by Bruce Bostwick

Created on: February 06, 2010

The Los Angeles Lakers are the defending NBA Champions and a favorite to easily go back and win it. It is easy to predict to do it again considering that the team is a power team in the NBA having won the second most titles in NBA history with 15. They also have players like Kobe Bryant making a difference and of course having Phil Jackson as the coach makes the odds go into your own favor. Let it be known that the Lakers are going to be a top team in the NBA playoffs as they generally are.

It would be expected that they would easily win their own division and possibly have the crown of the Western Conference Title. They also made an indirect trade from Ariza to Artest while not actually swapping salaries so to speak. It was more of a player movement as Ariza went to the Rockets and Artest with to the Lakers. From looking at the picture, it doesn’t seem like a team that could be intimidated by anyone but then again, they didn’t have much of a challenge in the NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic.

There is something to be said and there isn’t a lot to be said that hasn’t been said. The Lakers really may not look like they have someone that could come along and give them a serious run for their money but you never know for sure. San Antonio was one team that was able to give then a serious challenge in the sense of being the one who could stop them from making the NBA Championship. The fact remains is that they are a team that just isn’t expected to be knocked out so easily. If anything, they can be expected to beat teams and have been the power team.

Will they be able to repeat as champions? It is hard to say. It would be nice if somebody would step up to the plate and challenge the Lakers because quite honestly, it would make the Western Conference look weak if it is always the same team every year but that’s just an opinion. Don’t take it the wrong way, they are a tough team but can be beaten. No team is invincible. Given Ron Artest’s reputation, it is going to be interesting if they can go about making it work.

In final conclusion on the Lakers, they will win the division without too much trouble and will hardly be challenged whatsoever. They are expected to contend for the NBA Championship. Only time will tell if they will be able to win it again. With a head coach like Phil Jackson, it’s hard to bet against him.

Learn more about this author, Bruce Bostwick.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.