Western Conference Finals Preview and Prediction..

Well the Lakers decided to show up Sunday, and just in time too. Facing elimination, the 'Lake-Show', which could be more correctly described by it's spoof derivitive "Late Show," arrived at the arena in time to rid themselves of the pesky Houston Rockets in seven games. Yep, that Rockets team, who most of America figured to be done in four or five games, took the Lakers to seven, or more fitting, the Lakers let them hang around that long. Either way it's embarassing this series lasted that long.
'Kobe Doin' Work' premiered this weekend, let's hope for the Lakers sake the rest of the team follows suit, and does a little work starting Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets. Previewing that series I don't see a way that the Lakers team we saw in the semifinals can win this series. Turning every night into a crap shoot as to which team will show up may have been fine against the lowly Jazz and scrappy Rockets, but it sure won't do against the talented, loaded and flat-out rolling Nuggets.
As I look at this series I am intrigued by the match ups. Just how is Derek Fisher going to guard Chauncey Billups when he struggled against Aaron Brooks of the Rockets? I will give Fisher this, tale of the tape shows he's 34 and Billups is 32, a little better matchup than the 24-year-old Brooks that for sure. And if the Lakers can find more minutes for the 22-year-old Jordan Farmar, he might be able to push the older Billups up the court a little more. I still think Chauncey wins that matchup though.
For the Lakers, they need their bigs to step up. I'm talking about Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. While Bynum showed some signs of life in game 7, it's going to be a lot tougher with the likes of Denver's Nene down low alongside Chris Anderson who will no doubt give Paul Gasol fits.
Bottom line, the Lakers have to show up, and they have to win on the road. Denver hasn't lost at home since early March, while the Lakers hold a distinct home court advantage themselves. Denver is 3-23 over the last 26 at Staples Center. That doesn't factor in Chauncey very much but the task to win on the road is just as tall for the Nuggets who have to steal a couple at Staples as well.
Playoffs aren't all about talent, and that's what I keep hearing about LA. "They're still the most talented team in the league," yeah but talent doesn't get you too far in the post season when you're inconsistent, it's only a seven-game series. Denver has been consistent, the Lakers have showed up when it's convenient.
Predicition: Consistency beats out Convenience...Denver in 6.