Lake Show Life
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Los Angeles Lakers: On this day in 2008, an underrated playoff gem

By Robert Marvi

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates the Lakers' win as Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs walks to the bench in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on May 21, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Spurs 89-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates the Lakers' win as Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs walks to the bench in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on May 21, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Spurs 89-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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During the 2007-08 season, the Los Angeles Lakers experienced a dramatic turnaround for the ages. One playoff game helped make it official, yet despite the way they won it and the way their superstar made it possible, it seems to never get talked about a decade later.

When fans of the Los Angeles Lakers think of Kobe Bryant‘s greatest playoff games or moments, a particular few always seem to come to mind. Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals. The game winner against Phoenix in 2006. Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals. And of course, Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.

However, there was one gem that hardly ever gets mentioned, or even remembered. This is despite the fact that it came against one of the Lakers’ top rivals of the era, and helped cement the fact that they had legitimately returned to championship contender status.

This gem took place in Game 1 of the 2008 Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

The purple and gold opened the season simply hoping that Kobe Bryant could be convinced to back off of his infamous trade demand from a few months earlier. They unexpectedly got off to a good start, as 20-year-old center Andrew Bynum started emerging as an All-Star caliber player.

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When Bynum suffered a dislocated kneecap and bone bruise in mid-January, it looked like the Lakers may miss the playoffs once again, and that Kobe would reiterate his demand to leave the only NBA team he had ever known. Then, on February 1, the Lakers acquired future Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, and their fortunes changed overnight.

Suddenly, Gasol made the Lakers into a juggernaut that averaged about 110 points a game with him in the lineup. With the Boston Celtics also turning into a force to be reckoned with thanks to the arrival of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, it appeared that this ancient basketball rivalry was about to be resurrected for Chapter Three.

The Lakers finished first in the Western Conference with 57 wins and were considered the favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in what seemed like forever.

First, they had to get past the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs. Tim Duncan was still arguably the best big man in basketball, and Tony Parker, the reigning Finals MVP, was at the top of his game. Bruce Bowen was still there, as was former Laker, Robert Horry. It was not a lock that the Lakers would get past the Spurs.

That notion was reinforced when the Spurs took a 20 point lead midway through the third quarter of Game 1. The Lakers’ offense was dead in the water.

To this point, Kobe had looked almost exclusively to set up his teammates, perhaps to feel them out and see how game-ready they were. Staples Center was dead silent as if they couldn’t believe their team was capable of playing this badly.

Then Kobe seemed to flip the switch. He started to take over the game, as he scored nine points in the next five minutes to bring the Lakers to within seven at the end of the period. Then in the fourth quarter, he kept pouring it on, scoring 14 points, including a jumper against Bruce Bowen with 23.9 seconds left to give the Lakers an 87-85 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

This win set the tone for the series. Kobe scored 27 points with 9 assists, and he orchestrated the game masterfully from start to finish. It was an example of Kobe’s basketball genius, of how he would pivot from facilitator to scorer, keep reading his teammates and the game and respond accordingly.

The Spurs never recovered, and San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich lamented his team’s inability to close out the game. After Game 1, he simply said:

"“Obviously a difficult loss and we had a great opportunity. We didn’t take advantage of it. Hurts like hell.”"

The Lakers went on to win three of the next four games convincingly, with Kobe scoring 39 points and 17 in the fourth quarter of Game 5 to close out the series. Although the Lakers got bullied in the championship series against Boston, they had arrived (once again). They would win the next two championships, including their ultimate grudge match, once in a lifetime revenge triumph over Boston in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

Their comeback in Game 1 of the 2008 Western Conference Finals versus San Antonio simply made their arrival official.

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