By Chris Sheridan
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - The final juncture of the Los Angeles Lakers' soap opera season has arrived, a tense and troubled journey that began in jubilation almost a year ago about to culminate with a championship, a breakup, neither or both.

After a season of unprecedented tumult for a star-laden circus of a team, the NBA's most visible and intriguing cast of characters opens the championship round Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons.

Dysfunction Junction has been a fitting moniker for a team with two sniping superstars - one of whom is accused of rape - that has negotiated a season of twists and turns featuring open hostility, injuries and insults and a postseason predicament that shifted in an instant from hopeless to hysterical.

"Without a little controversy we wouldn't be the Lakers," veteran Horace Grant said.

A look back at some of the key events, and the subplots that were spawned, during the wild ride now nearing its climax:

Wednesday, July 16

At a restaurant in West L.A., general manager Mitch Kupchak raises a toast with the agents for Gary Payton and Karl Malone after both veterans forsake bigger offers to join the Lakers for a run at reclaiming the title.

Thursday, July 17

Word officially arrives from Eagle, Colo., that Kobe Bryant has been charged with felony sexual assault, accused of raping a hotel employee while in the resort town without the team's knowledge for surgery. Strangely, on the night of the alleged assault, coach Phil Jackson is bunked down just a few miles away after randomly picking a rest spot while touring on his motorcycle.

Friday, July 18

Bryant appears in Los Angeles at a news conference holding hands with his wife, Vanessa. "I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery," Bryant says, his status as one of the league's role models and upstanding citizens already in shambles.

Thursday, Oct. 2

Bryant is not aboard the team plane as the Lakers fly to Honolulu for training camp.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Bryant finally arrives and speaks publicly, saying he's "terrified" of what lies ahead and has contemplated sitting out the season. Shaquille O'Neal purrs "Meow" to all questions pertaining to Bryant - a deviation from his standard answer of "CAT" (Can't Answer That).

Wednesday, Oct. 15

At an exhibition game in San Diego that Bryant does not attend, the Shaq-Kobe feud begins going public. Asked why he, too, was sitting out with an injury, O'Neal says: "I want to be right for Derek (Fisher), Karl and Gary," purposely omitting Bryant's name.

Saturday, Oct. 25

The Shaq-Kobe feud erupts as Bryant says he heard nothing supportive - or anything else - from O'Neal all summer. "If leaving the Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide, a major reason will be Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy," Bryant says, also using the words "unprofessional" and "fat" to describe his fellow superstar.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

Between the third and fourth quarters of a season-opening victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Bryant emerges from the locker room to a huge ovation and takes a seat next to O'Neal on the bench. O'Neal ignores him as the Lakers close out a 16-point victory.

Wednesday, Nov. 10

Following five straight victories to open the season, the Lakers self-destruct in the fourth quarter at Memphis as Bryant tries to single-handedly take over the game. Afterward, teammates are clearly miffed.

Sunday, Dec. 21

Malone tears a right knee ligament against Phoenix. After missing only 10 games in his first 18 seasons, the first major injury of Malone's career will sideline him for 39 consecutive games.

Friday, Jan. 30

After missing six of eight games with a sprained shoulder, Bryant goes on the injured list with a deeply lacerated right index finger. He claims he accidentally put his hand through a window while moving boxes in his garage.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Bryant defies Jackson and does not join the team in Philadelphia for the fourth stop of a seven-game road trip. Lakers officials are at a loss to explain where Bryant might be.

Friday, Feb. 13

At a hotel ballroom in Century City amid a report that most of the Lakers expect him to leave as a free agent, Bryant speaks publicly for 30 minutes and says he wants to remain "a Laker for life" while also disclosing he isn't particularly fond of his coach. After an 18-3 start, the Lakers enter the All-Star break 31-19.

Sunday, April 11

Following weeks of behind-the-scenes sniping by teammates frustrated by his offensive freelancing, Bryant takes only one shot in the first half of a loss at Sacramento. "I don't know how we could ever forgive him for this," a teammate tells the Los Angeles Times anonymously, insinuating Bryant selfishly sabotaged the game to make a point.

