LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers need only one more win to capture a 15th National Basketball Association Championship, but some city officials are already saying they can't afford to throw the team a victory party.

The Lakers have taken a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series against the Orlando Magic and will clinch the championship if they win again on Sunday night, setting the stage for a triumphal parade through downtown Los Angeles as early as Tuesday.

But such a celebration could cost the city $1 million or more at a time when city leaders, faced with a deep budget deficit, were contemplating worker layoffs and cuts in services.

"We can't afford to cover the costs," City Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times. "How could we make a decision about people's jobs and then sponsor the parade?"

Barbara Maynard, a spokeswoman for the city's employee unions, agreed, telling the paper: "We do not believe its appropriate in this economic climate for taxpayers to be funding a parade."

But Councilman Bernard Parks said he expected the city to throw the parade and pick up the tab.

"There's going to be a major celebration in the city and the likelihood is the city is going to absorb the bulk of those costs," he said. "The city isn't going to have time over the next few hours to negotiate a contract with the Lakers or anyone else."

Meanwhile police officials said they were prepared in case the Lakers win and the victory prompts hooliganism or vandalism, as had happened in the past.

Following last Thursday's Lakers win over the Magic, a group stormed into an east Los Angeles intersection and vandalized cars.

"Fans, having a good time doesn't mean hurting people," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said. "The Lakers are a sports team, not some kind of a destructive force. And therefore celebrate and enjoy but don't commit and violence.""

Last time I checked I didn't have a reason for shit.  Better learn to read cupcake before you spew out of your mouth.  I made mention about a parade.  WTF reason is that??  Please enlighten me all mighty one.  

What a joke.  Please do yourself a favor and find another board where people welcome catty.  

If I were a sore loser, like ALMOST EVERY LAKER FAN OUT THERE, I'd still be making excuses as to why the Cav's didn't make it.  Kind of like how laker fans held on last year saying oh it's cause we don't have Bynum.  WTF!!  LMFAO.  The better team won GREAT!  Glad you are all happy and stuff, maybe one will deliver an envelope to you for being such an active fan.  

Until then though, don't ASSUME I am a sore loser because people who MAKE assumptions, usually make an ass out of themselves.  I didn't talk any shit like I should be doing, I simply stated that the parade wasn't happening.  Bond said it was, I posted what I READ!!!  He responded and you tried to anaylyse shit that you obviously had NO clue about.  HA, LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need talent to win, and we all saw what it was like for the Lakers from 2005-2007. Kobe is definitely the best player, but the Lakers didn't surround him with the right talent. Bringing Fisher back was key for added leadership, then Gasol, then Ariza.

Nobody wins alone.  When Shaq was in Orlando, they managed to get to finals only to get SWEPT by Houston.  Shaq didn't win it until Kobe AND Phil Jackson came.  MJ never won it alone.  KG never won it alone.  Ask Lebron if he's ever won it alone.

-- Modified on 6/14/2009 9:52:13 PM

The only thing wrong with your statement is that Jerry West wasn't the GM when Gasol was traded.  Other than that, it was fine.

Bond