This weekend we enter the All Star break and it's always a good time to look at your team, take stock of the situation they're in and the situation developing in the league. Let's take a look shall we.
The Western Conference is once again looking cramped in the playoff spots with only the Lakers looking like they're on solid footing but don't let that fool you, it's not the time to get complacent because the Denver Nuggets are only four games behind and they are chomping at the bit to overtake the Lakers. Well, they can dream anyway.
The Eastern Conference is looking a little more spread out with the Cavaliers sitting dominant at the top and the Celtics on a little bit of a downward spiral, that can't help but make you feel good. Orlando are the next on the list but even they got turned out by Lebron and friends at the Q on Thursday. Hmmm I think Lebron can almost taste that NBA ring. It's a pity (for him) that the Lakers are fielding one of the best teams in basketball and will give the Cavs serious competition. Don't believe me?! I'll explain why!
You just have to look at the lineup and see what the Lakers have. There's Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Ron Ron and Mr. O.4 (aka Fisher). That's 33 feet and 3 inches of length. I know, size isn't everything (or so I hear) they need skill too. There is no shortage of that here with the best player in the league (that's Kobe if you were not aware), the most skillful big man in the league (Pau) and one the meanest, toughest perimeter defenders out there, Artest, I don't even need to go into the other two for my point to be made. That's not even the best bit, our sixth man is Lamar Odom! That right there is enough said but I'm not going to stop there, oh no! For there has been recent developments that should not go unnoticed.
Kobe and Bynum have sat out the last three games injured, chills still run down my spine when I say those dreadful words. What has become of our beloved Lakers? I will tell you what, the talent that was stored up in the rest of the lineup burst through and swept away any opposition in their path. This included whipping Portland into shape in Portland, something we haven't done in five years and going to Utah and hand delivering them a backhand for thinking they could carry-on a ten game winning streak in our conference. Uh -huh not cool!
It's the Utah game that I want to focus on for a few words here, because it was truly a team effort that fueled this win. The defense from Pau and Lamar was truly suffocating the Jazz and their combined point scoring was lethal. Though something else was noticeable when the Lakers were playing, there was a complete second unit out there for a considerable amount of time in the third quarter. I'm not talking the kind of second unit that has one or two starters in it or one with Lamar (we all know Lamar is really a starter) but an entire squad from the bench was on the court. Something I haven't seen Phil do the entire season, until now. The great thing is, the Jazz had three starters on, including Mr. Boozer, and they still couldn't handle us. With Kobe and Bynum out it's great to know that we can step up and handle things. Do you think the Cavs could win without LeBron against a quality team like the Jazz? nah! Plus we've already seen what happens to the Celtics when they are missing one of their big three. No team has the depth that the Lakers do and it's depth that wins championships in this grueling season.
To wrap this all up and to make clear the point I'm trying to get across, is that the Lakers are looking superb coming into the second half of the season. We may not be top of the NBA at the moment but we are not far behind in second place. But, Brandon, we got pummeled by Denver and Cleveland, twice! This is true, but I say fear not Laker fans, we're just starting to hit our stride and by the time the playoffs roll around we will be in full swing and what do regular season games mean in playoff time?.....NOTHING!
So, let us all trust in Phil to look to getting the Lakers in shape for playoffs and winning a championship rather than the best NBA record. The Cavs had the best record last year but it's the Lakers with the ring on their fingers. Also, Orlando panned us twice last year in regular season but then when the finals came around we sent them on their way without even thanking them for showing up!
Do you think there is a team with more skill and talent ? I would love to see some arguments for it.
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