2009-10 NBA preview: Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are the modern day version of the old Chicago Bulls. They have Kobe in the role of Jordan, they have Phil Jackson in the role of well Phil Jackson, they have a taller version of Scottie Pippen in Paul Gasol, and they now have their Dennis Rodman in one Ron Artest. They have also solved the drama with celebrated 6th man Lamar Odom. This is a really good team, which got a lot better in the off season.
It kind of strange how popular the Lakers have become, especially in Los Angeles. While Manny Ramirez was being Manny for the LA Dodgers, and the Angels were playing excellent baseball, the Odom drama was dominating the news headlines, and Internet blog in LA. What we know is this the Lakers are the defending champs and they should be the favorite heading into a new season.
The only real question for this team will be if young center Andrew Bynum can return to his 2007-08 from after severely hurting his knee. Bynum missed over half of last season with that injury and the Lakers are banking on his immense potential to get back and help this team win another title.
The Lakers have one other concern and that is of chemistry. Can Artest play his game every night and not disturb the Laker locker room? If he doesn’t then all is well, but this guy is a bomb waiting to go off and at some point he will.
