Hey Lakers Fans: Spurs or Hornets in the Western Conference Finals?

The Lakers are through to the Western Conference finals, but who would they rather play?

The New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs will square off on Monday in Game 7 of the series. The winner will go on to play the Lakers in the conference finals.

Both teams are worthy of being in the finals, but there can only be one.

Personally, I don't mind who the Lakers play, because either way it's going to be a tough match up.

The Spurs have, in my opinion, the best power forward to ever play the game in Tim Duncan. His numbers have been down this season compared to last, but regular-season numbers mean nothing when its playoff time.

Defensively, he has been outstanding during the playoffs, averaging 13.3 rebounds and 2.27 blocks per game. Even with his increased effort on the defensive end, he has still played his part on offense, scoring 19.5 points per game.

The Spurs also have one of the top point guards in the league, last year's finals MVP. Tony Parker has increased his points per game by six to 24.3 points per game.

During the playoffs, Parker has been shooting an amazing 51 percent. Despite not being known for his three-point shooting, he has still managed to shoot at 46 percent from beyond the arc.

Even though he's taking more responsibility scoring, Parker still finds time to get his teammates involved, dishing 6.4 assists.

Mr. Sixth Man of the year, Manu Ginobili, has taken up the starting role during the playoffs. This has not affected his numbers in the slightest.

Scoring 19.5 points per game, Ginobili is one of the league's most consistent scorers. He's carried that on through the playoffs, and like Parker, he is getting his teammates involved as well as scoring. He's averaging 4.3 assists per game.

New Orleans wasn't expected to do this well. I know no one who predicted they would win the championship, which is now a real possibility.

Led by this season's MVP runner-up, Chris Paul, the Hornets are team that nobody wants to face during the playoffs.

Chris Paul has had a standout season, and was unlucky not to get the MVP award this season. He's being doing it all in the playoffs: scoring, passing, defending and grabbing the odd rebound. Paul is shooting a remarkable 50 percent from the field and averaging 24.6 points in the process.

While he finds ways to score, he finds the rest of his team ways to score, and puts out 11 assists a game. He has also been solid on defense, grabbing 2.07 steals and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Whenever they need a three, the Hornets throw it to Peja Stojakovic. He's put up 46 threes so far in the playoffs, netting 58 percent of them. His field goal percentage is higher than usual, but he is averaging fewer points. He makes up for this by doing a bit extra on the glass, and getting 5.5 rebounds.

Everyone in New Orleans will be hoping David West will be able to get over his bad back to go out there and score 21 points, pull down 8.5 rebounds, dish three assists, block two shots and get that steal. Those are the numbers that are needed from David West for the Hornets to win Game Seven, and I wouldn't bet against him.

Tyson Chandler's numbers have dropped, but his impact on a game certainly has not. He's not expected to go out on the court and score 20 points, but he is expected to go out and get every rebound offered to him. Averaging just under 10 rebounds in 33 minutes, Chandler has not disappointed.

Both of these teams would take some beating in the Western Conference finals, but the Lakers will be up for the challenge. They have the MVP, one of the best benches in the league, Gasol and Odom playing very well and Fisher doing what he always does during the playoffs, but who's it going to be?

Hornets or Spurs?