In 08-09 we lost KG. That was arguably the second best year we had (19 game win streak, 13 game win streak, 10 game win streak?). Then we lost Powe in the midst of the playoffs.
Had KG and Powe been healthy, we'd demolish the Chicago Bulls in 5 games, take down the Orlando Magic in 6 games, and make the LeBron-led Cavaliers cry away in 5 games. Lakers would not have been a cake walk that finals though. Yeah, the "had", "what if", "coulda, shoulda, woulda" games...I know
We should've really won it all in 2010 though. Had Ray didn't go 0-13 from downtown in Game 3 and at least made a couple of regular shots, we could've squeezed one in. Or if Perkins didn't go down in Game 6...I think we would've been celebrating Number 18 at Staples Center in either Game 6 or 7.
2012. We could've closed out the LeBron-led Heat in Game 6. Why we got blown out at the TD Garden was beyond me. And then beating OKC Thunder in the finals would not have been easy for us (they have a much younger squad, and that Perkins/Fisher duo have some finals experiences) imo. Yeah, just my alternate universe.
Welp, I certainly hope we still see another finals appearance in this decade.