Tuesday, April 13

Bryant goes on the Lakers' pre-game radio broadcast and takes phone calls from fans. "Sabotaging the game? That's ridiculous. Are you kidding me?" he says. Bryant claims he confronted each of his teammates, demanding to know who was the source of the quote. No one admits to it.

Wednesday, April 14

In the season-finale at Portland, Bryant forces overtime with a circus shot from 3-point range, then wins it at the buzzer with another 3 as the Lakers unexpectedly win the Pacific Division. Bryant, infuriated with the beat writers who have covered him for years, declines to be interviewed - a boycott that would eventually stretch for nearly two weeks.

Thursday, April 22

With the beat writers' notebooks stuffed in their back pockets, Payton crosses his arms and goes on an off-the-record rant in the players' parking lot about his frayed relationship with Jackson, his unhappiness with his role and his general discontent with the state of the team.

Friday, April 23

Under increasing pressure from the league office to end his public silence, Bryant ends his boycott when it's pointed out that five minutes of his time would get the league off his back and facilitate a scoop of his regular beat writers. "One thing: I am stubborn," Bryant allows.

Friday, May 7

Another rant from Payton with him feeling he's taking a disproportionate share of the blame for Tony Parker's success as San Antonio holds a 2-0 lead in their second round series.

Thursday, May 13

The shot of the season. After Tim Duncan puts the Spurs ahead by one point with an outrageous, off-balance 18-footer, the Lakers inbound with 0.4 seconds left. Derek Fisher catches, turns and sinks a jumper to put the Lakers ahead 3-2 in the series. San Antonio files an official protest, but to no avail.

Saturday, May 29

Jackson scolds the team in Minnesota for being too loose as they hold a 3-1 series lead, wondering from the interview podium whether they were guffawing at a teammate passing gas. The Timberwolves win 98-96 to force a Game 6, which the Lakers win.

Wednesday, June 2

After poking fun at the cities and citizens of San Antonio and Sacramento, Jackson declines to take a shot at the home city of his NBA Finals opponent. "I've already started that with so many other towns," Jackson said. "We all know about Detroit."

Capsule look at the NBA Finals

A capsule look at the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons:

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (56-26, 12-5) vs. DETROIT PISTONS (54-28, 12-6)

Starters - Lakers: C Shaquille O'Neal (20.0 pts, 13.9 reb), F Karl Malone 13.1 pts, 9.2 reb), F Devean George (5.4 pts, 2.1 reb), G Kobe Bryant (25.1 pts, 5.8 ast, 5.3 reb), G Gary Payton (8.8 pts, 5.5 ast). Pistons: C Ben Wallace (10.1 pts, 14.4 reb), F Rasheed Wallace (13.0 pts, 7.8 reb), F Tayshaun Prince (9.9 pts, 5.7 reb), G Richard Hamilton (21.5 pts, 4.4 reb, 4.3 ast), G Chauncey Billups (15.2 pts, 6.1 ast).

Key reserves - Lakers: G Derek Fisher (7.9 pts), F Slava Medvedenko (4.1 pts), G Kareem Rush (3.8 pts). Pistons: F Corliss Williamson (6.2 pts), G Lindsey Hunter (2.1 pts), G Mike James (3.1 pts), F Mehmet Okur (3.9 pts).

Season series: Tied 1-1, each team winning at home. Both games were played in November, during the first month of the season. In the Lakers' victory, the key play came when Billups rushed a 3-point attempt after the Pistons had grabbed two offensive rebounds. The shot missed, and O'Neal was fouled on the rebound and made two clinching free throws. In the Pistons' victory, they outrebounded Los Angeles 47-26 and its reserves outscored the Lakers' bench players 45-14.

Storyline: Lakers coach Phil Jackson goes for his 10th championship and tries to break the record of nine he shares with Red Auerbach. Bryant plays his final games before going on trial for sexual assault, and Karl Malone goes for the title that has eluded him throughout his otherwise illustrious career.

Key matchup I: Kobe Bryant vs. Richard Hamilton. A superstar vs. a very good player, with Hamilton possessing the better midrange game but Bryant having better all-around skills. The biggest challenge for Bryant will be keeping up with the speedy Hamilton as he runs around screens to get open.

