While The Oklahoma City Thunder made a valiant run at the defending champions in 2010, age and experience was too much for youth and exuberance. The Thunder had the Lakers on the hook in the closing seconds of Game 6, almost forcing a Game 7 back in Los Angeles. But that was before someone forgot to box out Pau Gasol.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeRrn1Kgj2o&playnext=1&list=PLE7D0BF2EFC3BEC99
In 2004, the San Antonio Spurs had the Lakers in a similar situation. The series was tied 2-2 and it looked like the Spurs would be going up a game after Tim Duncan hit an impossible fader across the top of the key. I would be willing to bet that everyone who remembers this series of plays honestly believed the Lakers were going to lose that game. I, for one, had never seen a shot be taken with any time less than .4 seconds on the clock. And then, Derek Fisher made a believer in all of us.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mav2iBA1cwo