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After winning back-to-back championships, the Lakers finished 58-24. Entering the playoffs they were the number three seed in the West. Their first opponent was the Portland Trailblazers. Kobe and the Lakers swept them 3-0 in a best of five series. In the next round they faced off against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers won this series 4-1 and were moving on to the Western Conference Finals to play against the Sacramento Kings. The Kings again put up a fight just like two years ago but the Lakers kept their composure winning Game 7 at Sacramento. The Lakers were now moving on to the Finals to play the New Jersey Nets. In Game 1 the Lakers won by only five points, 99-94. Game 2 was a different story, the Lakers won by a large margin, 17 points, 106-83. New Jersey would have to come back in the third game and win but unfortunately for the Nets they lost 106-103. Now they were in a deep hole. Nobody has ever comeback to win a series after being down 3-0. The Lakers still battled and won Game 4 (113-107). With this win they clinched their 3rd championship in a row, making it a 3-peat, and the 7th team to sweep their opponents in NBA Finals history. |
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