(My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets out of the postseason last year, winning all four games in the first round series by an average of over 12 points.

Things figure to be a lot different this time as the defending conference champions meet a new-look Denver team in the Western Conference finals beginning on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

In what wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing series for the top-seeded Lakers, Phil Jackson's club came through when it mattered most, destroying a plucky but undermanned Houston Rockets team, 89-70, in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Sunday.

Pau Gasol dominated the paint with 21 points and 18 rebounds, six of those on the offensive glass in that one to help the Lakers advance. Kobe Bryant, who was tortured by defensive specialist Shane Battier throughout the semis, added 14 points with seven rebounds and five assists.

"I was just proud of the way he played," said Bryant of Gasol. "He answered the challenged and he played like one of the best players in the world. It was exciting for him. I just felt defensively he had a superb game."

LA outrebounded Houston 55-33, held a 46-30 edge in the paint and got healthy contributions from the likes of Trevor Ariza with 15 points and Andrew Bynum, who scored 14 and grabbed six boards as a nice complement to Gasol.

"Pau (Gasol) and I just went out an played today. It's definitely a sense of relief. The more I play, the more comfortable I feel on the court," said Bynum, who is still recovering from a lengthy injury absence.

The Lakers have now won 16 of their last 18 home playoff games and moved to 13-1 all-time in Game 7s at home. LA was able to win the series thanks to capturing their last two games at home by a combined 59 points.

"They're much more active on their home court," said Jackson. "This is a problem a coach is always chattering about, you don't let a crowd or noise dent your energy. The energy level obviously played more prolific in this kind of a game than it was the other nights."

The second-seeded Nuggets, meanwhile, had a much easier time in the semis, disposing of the Dallas Mavericks in just five games to reach the West finals for the first time since 1985.

Carmelo Anthony poured in 30 points and Chauncey Billups had a magnificent clincher last Wednesday with 28 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists, as the Nuggets beat Dallas, 124-110, to end the set.

Denver was denied a sweep in a 119-117 loss at Dallas in Game 4, but two nights later the Nuggets dominated in an up-tempo style and led nearly the entire game.

J.R. Smith scored 18, Nene 17 and Kenyon Martin 15 for the Nuggets. The last time Denver made it this far, it lost in five games to the Lakers in the '85 conference finals. LA won the championship that season, beating Boston.

"It just seems like everybody wants to talk about when we're going to crack, when we're going to falter," said Nuggets coach George Karl. "I'm sure they'll say the same thing the next series. I don't have that worry. We're not totally grown up, we're not totally an experienced-enough team. There's a smart toughness to our team."

Denver has also been dominant at home, winning 16th consecutive games as the host. The Nuggets haven't lost at the Pepsi Center since March 9 against Houston.

"I don't know if the Denver fans have ever been known as the sixth man, but it's a pretty special building," said Karl. "

Billups is in a familiar position, in the conference finals for a seventh straight year. His first six were in Detroit, where he led the Pistons to the NBA title in 2004. He was traded to Denver early this season in the deal that sent Allen Iverson to the Pistons.

"It's absolutely been a storybook season," said Billups. "I couldn't write a better script for me coming home, trying to lead the team I always grew up watching and rooting for. It's unbelievable. Hopefully I don't wake up anytime soon."

LA took three of four games from Denver during the regular season this year with the Nuggets lone win coming in the Rocky Mountains on February 27.

The two teams have met in the playoffs on three different occasions with the Lakers coming out on top each time. LA took a first round series in 1979, won the Western Conference finals in 1985 and swept the Nuggets in a first round set last year.

MATCHUPS:

POINT GUARD: When you talk MVP candidates, you usually start the conversation with the reigning MVP LeBron James or last year's top player, Bryant. But, Billups has been as valuable as any player to any team this season. Billups has already outplayed New Orleans' superstar Chris Paul in the quarterfinals and then got the best of steady veteran Jason Kidd in the semis.

