Pope of Basketball.

Summary

. In the final stages of the regular season, the Lakers faced the Suns twice, losing both games. The Suns showcased their strategy to defeat the Lakers by outscoring them, winning 125-110 at home and 108-107 away, with a thrilling near buzzer-beater by Nash. Yao Ming struggled against the fast-paced Suns, while Little O'Neal challenged him with his perimeter shooting. The absence of Odom was felt more against the Suns. The Lakers concluded their season with a 71-11 record after defeating the Trail Blazers 123-106, securing the top spot in the league. The Suns finished second with a 62-20 record but were ranked fourth due to their division. Kobe Bryant won the scoring title, while other statistical leaders included Kevin Garnett in rebounding, Steve Nash in assists, Kirilenko in blocks, and Larry Hughes in steals. Experts predicted an easy first-round sweep for the Lakers against the Timberwolves, who had never won a playoff game. .

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