LOS ANGELES, C.A. -- In one corner you have the sexy, finesse Los Angeles Lakers. In the other corner you have the heavily tatted, hard-nosed Denver Nuggets. The recipe is set up to make an epic seven-game series for the right to go to the NBA Finals.

It has been a rollercoaster ride from the "get go" for Phil Jackson's team after struggling in the first round against Utah. Then, letting a "Yao-less Houston team to take them to a Gamer 7. Though it has been a thrill ride for the Lakers, it's a "new beginning."

Unlike L.A., the second seeded Nuggets has looked prolific throughout the post-season. Not to mention they have had six days off since their last game (Tuesday). Instead of a "new beginning," it's a "new era." denver has not reached the Western Conference Finals since 1985.

"They are going to come in with a lot of confidence and be ready to play. They're going to come out on our home court and put on a show. We've got to be ready," Laker guard kobe Bryant told the AP yesterday.

There is no question what we are in for in this series. Denver has more ink than the sunday New York Times paper and the Lakers are more laid back than Jimmy Buffet on his private island.

The million dollar question is who is going to show up? One player in particular that needs to show up is Lamar Odom. Odom averaged just five points a game in the long and enduring seven-game series verse the Houston Rockets (who were playing with a bunch of boarderline D-League players ie- six-foot-six chuck Hayes at center). Odom looks great in the hotel lobby, general managers drool over him, but he seems to be completely inconsistent.

The Nuggets have gone 1-10 against L.A. the last two seasons, including a four-game sweep in the first round of last year's playoffs, when Denver became the first 50-win team in league history to get swept in the first round. George Karl's team will need to come out to a fast start because we all know how hard it is to beat the Lakers in the celebrity-filled Staples Center.

Tipoff is set for 9 o'clock p.m. ET tonight on TNT.