LA Lakers now a western conference champs

The Los Angeles Lakers began the season in chaos almost 6 months ago. They finished it as the Western Conference champions.

Pau Gasol had 22 points, leading MVP candidate Kobe Bryant added 20, and the Lakers beat the short-handed Sacramento Kings 124-101 Tuesday night to clinch the No. 1 seed in the West and home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

The Lakers (57-25), who won eight of their last nine games, begin the playoffs this weekend—most likely Sunday—against Denver or Dallas. It will be the Nuggets unless they beat Memphis and Dallas loses to New Orleans on Wednesday night. If the Hornets win, they’ll have the same record as the Lakers, but Los Angeles wins the tiebreaker by virtue of a better conference record.

The Lakers overcame injuries to up-and-coming center Andrew Bynum and backup forward Trevor Ariza to win the West after a 9-8 start. Bynum (left knee) hasn’t played since Jan. 13, and Ariza (right foot) has been sidelined since being injured a week later. There’s no timetable on their return.

The acquisition of Gasol from Memphis on Feb. 1 has paid huge dividends. The Lakers are 22-5 with the 7-footer in their lineup. Gasol returned earlier this month after missing nine games because of a sprained ankle.

Bryant, regarded as one of the NBA’s best players for several years but without an MVP award in 11 previous seasons, called the Lakers’ front office a mess and demanded a trade last spring in the wake of the team’s failure to win a playoff series for the third straight year.

After things calmed down, team owner Dr. Jerry Buss said during training camp he was listening to offers, angering Bryant again. Trade talk was a constant for the first weeks of the season, but Bryant said recently this has been his most satisfying year because of the relationship he’s had with his teammates.