2007-08 Season
Record: 57-25, first place in Pacific Division
Kobe Bryant, frustrated with the Lakers' recent lack of success, asked to be traded before the season, a request ignored by the team. The Lakers were 25-11 when center Andrew Bynum suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Lakers went 3-5 without Bynum before Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak made a trade to fill the void, sending Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol, a 2008 first-round draft pick (Donte Greene) and a 2010 first-round pick (Greivis Vasquez) to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round pick (Devin Ebanks).
Gasol seemed born to play the triangle offense and immediately reversed the Lakers fortunes. They finished the season on a 22-5 run to win the Pacific Division.
Playoffs: The Lakers wasted little time in defeating Denver, Utah and San Antonio to set up an NBA Finals matchup between the Lakers and their longtime rivals, the Boston Celtics, the first time they had met for the championship since 1987. It wasn't meant to be, however, as the Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games, including a 131-92 rout in Game 6.
Playoff Results
Western Conference first round
- at Lakers 128, Denver 114
- at Lakers 122, Denver 107
- Lakers 102, at Denver 84
- Lakers 107, at Denver 101
Western Conference semifinals
- at Lakers 109, Utah 98
- at Lakers 120, Utah 110
- at Utah 104, Lakers 99
- at Utah 123, Lakers 115
- at Lakers 111, Utah 104
- Lakers 108, at Utah 105
Western Conference finals
- at Lakers 89, San Antonio 85
- at Lakers 101, San Antonio 71
- at San Antonio 103, Lakers 84
- Lakers 93, at San Antonio 91
- at Lakers 100, San Antonio 92
NBA Finals
- at Boston 98, Lakers 88
- at Boston 108, Lakers 102
- at Lakers 87, Boston 81
- Boston 97, at Lakers 91
- at Lakers 103, Boston 98
- at Boston 131, Lakers 92
