&lt;center&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2004 Western Conference playoffs: First round&lt;/center&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Led by the Kobe Bryant, the star-studded Lakers, which included Shaquille O&#039;Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, dispatched the Steve Francis, Yao Ming and the Rockets in five games.