Lakers vs. Nuggets series

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes airborne for a slam dunk during the second half in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver. Bryant led all scorers with 35 points, as the Lakers beat the Nuggets 119-92.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol is fouled hard as he drives to the basket during the second half in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant celebrates his three-pointer against the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol celebrate their win over the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver Friday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Laker players listen to head coach Phil Jackson after defeating the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets Carmelo Anthony watches the Lakers celebrate in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony fights his way past Lakers defenders Lamar Odom, left, and Pau Gasol during the first half in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant is fouled while splitting three Nugget palyers including Kenyon Martin, Nene and Carmelo Anthony in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Lamar Odom slams the ball over Nuggets defender Chris Andersen as Los Angeles pulls ahead of Denver late to win Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Trevor Ariza falls into the crowd while chasing a loose ball against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets J.R. Smith is disgusted after a teammates foul on a Laker in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Lamar Odom makes a basket over Nuggtes Chris Andersen in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Guard Shannon Brown cheers as the Lakers build a commanding lead in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jack Nicholson cheers for the Lakers during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin appears dejected following a loss to the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant takes in the Lakers victory following Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Zach Efron gets into the excitement of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Pau Gasol wants a traveling call against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers coach Phil Jackson whistles to get his team’s attention late in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets guard Dahntay Jones steals the ball from Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Fans celebrate as Sasha Vujacic hits a last second three point shot to close the first half with a 56-56 tie during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Sasha Vujacic hits the floor after hitting a three-point shot against the Nuggets to tie the game at halftime in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant argues with a referee about a foul in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij/ Los Angeles Times)

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talks with Kobe Bryant in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij/ Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Lamar Odom drives past Nuggets Chris Andersen in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij/ Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Sasha Vujacic disputes a call after being called for traveling against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij/ Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Trevor Ariza battles for a loose ball with Nuggets Carmelo Anthony in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij/ Los Angeles Times)

Lakers from left, Shannon Brown, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton realize their fate against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij/ Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant is fouled by Nuggets Kenyon Martin late in the 4th quarter of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant, left, and Sasha Vujacic dispute a call with a referee in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets J.R. Smith taunts Lakers Sasha Vujacic after making a three-pointer at the end of the 3rd quarter in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver. Smith was called for a technical foul.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets Chris Andersen grabs a rebound in front of Lakers Jordan Farmar, left, and Lamar Odom in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Trevor Ariza walks out of the locker room in preparation for a game against the Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant is fouled by Nuggets Kenyon Martin, left, as Carmelo Anthony helps on the play in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza slams home two points over Nuggets defenders in the second half of game two of the NBA Western Conference finals at Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Kobe Bryant bites his jersey after his team was called for a foul against the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant gets a hand in his face as he drives on the Denver Nuggets in the second half of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Teri Hatcher gets into the action during the first half of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum gets tied up with Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony in the first half during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers girls pose for fan photos during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Jordan Farmar picks up a loose ball in front of teammate Shannon Brown and Nuggets Anthony Carter and Chris Andersen in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

As Pau Gasol and Nuggets Nene battle for the loose ball other Laker players try to call timeout late in the 4th quarter in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Pau Gasol scrambles for the ball along with Nuggets Chauncey Billups after Kobe Bryant lost the ball in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Derek Fisher celebrates with fans after his three-pointer against the Nugets in the 4th quarter in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Pau Gasol celebrates after getting a charging foul called on Nuggets Carmelo Anthony in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The ball gets away from Lakers Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals at Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Drew Barrymore and a companion cheer on the action courtside during Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals at Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Trevor Ariza is helped from the floor after defeating the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin slams the ball over Lakers center DJ Mbenga in the second half of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers Pau Gasol hugs Kobe Bryant late in the 4th quarter as Nuggets Carmelo Anthony looks on during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Larry David, left, and Spike Lee sit courtside before the start of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets Western Conference Finals Game 1 at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Pau Gasol is fouled by Nuggets center Nene late in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center. Gasol sank the free throws to help lead LA to a 105-103 victory.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Denver Nuggets player Chris Andersen sports a heavily gelled hairdo as he warms up to play the Lakers before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)