There's a little over 5 minutes to go in the Lakers-Rockets Game 5 right now with LA ahead 3-1 in the series, but since LA is up by about 25 points, it is safe to say that the Rockets are gonna lose this game and thus be eliminated from the playoffs. 
What this means is that the Lakers will advance to play the team that eliminated them last year and went on to subsequently win the NBA Championship: the San Antonio Spurs. In my opinion, the Spurs are the ONLY team in the NBA that worries me at all. If LA can get past the Spurs, I think it's all downhill from there and LA should without question beat everyone else. However, as much as I hate to say it, I think the Spurs are probably going to beat LA.
Well, let me append that statement: Before tonight's destruction of the Rockets, I thought the Spurs would stand a very good chance to beat LA; but after tonight I'm not so sure anymore. 
LA has looked shaky at best over the last 3 weeks or so, losing a couple games by huge margins, winning others by extremely slim margins, and looking horribly inconsistent through most of it. About the only thing they hadn't shown in the last couple weeks was the ability to dominate anyone, but that changed tonight. The Lakers FINALLY looked like a championship team tonight, but after all, it is only one game. San Antonio, meanwhile, has won 15 consecutive games, with their last loss coming over a month ago. San Antonio also has home-court advantage because they had the better regular season record, and with all of that I would have to assume that the Spurs would be the favorites.
On paper, however, that is definitely not the case. LA has arguably the two best players in the game (or at least 2 of the best 5) with Shaq and Kobe, and additionally have Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who are also two of the league's best players (probably more like top 20 or top 25). Add to that they have a pretty good supporting cast of role players who have championship experience, and some good up and coming talented younger players. The Spurs, meanwhile, have Tim Duncan (who also might be the best player in the game) and a very, very good cast of role-playing supporters. On paper, if you go position-by-position you'd have to give the edge to the Lakers, but unfortunately for we Laker fans they play the games on the court, not on paper, and the Spurs play incredibly good on the court. They are the league's best defensive teams, and when the common saying in most sports (basketball is no different) is that "defense wins championships" you can see the importance of that. The Spurs also have a lot of poise, and have a lot of veteran players who have been there before and know how to win important close games.
Ok, enough comparing the two teams, time to make a couple predictions:
I think that whoever wins Game 1 will win the series (and thus, the NBA championship), so the next Laker game may be the most important of the series.
I think that either the Spurs are going to destroy the Lakers or LA will be extremely competitive and win a close-fought series.
I think that Kobe will have an incredible series, despite being guarded by his "nemesis" Bruce Bowen.
Finally, I think that the Lakers will win it in seven. :grin