No Laker Fans, You're Not Champs Yet: Why 2009-10 Will Be Memorable

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Also seen at Celtics 17.

"Wow it's 7/02/09 and the Los Angeles Lakers have already been crowned champions!"

That was one of the first comments on Marc Stein's story two nights ago, breaking the Artest-to-LA news.

Unfortunately for the fanatics in Hollywood, that isn't the case. It isn't the case for the Boston Celtics, either—even if they are able to insert Rasheed Wallace into their already threatening frontcourt.

The Magic also aren't favorites, despite the recent addition of Vince Carter.

Nor Cleveland, even though they just patched up a hole in their game by acquiring Shaquille O'Neal.

San Antonio also will have to battle their way to the top, although they were the winners of last Thursday's NBA Draft, on top of trading for Richard Jefferson.

The Nuggets hope to build too. But that won't allow them to breeze through this season.

The fact is, the NBA is the best it's been in a while. While last season was certainly one to remember in itself, the league has already become, undoubtedly, more competitive. There are six teams, maybe more, that can hold their own against one another. Recent transactions have put them a notch above the rest of the Association, and although none of them amongst themselves are favorites, the six of them are the most likely to win a title as opposed to the other 24 teams in the NBA.

As if you hadn't guessed yet, the six are (in no particular order): the Lakers, Magic, Celtics, Cavaliers, Spurs, and Nuggets.

The C's, Cavs, Magic, Nugs, and Spurs will in no way let the Lakers come out on top once again by setting their pace to cruise control. And I'm sure every team will feel that they have a chip on their shoulder. Bryant and the Lakers, to prove that they still could win a championship even if the Celtics, Spurs, and Magic were healthy. Garnett and the Celtics, to show that the Big Three and co. are not done yet. LeBron and the Cavs, to show that last season's league-leading record of 66-16 was no fluke. And so on, and so on.

But Laker fans, apparently, have not been made aware of that. Sure the acquisition of Ron Artest makes them a feared squad, but the fact is, the Lake-show's presence had already been registered by the brains of other teams in the NBA.

Of course, you can't expect much sense out of a hyped up Laker fanbase. After just winning the championship and now having the privilege to say their team is the defending champs, they're of course going to label the Lakers immortal.

Those who bleed purple and yellow will obviously make the Lakers up to be a team they simply cannot be. They will set a bar for the Lakers which they can't live up to.

Artest will clearly make LA's defense better. An offseason with him as a defensive anchor will immediately transform them into a defensive monster. Can you imagine the possibilities with Bryant and Ron-Ron as the lead voices? Never mind Bynum and Gasol, who have seemed to toughened up some after five games with Dwight Howard.

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