Los Angeles Lakers: Best Western Conference Finals in team history

Los Angeles Lakers best Western Conference Finals: 2. 2000 vs. Portland

Poor Portland, two of the franchise’s worst playoff series losses has come at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. This series had to hurt Blazer fans more than 1991, though, as this series has one of the worst playoff losses in NBA history.

Unlike the matchup nine years earlier, the Los Angeles Lakers were the favorites in this series. They were the first seed in the Western Conference and had the league’s MVP in Shaquille O’Neal as well as an emerging superstar in Kobe Bryant.

It seemed like the Lakers were going to make quick work of the Blazers as well. The Lakers had a 3-1 series lead after four games and were returning home for Game 5 to finish Portland off.

Not so fast. Despite a 31-point, 21-rebound game from Shaq, Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen was able to lead the Blazers to an eight-point victory. Then, in Game 6, despite a 33-point showing from Kobe Bryant, Portland was able to tie the series at three games apiece with a 10-point victory.

Now back in Los Angeles for Game 7, it looked like Portland had the game (and series) all but won in the fourth quarter. Portland entered the quarter with a 13-point lead and was containing the Lakers’ high-powered offense, which only had 58 points heading into the fourth.

Then it fell apart. After extending the lead to 15 with the first shot of the quarter, Portland did not make another basket (although they did make two free throws) until there were less than three minutes in the quarter. In a span of 7:47, the Lakers went on a 17-2 run to tie the game.

The last time the game was tied was when it was 79-79. The Lakers took the lead and ran with it, outscoring Portland 31-13 to win the game, win the series, and move on to win the first of three-straight championships.