Editor's Note: It's Now or Never

The Lakers had their chances. They could have easily put away the Rockets. Everyone thought they would. Except for Houston. Now they can upset the Lakers and advance to the Western Conference Finals with a win on Sunday. But there will be a large obstacle in their way. The Rockets will have to deal with a raucous Staples Center crowd expecting them to fail. They will face a rejuvenated Laker team that only needs the right motivation to enter Kill-Mode. They will face a strong front-court in Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom that won't let Luis Scola trick them again. They will face a Kobe Bryant with a serious chip on his shoulder. They will face a Laker team that won't give in so easily. Everything needs to come together for the Lakers on Sunday. The season hangs in the balance.