The Nuggets in the Lake

It's currently the 2nd Quarter of Game 1 of the West Finals in the 2009 NBA Playoffs and it's a slugfest.

There have been big slams, hard hits, long shots, and tricky plays out the wazoo. A double-save out of bounds for the Nuggets let them keep the ball and drag out their double digit lead early in the first. The Lakers saw an old high-school smackdown that took everything in the ESPN announcers to restrain from shouting "DENIED!" And as it currently stands, the Lakers have brought themselves back into the game, but such is the NBA, where more often than naught, it's the last minute and a half that decides the winner, not the second quarter leader.

Whatever the case, my future trip to Los Angeles could potentially lead to me seeing Game 2 at the Staples Center, which would be an amazing treat for me, but regardless of whether or not this happens, I'll definitely be keeping track via the internet, television, or my iPhone. I have to keep on top of this one.

Here's to hoping that King James and Kobe get a chance to square off, once and for all. That's what professional sports are all about. This is the fire that champions are born from.

UPDATE: Despite the valiant efforts and leads of the Denver Nuggets early into Game 1, they couldn't keep Kobe from doin' work. The Lakers won by a basket, 105-103, tipping the balance in their favor for this series early. But it's too early to tell what's going to happen, but here's to those crafty resourceful Lakers!