"Mr, Big Shot" is averaging 22.1 points and 7.3 assists in the postseason and his unselfishness and ability to get everyone involved can't be underestimated.

Billups averaged 17.7 points and 6.4 assists per game during the regular season but numbers don't begin to tell the story. Chauncey's floor game is unparalleled. He rarely turns the ball over and shoots a mind-number 91.3 percent from the free throw line, making him the ultimate ball-handler in late game situations.

Billups has 73 assists versus just 17 turnovers in the playoffs, a better than 4-to-1 ratio, almost incomprehensible against a defender like Paul and a heady player like Kidd. His free throw percentage actually went up to 95.7 percent and has stroked 33-of-61 three-pointers in the first two rounds, a sizzling 54.1 percent.

LA's counters with a steady veteran in its own right, Derek Fisher. The playoff-tested Fisher is not a traditional point and doesn't have the athletic ability to push the ball on a consistent basis.

Bryant will actually do most of the ball-handling for the Lakers but Fisher is a solid stand-still jump shooter who will not make a lot of mistakes. He also won't stand out at either end of the floor.

As good as Billups is, Fisher will likely be thrilled to see him. The lightning fast but inconsistent Aaron Brooks embarrassed the slow-footed Fished off the dribble time and time again in the semis. Billups doesn't have that same type of speed but should have no trouble picking Fisher apart in other ways.

EDGE: NUGGETS

SHOOTING GUARD: You can bet Kobe Bryant is thrilled to put Battier in the rearview mirror. The Lakers' superstar got his at times versus Houston but Battier was always there with a hand in his face. There isn't a better on-ball defender in the game than Battier so expect Bryant to get a lot more open looks in this series.

Bryant was his usual stellar self on the offensive end this season, averaging 26.8 points and 4.9 assists per game. His play has only improved in the playoffs, scoring at a 27.4 clip and adding 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Of course, Kobe also has the length and athleticism to torture the opposition on the defensive end.

Coming into the postseason, Dahntay Jones was the starter in name only for the Nuggets. Sharp-shooter Smith comes off the bench to provide Karl instant offense and play the majority of minutes, while Jones averaged just 5.4 points per game during the regular season. Jones has been far more important in the postseason, increasing his scoring to 7.6 ppg and often shadowing the opposition's top backcourt threat, freeing up Billups to concentrate on the offensive end.

Jones certainly isn't Battier but the Nuggets need him to play physical and make sure Bryant has to work hard for his offense. Easy baskets for Kobe means an easy series for LA.

EDGE: LAKERS

CENTER: The skilled Nene had a breakthrough season for Denver this year. The Brazilian star isn't thought of as an elite player but put up some nice numbers this season, averaging 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting a robust 60.4 percent from the floor. His scoring numbers are down in the playoffs (12.5) but he stayed consistent on the boards (7.3).

Nene doesn't offer a particularly threatening presence on the defensive end but has improved that aspect of his game as well.

The Lakers, meanwhile, are still waiting for the real Bynum to show up. Bynum was flat out bad in the first round against the Utah Jazz, playing just 77 minutes and averaging 5.0 ppg. He continued to play poorly early in the semis against Houston and Jackson sat him down for Lamar Odom. After Yao's injury, Bynum was given more minutes again to take advantage of his size but the results were sketchy.

In the regular season, Bynum was productive down the stretch after his return from missing 32 games with a torn MCL but his timing was never there and Jackson has clearly lost confidence in him.

EDGE: NUGGETS

SMALL FORWARD: The Lakers' Achilles heel is pick-and-roll defense. Fisher doesn't have the quicks to get around a pick and Bynum, Odom and Gasol have trouble showing. Enter Billups and his pick-and-roll compatriot, Anthony.

