Look back at the Lakers 2003 - 2004

The 2003-2004 season will always be remembered as one of the greatest and strangest years in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers, that year the Los Angeles Lakers had perhaps the most decorated and star-studded lineup in league history as they acquired all-stars F Karl Malone and G Gary Payton to team with superstars C Shaquille O'Neal and G Kobe Bryant.Initially the Los Angeles Lakers tore through their first 25 games with a record of 20-5, but entered the all-star break with a disappointing 31-19 mark, as Malone suffered a severe sprain of his right knee that would force him to miss 39 games and the superstars didnt always mesh well together.After the break the Los Angeles Lakers. took off and ended the regular strongly, winning 14 of their last 17 games to capture the Pacific division title with a 56-26 record, in the first round of the NBA playoffs the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 4 games to one, but didnt look impressive and struggled at times against the pesky Houston Rockets, the second round opponent the World Champion San Antonio Spurs who had eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers a season before appeared poised to repeat the act as they dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first two games at San Antonio to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven series, but the Los Angeles Lakers refused to quit winning the next two contests to set up a series altering game 5 at the SBC Center, a floor that the Los Angeles Lakers had never been victorious on. The Los Angeles Lakers appeared to be in control of the game until the San Antonio Spurs staged a late rally that culminated with Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs sinking a straight-away bank shot just inside the three-point line over the outstretched arms of Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving 0.4 seconds remaining with the San Antonio Spurs clinging to a one point advantage.What took place in the final four-tenths of a seconds will etched in the hearts of all Los Angeles Lakers fans, Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers took an inbounds pass from Gary Payton of the Los Angeles Lakers and in one motion turned and sank a jump shot to give the Los Angeles Lakers the victory and a 3-2 lead in the series.The Los Angeles Lakers would finish the San Antonio Spurs in game 6 and advance to the Western Conference finals where they would defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games to advance to the NBA Finals where they took on the Detroit Pistons and were heavily favored to win the NBA title, but the Detroit Pistons had other ideas and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games behind a suffocating defense.2003-2004 was a great season in many ways and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame many obstacles and just missed out on the ultimate prize.
By: Aaron Simms

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