This year's Western Conference playoff is gonna rule. The East, well, it's nice to see the Nets and Celtics win games, but the winner of the East is gonna get swept right out of the Finals. Anyway, as a Laker fan, I'm gunning for the 3peat. However, on paper coming into this season this looked like the best Jackson led Laker squad yet, but, Walker, Richmond, and Hunter have all contributed nothing, so I think this is Jacksons thinnest squad. We know Bryant and Shaq will show up for the playoffs, but Fox, Horry, Shaw, and Fisher are gonna have to step it up for the 3peat. The Spurs, Blazers, Kings, and Mavericks are all capable of toppling the Lakers. And the Jazz, Sonics, and T-Wolves ain't too shabby. In any case, this could be the best conference playoff ever.