Although snubbed for the All-Star game this year, Anthony is firmly entrenched as one of the top 10 players in the game and is a tough matchup for anyone, even top-tier defenders. The former Syracuse standout's numbers weren't as big as normal in the regular season, netting 22.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg but he provides Karl with the deadly pick-and-roll option in the closing minutes that the Lakers shoddy defense simple can't contend with. Anthony has improved to 27.0 points per game in the postseason and has added 6.4 rpg and 4.3 apg

Ariza is probably the Lakers most underrated player. A hard-nosed defender and capable scorer, Ariza's improved play has given Jackson the ability to bring the gifted Odom off the bench or use him in place of Bynum. Ariza has averaged 10.9 points a game in the playoffs and is second on the team in assists to Bryant at 2.9 a game but just doesn't have the size to check Anthony on a consistent basis.

EDGE: NUGGETS

POWER FORWARD: Fresh off his feud with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, Martin plays as hard as ever and is quite the defensive presence and rebounder when on the floor. Overall, Martin averaged 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on the year and stayed relatively steady in the postseason.

Gasol, meanwhile, is an incredible skilled big man that has settled in nicely as the second offensive option behind Bryant in LA. The Spanish star netted 18.9 ppg and pulled down 9.6 rpg during the regular season and has kept things consistent in the first round of the postseason at 18.5 ppg and 10.8 rpg . An extremely gifted offensive player, Gasol is not the toughest player on the block so expect Martin to try and intimidate him.

EDGE: LAKERS

BENCH:Karl has one star coming off the bench and a number of nice role players. Smith has developed into one of the game's dominant three-point specialists and rang up a career-high 45 points after shooting 11-of-18 from beyond in a late season game against Sacramento. For the year, Smith averaged 15.2 ppg and shot 39.7 percent from long range, nailing 180 total threes. He has improved that to 16.3 ppg in the playoffs, shooting 40.7 percent from the land of three. He does, however, take bad shots that will frustrate Karl at times.

If Karl needs extra scoring, he can look to Linas Kleiza, who averaged 9.9 points and knocked down 87 threes on the year. Chris Andersen brings shot- blocking, rebounding and tough interior defense, while Anthony Carter can spell Billups in the backcourt.

Jackson has the aforementioned Odom along with Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic and forward Luke Walton.

Odom was arguably the MVP of the Jazz series, averaging 17.8 points and 11 rebounds along with 1.6 blocks a game. He slowed down against Houston but, despite playing out of position, is still offering far more effective minutes in the pivot than the disappointing Bynum.

Farmar plays better when given a long leash by Jackson. If the Zen master has a Tony La Russa like quick hook, the former UCLA star starts looking over his shoulder and plays scared.

Brown is a strong defender with an improving outside shot while Vujacic has struggled mightily with his jumper. The Lakers, meanwhile, are slowly nursing Walton back to health after a deltoid tear. A tough inferior defender, Walton will be needed for minutes against Smith.

EDGE: EVEN

COACHING: Jackson's numbers and accomplishments can't be questioned but he detests calling timeouts to stem the tide and that hurt the Lakers against Houston. A more conventional coach with outstanding instincts like Karl probably wouldn't have needed seven games to dispose of that banged-up Rockets club.

Karl doesn't have the reputation of Jackson but he also has never had players like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant to lean upon.

EDGE: NUGGETS

PREDICTION: It wasn't pretty but the Lakers are in the Western Conference finals. Houston and Rick Adelman magnified their flaws for all to see and I imagine Karl and the Nuggets will torture LA with the pick-and-roll. The Nuggets, however, don't have the lightning-quick option in the backcourt like Aaron Brooks to take advantage of the Lakers' shaky perimeter defense.

Both teams are superb as the host and you play 82 games to get Game 7 at home. LA is now 13-1 in home Game 7s and has won its last nine. The last and only time LA lost in a Game 7 on its home floor was in the 1969 NBA Finals, a 108-106 setback to the Boston Celtics. That's the difference here.

LAKERS in 7.