Back to back losses to the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets have gotten the concerns rolling around the defending champion Lakers, but caution should be taken before stripping away their status as the best team in the NBA.
Yes they are a little thin on the inside without Andrew Bynum (don't expect Theo Ratliff and Derrick Caracter to be getting too many minutes come spring), and yes their bench play can be very up and down. In addition, there have been whispers about Kobe Bryant injury concerns and there is always the chance for a Ron Artest blow up.
However, most teams in the league would love to have the same problems that the Lakers have. Over the past three season, the Lakers have played elite ball and have learned to pace themselves throughout the regular season.
A lot of credit can go to Head Coach Phil Jackson, who is truly the master of keeping his teams fresh enough come playoff time. Phil is going for his fourth three-peat, so he has some experience with teams like this.
The veterans on this team such as Bryant and Derek Fisher will know how to do this for themselves and we will likely see a different Fisher than we saw in la ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Sam Jackson
Los Angeles Lakers: No Panic In LA, Lakers Will Be Western Favorite In April
November 15th, 2010 by Sam Jackson Leave a reply »
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