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Party like it’s 2-0-0-9? Lakers similarities to then and now

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant holds the Larry O'Brien Trophy while celebrating his fourth championship in 2009.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant holds the Larry O’Brien Trophy while celebrating his fourth championship with the team following a win over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
By Hans TesselaarAssistant Sports Editor 
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There are some interesting comparisons between the Lakers’ 2009 NBA championship team and their 2020 team, which is a win away from the title:

2009

—Beat Houston in the second round.

—Beat Denver in the conference finals.

—Won the title against a team from Florida (Orlando Magic) in Orlando in five games.

—Kobe Bryant, the Lakers’ best player, won his fourth NBA championship.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 31, 2020-Lakers LeBron James points to the sky during a memorial for Kobe Braynt at the Staples Center. (Los Angeles Times/Wally Skalij)

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2020

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—Beat Houston in the second round.

—Beat Denver in the conference finals.

—Could win the title against a Florida team (Miami Heat) in Orlando, Fla. (thanks to the NBA bubble) in five games.

—The Lakers’ best player, LeBron James, could win his fourth NBA championship.

NOTE: Dwight Howard played in both series, 2009 for Orlando, 2020 for the Lakers.

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Hans Tesselaar

Hans Tesselaar was an assistant sports editor for the Los Angeles Times, in charge of coverage of baseball and hockey. He is a 1984 graduate of USC.

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