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The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns looks to be one of those we all love two teams with different styles doing battle in a matchup of division rivals. The up-tempo Suns will try and outpace the more methodical and bigger Lakers. Not only are the teams style of play different; everything about them is different.

Those differences are best represented by the two teams star players. While they may both have MVP hardware at home and both love soccer, that is about where the differences end for Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. One (Nash) is a beloved team leader who does everything in his ability to make everyone around him better. He is loved around the country and North America, and it is easy to imagine that most players who arent playing in the tournament would like to see Nash add a ring to his two MVP trophies.

Bryant, on the other hand, seems to have to fight his nature to get his teammates involved. It took him years to understand that he needed to get be a facilitator as much as a killer in order for his teams without Shaq to win. Unlike Nash, Bryants teammates dont seem to like him all that much, but they do respect it, which at the end of the day is what matters. But seeing a player so obviously loved by his teammates go against one simply tolerated by his teammates, makes it very easy to want to cheer for Nash.

But this western conference final wont simply be determined by team chemistry and which captain is more well liked. It comes back to the question of which style of play will prevail.

With Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the Lakers obviously have a height advantage, one which Bryant will have to try and help exploit out of the triangle offense. But while their size may help the Lakers on offense, it could slow them down on the defensive end.

Although the Suns finally have Robin Lopez back in the lineup, Channing Frye will be a huge factor in the series. If he can make Bynum spread the court on defense and chase him out to the three-point line, where he has a great touch, Frye will be able to open up the lane for Nash and Jason Richardson to create. Richardson only averaged 16 points a game during the regular season, but he has gotten into the flow in the postseason, averaging 21 a game, as he has finally learned how to best benefit from having one of the best point guards in a generation running the show. He averaged less than 10 points a game in the regular season against the Lakers, so Richardson will have to step his game up in order to keep the ever competitive Bryant busy on the defensive end. If Richardson can get hot while staying cool, he could be a huge factor in a Suns upset.

And then there is the beast Amare Stoudemire. Gasol may have some of the best footwork of any big in the league, but he simply not the athlete that Stoudemire is. If Stoudemire can move without the ball and keep from being boxed out, he could be a terror on the glass, which will lead to second chance points on the offensive end and fastbreak opportunities on the defensive side of the ball.

Heading into the playoffs the biggest criticism of the Lakers has been their bench and lack of depth. It did not hurt them terribly against a young Oklahoma City team and an injury riddled Utah team. Expect that to change against the Suns. Unless the Lakers are able to force the Suns to play at their half-court pace, they are going to be run to death by the likes of Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa and Jared Dudley, who seemingly provide one spark after another off the bench. And it helps that they are often playing with their point guard whom they seem hungry to win one for. They wouldnt be the only ones happy to see Nash and his run-and-gun Suns finally advance to the Finals in the most unexpected season yet.