Lakers Western Conference Champs?! Who Knew?

The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the Western Conference title last night when they defeated the Spurs in L.A. That's right, you read it correctly. The same Lakers that were battling mediocrity over the last three seasons, were hoisting the Western Conference crown. As I was watching the award ceremony transpiring on the television screen at BJs in Brea, I thought to myself, how did this all happen and come together?

Well, it took some rebounds, a steal, and a slam dunk.

One of the rebounds this season came from reacquiring Derek Fisher. Fisher was a critical piece of the three-peat champion Lakers of 1999-2002. Whenever opponents would double-team Kobe Bryant driving to the lane, or double-team Shaq in the post, Derek Fisher was the one who the ball was kicked out to. The Lakers have lacked a starting point guard ever since he left in 2004.

Does Smush Parker ring a bell? I mean please, he couldn't even get any playing time for the Clippers this season. Hey, don't forget about Chucky Atkins, who could probably be considered to be one of the worst defensive guards in the history of basketball.

Derek Fisher anchored the point guard role for the Lakers and provided valuable leadership to one of the youngest teams in the NBA.

The steal of the season was perpetrated by the often-maligned General Manager of the Lakers Mitch Kupchak.

He literally stole Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies by giving up no core pieces of the Lakers. In a couple of years it might be known as the "Brothers Trade" with Marc Gasol going to the Lakers, but who knows if he will ever develop.

For now, it's one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, and it literally sent an earthquake through the entire Western Conference. Phoenix traded for Shaq, and yeah that didn't really turn out to well, did it? Dallas traded for Jason Kidd, and they found out just how old his game has become. The Paul Gasol trade was phenomenal for the Lakers, but the trade's impact left the Western Conference weaker with the panic moves made by GMs Steve Kerr and Donn Nelson.

It was truly surreal to see Mitch Kupchak holding the Western Conference trophy after all he has been put through by the media and fans. After all, Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, and Luke Walton were all late draft picks. The man deserves all the credit in the world for making this a championship-caliber team. Just don't tell Jerry and Jim Buss that. I'm sure they want some, if not all of the credit.

Another rebound this season came from Lamar Odom.

Lamar Odom was never a consistent No. 2 option behind Kobe Bryant. His game along with Kobe's would often collide on the court, and he would have a knack for disappearing during stretches.

However, as soon as the Gasol trade was made, he became more comfortable as the No. 3 option on the team. He flourished in that role, becoming more aggressive and assertive with the basketball. Odom actually finished on the break, and made lay-ups! Hallelujah! He now realizes the importance of dunking and pumping up the crowd! He is the most important Laker heading into the Finals.

Finally, the slam dunk of the season came from none other than the MVP Kobe Bryant.

After a hellacious off-season with Kobe asking to be traded. No one could have expected Kobe Bryant to lead his team to promised land when the season started. He immediately found solace on the hardwood, immediately noticing the impact that Derek Fisher had on the court.

Lo and behold, Kobe and the Lakers found themselves with a 19-12 record through the end of December. Much of the improved play coming from Andrew Bynum who emerged as a rising new big man in the West. Finally Kobe had someone who would complete his alley-oops to the basket, instead of fumbling them out of bounds like that scrub Kwame Brown.

Sasha Vujacic also became the consistent outside threat that the Lakers lacked. Sasha and Jordan Farmar had a little bit of Kobe's black mamba machismo rub off on them, as they proved that were willing and able to hit shots in the clutch.

Finally, Kobe had his full trust in his teammates and the Lakers finished with the best record against the best Western Conference any one has ever seen.

It took a steal of Gasol, some rebounds by key players like Fisher and Odom, and a slam dunk by the league's MVP to put the Lakers where there are at now: An opportunity for them to be crowned in purple and gold as champions.