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Los Angeles Lakers: Best Western Conference Finals in team history

By Jason Reed

Peja Stojakovic (R) and Scot Pollard (L) of the Sacramento Kings defend against Shaquille O'Neal (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers during 3rd quarter action of Game 6 in their Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles 31 May 2002. The Kings lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. AFP PHOTO/Matt SIMON (Photo by MATT SIMON / AFP) (Photo credit should read MATT SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Peja Stojakovic (R) and Scot Pollard (L) of the Sacramento Kings defend against Shaquille O'Neal (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers during 3rd quarter action of Game 6 in their Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles 31 May 2002. The Kings lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. AFP PHOTO/Matt SIMON (Photo by MATT SIMON / AFP) (Photo credit should read MATT SIMON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Los Angeles Lakers best Western Conference Finals: 1. 2002 vs. Sacramento

There could not have been any other Western Conference Finals series that was number one over the 2002 series against the Sacramento Kings. Not only is this the Lakers’ greatest Western Conference Finals, but it is one of the best in league history and is one of the best overall playoff series ever.

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The Lakers and Kings’ rivalry helped fuel the narrative of this series even further. The Lakers were always the big brother of the Western Conference that the Kings could not get past. This was the year that it was supposed to happen, but Robert Horry and the Lakers thought otherwise.

After winning Game 1 in Sacramento, the Kings took Game 2 at home and Game 3 in Los Angeles to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 was pivotal, it would have given the Kings a 3-1 lead in the series with two of the final three games in Sacramento. It could have essentially decided the series.

The Kings had a 14-point lead heading into halftime of Game 4 and led the Lakers by two points with 11.8 seconds left in the game. Everyone knows what happened then.

Kobe missed the running floater, Shaq got the rebound and uncharacteristically missed the putback two. With two seconds left, Vlade Divac smacked the ball away from the basket and Robert Horry was in the right place at the right time.

He caught and shot the game-winning three and nailed it. The Lakers avoided a 3-1 series deficit.

It did not get any easier, though, as the Kings got their revenge in Game 5, forcing the Lakers to win back-to-back games if they wanted to three-peat as champions. The Lakers won Game 6 behind two gutsy performances from Shaq and Kobe.

Shaq scored 41 with 17 rebounds while Kobe scored 31.

Game 7 was as dramatic as it gets. Mike Bibby tied the game with two clutch free throws with eight seconds left and Robert Horry was almost the hero again. Shaq missed a turnaround jumper and Horry had a chance to make the tip-in with one second remaining but didn’t put enough on it and clanked front rim.

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The overtime period started back and forth and with a minute and a half remaining the Lakers went on a run. The scored six consecutive uncontested points and walked away with a 112-106 win, on the road, in overtime, in Game 7.

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