2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers came out of the gates running to start the season, but have struggled of late, and now post a mediocre 18-3 record. After losing 2 of their last six games, skeptics point out that the lack of defense being played by the reigning Western Conference champs is the reason for this stumble. With Boston, Cleveland, and LA all having remarkable starts to the year, it seems as if no other team has a chance to keep up with these three, despite the fact that there are many teams rising this year.

First, here's why the Lakers will be holding the trophy next summer. The Pacific Division is weak. This is the worst Pacific Division in years, thanks in most part to the horrible Sacramento Kings, Don Nelson's reluctance to win, and the Clippers, content with their four wins. The only two teams above .500? The Lakers and the Pheonix Suns, who are six games behind. Pheonix, after the trade yesterday, will now be the most disappointing team in basketball this year. Being a lifelong Warriors fan, I love Jason Richardson, but that will not work out well for them. Shaq and Amare already complaining about getting the ball, the slowdown offense,the loss of their main defensive stopper in Raja Bell, and the big man that seemed to glue the bench together, Boris Diaw. Throw Jason Richardson in the mix, who averages over 16 shots a game, and there's trouble. Not to mention, I haven't heard one good thing a Suns player has said about coach Terry Porter. The Lakers already have already beaten Pheonix twice by an average of nine points and Kobe Bryant only averaging 33 minutes in those two games. If this is the only competition in the Pacific Division, the Lakers can coast to the playoffs, only having to suit up for the Spurs, Mavs, Utah and maybe Denver or a healthy Houston. New Orleans is on the verge of falling apart, and Portland (as much as we all love them) could have a chance at anybody in the West besides the Lakers (as witnessed opening night). When there are less than five teams in a conference that can challenge you or your record, you are in good shape come playoff time. The Lakers play sixteen games against far inferior division opponents, if Kobe and Gasol can rest, Farmar can get more experience during the season, and the bench staying happy logging minutes, this Lakers team should breeze into and through the postseason.

The second reason the Lakers will win the championship is their defense. Granted, it has slipped up the past couple weeks, but we saw at the beginning of the season was a sign that when the Lakers want, they can play great defense. For example: only 4 teams in the first 15 games scored 100 points against the Lakers. This in comparison to teams scoring 100 on Boston 4 times in the first 16, and 3 times against Clevleland in the first 13 games. The Lakers are capable of holding their own defensively, especially in a conference offensively superior than the Eastern Conference. Let's break up the Lakers individually though, starting with Kobe Bryant. He's been named to the All Defensive First Team six times, including the past three. Only eight players have been named to the first team more, but keep in mind that two of them are still active, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, both two years older than Kobe. He is also labeled the best defender often, and was chosen to shut down every opposing team's best player during the past olympics. Next is Derek Fisher. Nothing special about Derek Fisher, besides the fact that he is a thick guard who is as quick as the best of them. He has great hands and is one of the smartest point gaurds in the game. Great addition to the defense. Trevor Ariza, not only is a great defende, but apparently can actually hit open jumpers now. I won't go through the bench one by one, but Sasha Vujacic has been known to be a pest, Luke Walton is one of the few remaining players who knows how to rotate to the baseline, and everybody knows that no one wants to drive on D.J. Mbenga. Ok, maybe a stretch there, but the main reason the Lakers are a ver good defensive team is Andrew Bynum. His return not only lets Pau Gasol off the hook from gaurding the biggest guy on the court, it shuts down the middle. While not as athletic or dominating as a young Shaq, he is as big as Shaq, and is sixth in the league in blocked shots this year. His precense takes up the paint and just as important, gives Pau and Lamar Odom a break from the bigger guys.

 Finally, there seem to be three teams in everyone's mind that are solid contenders for the NBA title right now: Cleveland, Boston and L.A. Maybe San Antonio will get healthy and Dallas can continue to play strong, but for now these three stick out. After looking at their records and who they have played against, I found that Cleveland is only 5-3 against good competition. Boston is 9-1, and the Lakers are 11-1. Playing in the West does mean that you will face better teams throughout the season, and that is one advantage that the Cavs and Celtics have over the Lakers, but the Lakers continue to beat good teams consistently, while Cleveland fails to do that. The thing that seperates the Lakers from the Celtics (and anyone else for that matter) is their depth. The Lakers have nine players getting 15 minutes or more, and all of these players would be starters on nearly every other team. The Lakers bench is so strong and well balanced, Kobe and Phil can comfortably ride them into the postseason, retain home court advantage, and put yet another banner up in the rafters. But, the season is only a quarter done, and many surprises will come.