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How they match up:
The Lakers could not have asked for a better opponent. They owned the Nuggets in the regular season, sweeping three games by an average of 118.0-101.7. They didn't have Pau Gasol for any of the meetings and Andrew Bynum was a factor only in the first game. The only close game also was the only game the teams played in Denver. Allen Iverson went for 51 points—49 in the first three quarters—in that 111-107 Lakers win, and he led all scorers with a 32-point average in the series.

Best player:
Kobe Bryant is a problem for every team to defend, and he's an especially big problem for the Nuggets. Do the Nuggets go with Iverson, who is half a foot shorter; the slower and shorter Anthony Carter, or reserve J.R. Smith, who is not known for his defense? Or do the Nuggets play even more zone than they have been? Bryant's average of 22.0 against the Nuggets was 6.3 points below his season average, but that's a bit deceiving because he averaged only 33.1 minutes in the series. More telling was his blistering 56.8 shooting percentage, which included only a 1-for-8 effort on 3-pointers.

Key matchup:
Carmelo Anthony vs. whomever the Lakers play at small forward. For the Nuggets to have a chance, Anthony needs to average about 10 points better than the 20.7 he scored against the Lakers in the regular season. Vlad Radmanovic and Luke Walton get the bulk of minutes at the 3 for the Lakers, and Anthony has a size and quickness advantage over both. The Lakers likely will try the longer Lamar Odom on Anthony and have Radmanovic defend the offensively challenged Kenyon Martin.

Biggest mismatch:
Lakers' supporting cast over Nuggets' supporting cast. There was a reason Bryant began trusting his teammates this season: They played better. And that was long before Gasol was traded to L.A. Five Lakers besides Byrant averaged double figures against the Nuggets while Iverson and Anthony had double-digit help from only Linas Kleiza, with 13.0 points. Gasol is not a good matchup for Marcus Camby, who would prefer to stay in the lane on defense. Martin also will have a tough assignment when matched against Odom, who has played some of his best ball as a Laker since Gasol's arrival. Martin has regained his quickness and explosiveness after last year's microfracture surgery but he is a power player who could get in foul trouble trying to slow the versatile Odom.

Scout's take:
"When I saw the Lakers recently, their offense was really clicking. They were moving the ball well, taking good shots, and hitting them. I think what happened in those home losses to Charlotte and Memphis was that the Lakers were looking ahead to bigger games. They played tired. ... Don't be surprised if Phil Jackson gets into some kind of issue with George Karl. He'll complain about the refs, or say something about a player. He always seems to do something."

Did you know?
By the time the Lakers travel to Denver for Game 3, they will have enjoyed a nice, long stretch of 17 consecutive days in L.A.

Prediction:
The Lakers have Kobe and a better supporting cast, they're better rested and they have home-court advantage. The only reason I'm not picking a sweep is because I can't see L.A. finishing the season series 7-0 against a team as talented at the Nuggets. So, Lakers in five.