Pau Gasol has been rebounding like a Boston Celtic, which is quite remarkable because teammate Lamar Odom has been gobbling up missed shots at a Rodman-esque rate.

Fittingly, or so it would seem, the nation's basketball analysts are prepared to use ink when scratching the name "Lakers" into the line reserved for the Western Conference entry in the 2009 NBA Finals.

But there are a few cities whose hoop followers are at least hopeful that giving the Lakers a Finals pass is grotesquely premature. Since teams in the Western Conference standings are depressingly bunched behind Los Angeles, we'll go with all eight franchises within sniffing distance of playoff invitations and see what is required to muster a Finals challenge.

We'll begin with the least current seed and end with the third-seeded San Antonio Spurs, who — as the trading deadline ended — were attempting to have someone crawl through their closing window of championship opportunity.

Phoenix Suns

Rallying Cry: "Seventh Seed Or Less!"

The Scene: Wow, what a management blunder. After failing to handle the fragile ego of franchise-energizing coach Mike D'Antoni, the Suns hired a guy (Terry Porter) whoconvinced them he could implement a gritty defensive system and maintain enough offensive chutzpah to reach championship levels.

Unfortunately, Porter and his bosses thought you could boost defensive performance even though the team's three big stars may be the worst defensive players at their positions in the league.

Without having at least one major player buy in (we remind you of what occurred with Kevin Garnett in Boston) to whatever system Porter was attempting to unleash (screen and roll over?), Terry was doomed.

Alvin Gentry, a survivor from D'Antoni's staff who was assisting Porter, takes over with the notion of re-loading Mikey Ball and hoping the Suns mix in enough defensive stops at crucial situations to make the playoffs and avoid the Lakers in Round 1.

Getting stops has become a bit more difficult since management traded away the rare Suns who actually guarded someone.

At least Phoenix avoided long-term annihilation of its franchise when the Suns held on to Amar'e Stoudemire.

Utah Jazz

Rallying Cry: "Rorschach The World!"

The Scene: Team Tattoo, which lost some ink in the trade that sent Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups, gained a distributor who coaxed the Nuggets into the (for now) second seed.

Is he enough to lead a bunch of talented, oddball characters to the promised land? Well, the Nuggets continue to be much better than I thought they'd be, but their upgraded defense doesn't look tight enough to hold back the Lakers.

Although Billups has been a boon to Denver's season, any playoff run requires Carmelo Anthony to perform like a superstar.

San Antonio Spurs

Rallying Cry: "One More Cork For Pop!"

The Scene: According to reports, the Spurs were in the Carter sweepstakes, but also explored deals for Jefferson, who might have been had with less of a hit on their roster.

A trade with New Jersey would have required San Antonio to part with rookie point guard George Hill (another late first-round gem), sniper Roger Mason Jr., Fabricio Oberto and (ahem) Kobe-stopper Bruce Bowen.

That would have squeezed Gregg Popovich's rotation, but with the title-run window opening and closing with Tim Duncan's ability to go 20 and 10, the Spurs decided they'd take a shot now without creating two-year cap inflexibility by adding Carter.

By the way, just how gimpy is Manu Ginobili going to be on that right ankle?