At times during the 2001-02 season, the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers looked bored and complacent, and it continued into the opening rounds of the playoffs.
Even though L.A. got through the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs with just one loss, the team appeared to do the minimum that was necessary in the fourth quarter to notch a win.
The Western Conference Finals was a dream matchup: Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant going up against the 61-win Sacramento Kings.
