The Los Angeles Lakers have returned to the top of the basketball world. 

They have really come together this season.  They have shown that they are cohesive unit on defense and a well oiled machine on offense as the younger players are starting to excel in the triangle offense. 

The Lakers boast one of the best benches in the NBA, several veteran leaders such as: Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol.  Oh, and did I forget maybe the most talented scorer of the new era, Kobe Bryant. 

With this young and talented team things are going up and the Lakers are once again in the top tier of the Western Conference. 

Several seasons ago things looked dismal for Dr. Jerry Buss's team.  Shaquille O'Neal was traded away.  Coach Phil Jackson left the team. Kobe Bryant was angry at the world and calling out his teammates. 

The Lakers were heading down and fast.  Hope was all but gone when the Lakers' General Manager used a draft pick on an unproven, 7 ft. high school kid, the youngest to ever be drafted to be precise. 

This led to a string of events which escalated quickly with Kobe's desire to be traded if the front office would not prove that they wanted to build a championship team now instead of rebuild. 

Needless to say, I think Kobe is happy, as well as Lakers' fans everywhere.  The team is playing with a sense of pride and toughness and showmanship that reminds many of the old Magic/Kareem "Showtime" teams.

Kobe is loving it, Phil is back, the team is young and competitive.  The Lakers set out to return to dominance—mission accomplished.