Rapid rewards

WASHINGTON -- The Lakers are 15-2 going into tonight's game against the Washington Wizards, their best start since they were 16-1 in 2001-02. With that in mind, The Washington Post took a look at how other fast-starting Western Conference teams fared at season's end. The paper used today, Dec. 5, as a measuring stick.

Here are the results, with the year, team's mark on Dec. 5, final record and playoff finish:
2008: Lakers (15-2) .... To be determined.
2007: San Antonio (15-3) .... (56-26) Conference finals.
2006: Utah (15-4) .... (51-31) Conference finals.
2005: San Antonio (13-3) .... (63-19) Conference semifinals.
2004: San Antonio (15-3) .... (59-23) Champions
Seattle (15-3) .... (52-30) Conference semifinals.
2003: Lakers (16-3) .... (56-26) Finals.
2002: Dallas (17-1) .... (60-22) Conference finals.
2001: Lakers (15-1) .... (58-24) Champions.
2000: Utah (13-4) .... (53-29) First round.
1999: Sacramento (11-3) .... (44-28) First round.