Finals facts and figures

Here are a few statistics on the Lakers and the NBA Finals, as unearthed by the crack statistical researchers in the league office:

The Lakers have reached the Finals for the 30th time, the most in NBA history. The Boston Celtics are second with 20 appearances. The Lakers are in search of their 15th league championship, which would bring them within two of Boston’s NBA best of 17. … The Lakers have advanced to the Finals six times in this decade, winning in 2000, ’01 and ’02 and losing in ’04 and ’08. … They have made the Finals in consecutive seasons 10 times.