NBA Season Preview: Los Angeles Lakers

Last season the Lakers surprised everyone by making a trade for Pau Gasol. The addition of Gasol and there new high powered offense help elevate them to the NBA finals, but they would eventually become the victims of the first ever six game sweep. Was it a one and done season for the Lakers or the beginning of another championship run for the historic franchise? I believe it is the latter, but luck will have to play at least a little part in their season for them to return to the finals.

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Reasons they will return to the finals

• Andrew Bynum is back. Before suffering what would become a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 13, center Andrew Bynum was averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Best of all, his team was 25-11. Bynum is healthy after knee surgery and comes back with more muscle. With the return of Bynum, Pau Gasol can return to his more natural role at power forward. And with the 6'10 Lamar Odom most likely to win the spot at small forward, the Lakers should have the biggest front line in all of the NBA. But that's only if Lamar can hold off Trevor Ariza for the starting gig. Phil Jackson has been tinkering with the lineups and has suggested Odom could be more help off of the bench.
  
• They should be more than motivated. With the great season they did have, they went out soft in the finals. The Lakers will be out to prove their abilities this season. They will play with anger, determination, and drive.
  
• There bench is better. Last season they boasted one of the better benches in the league. In the off-season their bench got even better. Luke Walton and Sa sha Vujacic return to come off the bench, Luke is healthy and the Machine is happy after signing a big contract to stay in LA. They did lose energetic big man Ronny Turiaf to free agency, but they signed 6'9 shooting guard Sun Yue and forward Josh Powell. They will be faster and stronger, which should help out where they need it the most, on defense.
  
• Kobe Bryant. Last season he proved he could fill the role as team leader. Something people have been waiting for since Shaq left the City of Angels. He also showed that he can still take over any game he wishes. He is the best in the game and no matter what happens to the Lakers, he will be there to hoist them on his shoulders.

Reasons they fail to reach:

• Kobe gets tired. He passed on pinky surgery, he has played more minutes over the past three seasons (9,609) than any other player, and played in the Olympics. Not leaving any time to relax and recover. The short break may take a toll on him late in the season, but Kobe says he is feeling as good as ever.
  
• Bynums knee doesn't hold up. Last season when the Lakers were rolling and Bynum went down, the team seemed to be deflated. The only reason they recovered was the acquisition of Pau, and if it happens again I can't seem them pulling off another monster deal.
  
• If the team loses its chemistry, it is doomed. Last season Gasol stepped into the triangle like he had been playing it his entire life. But with Bynum back in the picture, team chemistry will be the biggest issue. The triangle simply doesn't work without a good ebb and flow.

In my biased opinion the Lakers are the most well rounded team in the western conference. As long as health and team chemistry don't become an issue; I see them making it back to the finals. It will be a tough road ahead of them, especially with almost every team in the Western Conference looking like playoff contenders. But I think they have all the right pieces to make it another cinderella season, however this time it will have a Hollywood ending.

Lakers projected lineup:
Starters
C Andrew Bynum
PF Pau Gasol
SF Trevor Ariza
SG Kobe Bryant
PG Derek Fisher

Bench
F Vladimir Radmanovic
G/F Lamar Odom
G Jordan Farmar
C Chris Mihm
G Sun Yue
G Sasha Vujacic
C DJ Mbenga
F Josh Powell
F Luke Walton

Coby Karl, Joe Crawford, Brandon Heath, and CJ Giles will battle it out for the last spot. But they may just go with 14.