly come together after losing Kobe and have played hard these last few weeks to get into the playoffs, and I don’t see their determination letting up any time soon.  In fact, I confidently predict they sweep the Spurs in round one.