Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns face off in Western Conference finals

Why the Lakers can win: After a bumpy ride against Oklahoma City, the Lakers hit their stride against Utah, reeling off a methodical four-game sweep. Kobe Bryant regained his scoring dominance -- he scored at least 30 points in all four wins. Derek Fisher and Ron Artest also made timely three-pointers and Lamar Odom established himself as the leader of a more consistent bench. Bryant is seeking revenge against the last Western Conference team to eliminate the defending champion Lakers from the playoffs. The Suns came back from a 3-1 deficit in 2006 to win in seven games -- a loss that continues to rankle Bryant, who was criticized for only taking three second-half shots in a Game 7 loss. The next year, the Lakers lost in five games, angering Bryant so much that he demanded a trade in the offseason and forced the team's front office to add Pau Gasol and Fisher.

Why the Suns can win: The Suns finally exorcised some demons in a dominant four-game sweep of San Antonio, with Steve Nash finishing the job with just one good eye. No team out West has played better in the past few months, as Phoenix has gone 36-9 since Jan. 28. The Suns have been shooting three-pointers at an incredible rate (41.7 percent) in the playoffs. The bench is no longer a liability but a strength. Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson have been better since the trade deadline, Robin Lopez is expected to return from injury and Grant Hill has defied age to become a lockdown defender. Nash showed that he can dish out more than assists as he countered Lakers Coach Phil Jackson's claims that the two-time MVP carries the basketball by calling Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich "the best coach in the league."

Difference maker: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers. Gasol has had eight double-doubles in 10 postseason games, averaging 20.2 points and 13.1 rebounds. The Lakers are 7-2 against Phoenix since he arrived in February 2008.

Bottom line: Lakers in seven.

SERIES SCHEDULE

Monday: at Los Angeles, 9

Wednesday: at Los Angeles, 9

Sunday: at Phoenix, 8:30

May 25: at Phoenix, 9

*May 27: at Los Angeles, 9

*May 29: at Phoenix, 8:30

*May 31: at Los Angeles, 9

* - if necessary