Crystal Clean

Play with focus and energy, and the Lakers are the best team in the league. That was the case last season, when they risked elimination in the West semifinals against the pesky Rockets before adjusting in time to win the championship. That holds true again this spring. Tuesday night at Staples Center was the latest example of it, an 89-67 trouncing of the Celtics in Game 6 to even up the Finals after a bad few days in Boston.Now they both go to a Game 7. The Lakers and the Lakers.The Celtics will be there, too. But Boston will be playing for a second title in three years and an 18th overall. Los Angeles may be playing for next season.The dominoes will begin to fall Thursday night. The Phil Jackson decision, the Derek Fisher implications, the chances of the massive financial investment continuing at this level -- most all of the major offseason judgments will be shaped at least partly, and perhaps largely, on what happens in one last staredown with their biggest rival."It's definitely not just another game," said Pau Gasol after contributing 17 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and three blocks in Game 6. "But it's a crucial game, obviously. Luckily we play at home, and we want to carry everything that we did right tonight to it, too. And then I think we'll be in a very good place to win."Thursday night, we'll see whether the rich subplots build into a factor.Los Angeles Lakers JerseysKobe Bryant Jersey