Lakers 100 - Spurs 92 * Lakers are the 2008 Western Conference Champions

OK, it's over. The Lakers finished off the the San Antonio Spurs and are now the Western Conference Champions by winning game 5 at Staples Center 100-92. I knew the Lakers would win this series, actually since the middle of the season I knew the Lakers would win the West but I must admit that when the season began I didn't think that the Lakers could get this far.

Derek Fisher was though, as he said after the victory "I really expected to be here, even with all of the questions at the beginning of the season." But whether you believed it or not - it has happened - the Lakers are your 2008 Western Conference Champions!

MVP Kobe Bryant made sure of that when he scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter. Kobe said that the team is excited and proud but the team knows that now they have to finish it by winning the NBA Finals.

Pau Gasol also let it be known that the Lakers did not want to go back to San Antonio for a game 6. Though Pau only had 12 points, he grabbed a career high 19 rebounds and made life for Tim Duncan as hard as he could.

"My hearts still pumping, that adrenaline is still running from the game, maybe when I sit down and eat I'll realize what has just happened" said Lamar Odom who had 13 points and 8 rebounds in the game.

In the first quarter the Lakers looked sluggish and the Spurs looked great as they built a 28-15 lead to end the first quarter. In the second quarter the Spurs led 33-16 at one point but then the Lakers played a little better to cut deeply into the Spurs lead but at the half the Spurs still held the led 48-42. In the third the Spurs had a 10 point lead but then the Lakers went on a 19-8 run and all of a sudden they were up 61-60, this after the Spurs actually held a 17 point lead early in the game. The come back kind of reminded you of game 1 when the Lakers were down by 20 but came storming back to win the game 89-85. The fourth quarter was Kobe time as the MVP showed why he is the MVP. Kobe's jumper with 1:47 to play in the game gave the Lakers a 7 point lead 89-82 and the Spurs never got it under 5 points from there on.

Tony Parker had 23 points for the Spurs but only 4 assist. Tim Duncan had another great all around game recording a triple double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assist. Ginobili had another bad game getting only 9 points on 3 of 9 shooting. Ginobili's bad play in this series made it really tough for San Antonio to compete in this series.

Kobe led the Lakers with 39, Odom had 13 and Gasol 12. The Lakers got a spark from the bench as Vujacic had 9 points and Farmar had 8. Luke Walton had 5 points.

As I've said before, the Lakers would win this series so they have. Should not come as a surprise to anyone. Now the real challenge awaits the Lakers, well, it might await them if the Boston Celtics can get through the Pistons. If the Celtics win that series and face the Lakers it will be real battle. Even though I am a Laker fan I know that it is possible for the Celtics to beat the Lakers, even though I'll be rooting for the purple and gold. The Pistons on the other hand, can not beat the Lakers, I'm calling it right now, the Lakers in 6 games but I really doubt that that series will happen. It will be the Lakers Vs. Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals. Just like the old days! What a great series it will be!