L.A. Lakers or Chicago Bulls: Which Team Has the NBA's Top Frontcourt?

The Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls play in different conferences and they have different philosophies, but the teams do share a few similar qualities.

Both the Lakers and Bulls have superstar perimeter players in Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose respectively, but each team's NBA title hopes rest in the strength of their interior players.

Rose and Bryant capture the headlines but Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom for the Lakers, and Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson for the Bulls will likely be the reasons that either team hoists the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.

The Bulls and Lakers' frontcourts have distinguished themselves as arguably the NBA's best, but which team's interior unit reigns supreme?

The Bulls are second in the NBA in rebounding at 44.3 per game, with Noah leading the way at 11.9 per game followed by Boozer's 9.7 and Gibson's 5.6.

The Lakers are fourth in the NBA in rebounding at 43.7 per game, with Gasol averaging 10.4 rebounds per game followed by Odom at 9.0 and Bynum with 7.7.

The average rebounding numbers between the two groups is perhaps as close as you could get, with the Bulls' trio holding a slight edge at 27.2 rebounds per game compared to the 27.1 rebounds the Lakers' trio averages.

It's difficult to compare the offensive and defensive numbers of the Bulls and Lakers interior trios, because although each team excels in both categories, the approach is different for each team.

The major focus of the Bulls' interior players is defense, although Boozer's 18.9 points per game gives them the offensive presence they were missing last season.

The Lakers' interior group, led by Gasol's 18.7 points per game, are known more for their ability to score, although Bynum provides the defensive toughness and edge, as he demonstrated in last season's NBA Finals.

The Lakers' interior players average a combined 44.7 points per game, shooting over 54 percent from the field, which is by far the best of any interior trio in the NBA.

The Bulls' trio averages a combined 39.5 points per game and shoots 48 percent from the field.

So based on those numbers, which group of interior players truly stands out?

I would probably give a slight edge to the Lakers' post players for a few reasons.

Odom's ability to play on the perimeter or the post is a luxury that no other team can boast and, more importantly, Odom is a competent enough ball-handler to initiate the Lakers offense from the half-court or on the break.

The Lakers also benefit from having the NBA's longest front line with both Gasol and Bynum topping 7'0" feet and Odom close behind at 6'10".

The Bulls are a dominant rebounding team because Boozer, Noah and Gibson are all strong players and excel at boxing out and gaining superior rebounding position. But compared to the Lakers front line, they are still undersized.

The Lakers and Bulls have already played twice this season with each team winning on their own home court.

It should be noted that the smaller Bulls out-rebounded the Lakers 41-40 in their loss in Los Angeles, and 46-38 in their win at home.

It should also be taken into consideration that Bynum was absent on both occasions and Noah missed the contest in Chicago.

The Lakers frontcourt has proven to be the NBA's best the past two seasons, and the evidence can be found in the group's overall performance during consecutive championship runs.

Chicago's frontcourt also stands out and is arguably the only one in the NBA that can be compared to the Lakers.

There is one way to resolve the issue of who has the NBA's most dominant frontcourt. Where better to decide it than on the grandest stage of the 2011 NBA Finals?