Tim Duncan had 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Tony Parker had 23 points on 11-of-22 shooting. Michael Finley’s corpse resurrected and scored 13 points. Kurt Thomas, Brent Barry, and Bruce Bowen combined for 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting. The San Antonio Spurs led by as much as 17 points at one point in the second quarter. Yet, the Los Angeles Lakers won 100-92, beating the defending Champs in 5 games. How can this be? The answer is simple and clear : They are the living image of a perfect NBA team.

Through the years, we’ve searched for an answer on what exactly is the perfect NBA team? Was it Magic Johnson’s Showtime Lakers? Michael Jordan’s 6-ringed Bulls? Tim Duncan’s Millennial Dynasty? Or this year’s Kobe Bryant’s Ultra-Lakers?

The truth is, every decade, a perfect NBA team occurs, one that dominates a vast group of young talents and time-tested veteran players.

Every decade, the perfect NBA team showcases a different face of unparalleled skill set. One that boasts its versatility and balance. And in this case, it’s not Tim Duncan’s Spurs, it’s Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, and it was depicted majestically in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers did what no other NBA team can do : beat San Antonio Spurs. In 5 games. LA made a statement by beating the Spurs the Spurs’ way : De-Fense.

So why exactly are the Lakers the perfect NBA team of the decade, and how do you determine who’s who?

Ladies and gentlemen, the ingredients of the perfect NBA team:

• The Best Player in the World – This is not your typical “face-of-the-franchise” player. He’s the heart of your team, a fierce warrior who lives and breathes basketball, a guy who trusts his teammates and makes them better. A cold-blooded assassin who pulls the plug on the opposing team’s life-support. He’s not your ordinary superstar, he’s your dream player. A player above all, whom no one can outdo, and who’s skill is far more superior than anyone playing in the world. He’s your “Captain Clutch”, the best the world has to offer. He’s in a different league of greatness, and for this era, he’s Kobe Bryant.
• The Best Coach in the World - He’s the coach that everybody looks up to. He’s the one who never fails to give the team a dozen of lengthy sermons, normally ending it in a good tone. He’s your coach who doesn’t falter under pressure, never folding in such mind-boggling circumstances. He’s the one who makes stars out of bottom 1st-rounders. He is the Zen Master, and he has 9 rings. He is Phil Jackson.
• The Best Bench in the World - They’re not just the normal “energy guys” off the bench. They’re the guys who can outdo, outplay, out hustle, and outscore your starting five. They’re the firepower of the team. They aren’t afraid to make mistakes, and most of all, they don’t fear you. They’re young but experienced, seasoned by time, and they’re the future of the NBA. They’re Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Trevor Ariza, and Ronny Turiaf, otherwise known as the “bench mob of the Los Angeles Lakers.”
• The Best Starting Five in the World - They’re tough, and you probably don’t want to mess with them. They’re the guys who play night-in and night-out. They’ll give you great numbers on a consistent basis. They play well together, insomuch that you can’t rest your guard while playing with them. They’re the pride of Los Angeles Lakers : Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol.
• The Best Supporting Cast in the World - They’re the ones who work behind-the-scenes. They are not resting on you until you are done. They are the ones who makes the superstar’s work easier. They are the ones you can expect to play all their hearts out. They are Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom, and the bench mob.
• The Most Versatile team in the World – They show different faces, different attitudes, and different styles. One minute they play you fast, the other minute they play you tough. They boast their offense, defense, and physicality on the floor. They beat you in your own style. They beat the Denver Nuggets through their fast-paced offense. They beat the Utah Jazz through their physicality. And they recently delivered a hard blow to the San Antonio Spurs in their own way : Defense. They are your Los Angeles Lakers.

These criterias were met and exceeded by only one team in the league. The same team that went on a turbulent “a la Hollywood” drama last offseason. The same team that the best player in the league didn’t want to play with. Yes, they are the Los Angeles Lakers, and they’re “The Perfect NBA Team”.