Lakers Should Take Game Five

Homecourt advantage wins game five.

Despite losing Game 2 at the Staples Center and Game 4 at the Pepsi Center, the Los Angeles Lakers stole Game 3 in Denver, setting up a potential 3-2 series lead after tonight's game when the two teams meet back in Denver on Friday.

While a win tonight for the home team is no guarantee, the odds and karma favor the Lakers. Let's face it, every team, including L.A, plays better at home. Road teams can and do steal games from time-to-time, but most of them come earlier in the series, not game 5's. Tonight's game shouldn't be any different.

For L.A. to take a one game advantage, they must continue to rely on their leader and former MVP Kobe Bryant for steady play throughout the game, and finish the fourth quarter the way he has all series-- on fire. Even in defeats, Bryant continues to show why many still feel he's the best player in the game, hitting crucial shot after crucial shot, even if a Denver defender has a hand in Bryant's face.

While this point is a given and borderline cliche, a win in tonight's game could almost seal the deal for the Lakers in this series, even if they fall in Game 6. Bryant understands this, which should motivate him for a solid game later this evening.

The other factor for the L.A in tonight's game is the play of their frontcourt. In Game 5, the Lakers frontcourt was caught sleeping on many defensive rebounds, giving Denver important second chance points and an 18 rebound advantage. Although Denver possesses a talented frontcourt, they don't have a guy by the name of Pau Gasol. Gasol, who has been criticized his entire career for lack of toughness and heart in the paint, has shown flashes off a "banger," a style of player he'll need to continue doing to silence his critics. If L.A wins the battle upfront, Game 5 should go their way.

Prediction: LA 101, Denver 98