The Perfect Scenario for Los Angeles Lakers Going Through the Playoffs

If you were to bet which team will win the 2012 NBA championship, you would probably pick the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.

Even though they won a pair of titles not long ago, chances are you wouldn't pick the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers aren't the team they used to be, but they still have a shot at hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy this year.

They still have Kobe Bryant, who's one of the league's most dangerous scorers and perhaps one of the 10 greatest players in NBA history.

They also have the game's top center-power forward tandem in Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

What's the perfect scenario for the Lakers in the 2012 postseason? Let's take a look.    

Sweeping the Denver Nuggets in the First Round

The Lakers currently have a 2-0 lead in their first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

Kobe Bryant has been nothing short of spectacular, pouring in 31 points in Game 1 and 38 in Game 2.

Andrew Bynum has looked impressive as well, recording a triple-double in Game 1 and putting up 27 points in Game 2.

L.A. could very well end up sweeping Denver. If so, the purple-and-gold would prove to the world that they mean business.

Defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Semifinals

Lakers vs. Thunder would make for an exciting second-round series, that's for sure.

It would be an emotional series, knowing that L.A.'s Metta World Peace violently elbowed OKC's James Harden last month.  

World Peace, who was suspended for six playoff games, would return to the hardwood for the Lakers at some point in this series and could prove to be a major factor with his defense.

Oklahoma City might be the better ball club, but the Lakers have the talent to beat them.

Defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals

San Antonio stomped Los Angeles twice last month.

With that said, the top-seeded Spurs obviously know what it takes to get past the rival Lakers.

However, as long as the Big Three of Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are able to play, the Lakers have the star power needed to knock off San Antone.

Defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals

If the Lakers manage to reach the NBA Finals, there's probably about a 95 percent chance they'll face the Miami Heat. 

Let's face it, Miami is going to come out of the East, especially since Chicago is without its MVP, Derrick Rose.

An L.A.-Miami series would feature arguably the league's two best players in Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. 

The perfect scenario for the '12 Lakers would be slipping past the South Beach crew and capturing their 18th title in franchise history.