Key matchup II: Shaquille O'Neal vs. Ben Wallace. A horrible foul shooter vs. a dreadful foul shooter, a behemoth vs. a physical freak. Wallace will have his hands full trying to contain the game's most imposing force, while O'Neal's challenge will be to prevent Wallace from grabbing the offensive rebounds that will be a key statistical component in the series.

Little-known fact: Two members of the Pistons, Hunter and Elden Campbell, have played in the finals before. Both did so when they played for the Lakers earlier in their careers.

A position-by-position look at the NBA Finals

COACH: Phil Jackson vs. Larry Brown

One has nine NBA championships, the other has none. One is a great teacher who implores his teams to "play the right way," the other is more like a principal who tries to keep his pupils from sniping at each other. One tries to get his team to stick to the principles of the triangle offense, the other eschews zone defenses and Hack-a-Shaq strategies - even if they'd give his team a better chance at a victory. Edge: Lakers.

SHOOTING GUARD: Kobe Bryant vs. Richard Hamilton

Nobody in the league has as much natural talent as Bryant, whose combination of explosiveness and shooting range make him one of the NBA's wonders to watch. Nobody in the league can run quite like Hamilton, who relies on coming off a labyrinth of screens to free himself for the midrange jump shots he hits better than anyone. Edge: Lakers.

CENTER: Shaquille O'Neal vs. Ben Wallace

The Lakers' center is one of the few people walking the earth who can make Wallace seem puny by comparison. Known as "Diesel," O'Neal can be expected to power his way to the basket and rattle the rim with his dunks. Wallace, nicknamed "Big Ben," is a tenacious defender and rebounder with few offensive skills. Both are horrible free throw shooters, O'Neal making only 41 percent of his attempts this postseason, Wallace making 48 percent. Edge: Lakers.

POWER FORWARD: Karl Malone vs. Rasheed Wallace

Malone gets the edge in charisma, charm and cunning, while Wallace has the better shooting range and more volatile disposition. Malone has proven himself a key component to the Lakers' success throughout the season, while the addition of Wallace in a trade deadline deal gave Detroit the extra piece it needed to rise above the mediocre level of competition in the East. Edge: Lakers.

SMALL FORWARD: Devean George vs. Tayshaun Prince

George is the only non-superstar in the Lakers' starting lineup, a solid player both inside and outside who can hurt an opponent if he's ignored. Prince is longer and quicker, though he has struggled to be a consistent producer on offense during the postseason. Edge: Even.

POINT GUARD: Gary Payton vs. Chauncey Billups

A playmaker on the decline vs. an underrated leader who has changed from a shoot-first scorer to more of a traditional floor general. Payton has made drastic changes to his game since joining the Lakers and becoming the fourth, rather than first, offensive option. Billups has evolved under Brown's coaching into one of the league's steadiest point guards. Edge: Pistons.

RESERVES

Derek Fisher, Slava Medvedenko, Kareem Rush and Rick Fox vs. Corliss Williamson, Lindsey Hunter, Mike James, Elden Campbell and Darvin Ham. Fisher and Rush are the only players in the series capable of providing instant offense off the bench, while Williamson, Ham and Campbell provide 18 fouls to use against O'Neal. Edge: Lakers.

SEASON SERIES

Tied 1-1, each team winning at home. Both games were played in November, during the first full month of the season. In the Lakers' victory, the key play came when Billups rushed a 3-point attempt after the Pistons had grabbed two offensive rebounds. The shot missed, and O'Neal was fouled on the rebound and made two clinching free throws. In the Pistons' victory, they outrebounded Los Angeles 47-26 and its reserves outscored the Lakers' bench 45-14.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT

Two members of the Pistons, Hunter and Campbell, have played in the finals before. Both did so when they played for the Lakers earlier in their careers.

PREDICTION

Lakers in 4.

Schedule (Best-of-7)

TV: Ch. 9.

Today: Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m.

Tuesday: Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m.

Thursday: L.A. Lakers at Detroit, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 13: L.A. Lakers at Detroit, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 15: L.A. Lakers at Detroit, 9 p.m., if necessary

Thursday, June 17: Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., if necessary

Sunday, June 20: Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., if necessary