After a bitter loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the 2008-09 season was about redemption for the Los Angeles Lakers. With Pau Gasol now in his first full year with the organization and a determined Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson put the pieces of the puzzle together towards their playoff run.
Los Angeles entered the playoffs with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, earning the mark behind a 65-17 record during the regular season. With home-court locked up, the Lakers prepared for a Game 1 matchup against the Utah Jazz.
The series featured two of the more respected coaches in NBA history, with Jackson going up against Jerry Sloan.