Our number four greatest moment since '05 is actually a combo package.

After a long and painful 2004-05 season, the Lakers proceeded to provide fans with an interesting year at the very least. 2005-06 marked what could be argued was the best season of Kobe's career, with him posting 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors, and 62 in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks.

Aside from the personal achievements of one Mr. Mamba, the Lakers surprised a lot of their critics by landing the seventh seed in the West after a particularly strong finish to the regular season. Their opponent for that first round match up were the Phoenix Suns, a team unknowingly to the Lakers would eventually be a big piece to their Finals run two years later.

"Slow down the tempo..." was the name of the game, but it was easier said than done. Kobe and the Lakers dropped the first game in Phoenix, albeit by a much smaller margin than some may have anticipated. The second and third games were a different story. Learning from their mistakes, the Lakers made necessary adjustments, and because strong play from Kobe, Lamar, and yes, Kwame Brown - the Lakers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the series setting the tone for our number four moment(s).

With 7.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Lakers down by two in the fourth game of the WC first round, things looked bleak for the purple and gold as Phoenix prepared to enter the ball at halfcourt. Enter: Smush Parker. That's right, Smush Parker. Poking the ball out of league MVP Steve Nash's hands, big game Smush tapped it over to D. George who in turn got into the hands of numero ocho - Kobe Bryant. With time running down in regulation, Kobe soared towards the rim and allowed his body to twist and turn as he dropped the game tying lay up that kept the Lakers alive.

Being that is an LA basketball blog, we will refrain from discussing the remaining .7 seconds and the obvious foul by Luke Walton on the other end of the court.

Continued at LA Hoops Blog