Lakers Playoffs: Kobe Bryant and Co. Face Steep Climb to Title

The Lakers are in the West Finals. The four year drought has ended.

Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams missed threes at the buzzer and the Lakers escaped with the game (108-105) and the series (4-2).

Relief. Celebration. And now, if they're smart: Preparation.

Why? Whoever wins the Game 7 matchup between the Hornets and the defending champion Spurs will be a much better defensively than the teams the Lakers have faced thus far (Nuggets and Jazz).

Neither team really tested the Lakers, although they definitely exposed some weaknesses for anybody watching closely enough. Weaknesses that the Lakers should, and must, address if they want their title run to continue.

The offense is most definitely not a problem. Let's face it: the triangle offense is proven rock-solid. It has won 9 championships and was a few miscues away from 10  (2003) and 11 (2004).

The Lakers are the best offense still left in the playoffs with a dazzling 112 PPG on roughly 49% FG percentage. They have the best 3pt FG percentage at almost 40% and the most assists per game at just under 24. Better still they are 8-1 this post season when they score 100+ PPG.

The adjustments need to be made defensively. Especially because we all know: DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. And there gives the Laker fan cause for a tad bit of concern.

I can't tell you how many times I watched games from both Round 1 and Round 2 screaming at the TV about the opponent getting offensive rebounds. It was, at times, truly atrocious. It has been a theme all year actually for Laker games.

A good defensive team is supposed to be one-and-done. They defend you, play hard defense, make you take a tough contested shot, and then GET THE REBOUND. That's fundamental basketball and that's playoff basketball.

In the regular season the Lakers' opponents averaged about 12 offensive RPG. In the playoffs, that number is up to 14 offensive RPG. Game 1 of the Utah series, the Jazz had 25 offensive rebounds. 25! That is way too many extra possessions and way too many chances to give another team to score, especially in the playoffs where points aren't cheap.

In addition, offensive rebounds damage a team in so many ways. First, they usually lead to a high percentage shot, either a layup, a dunk, or a wide open three. If you are trying to make a comeback they suck because now the other team can run down more clock against you.

And if they are trying to make a comeback, you make stopping their run so much harder (as was the case in Game 6). Plus there's nothing worse than forcing a team into a tough contested shot late in the shot clock only to give the ball right back to them.

In addition a little extra crispness on defensive rotations would be greatly appreciated. I've seen way too many wide open layups and dunks given up by the Lakers.

Finally, I must speak briefly on another fundamental topic. They're Shaq's Kryptonite. They're Larry Bird's "bread and butter." But, most importantly, they're uncontested chances at free points.

Yes, I'm talking about those pesky little free throws and the Lakers have been leaving way too many on the table in the playoffs. I'm not saying, make every one of them (even though you are pros). I'm just saying don't be lackadaisical.

Case in point: Game 4 against the Jazz. The Lakers left 11 on the table. 11! In a game that went to OT. If you make a quarter of those you squeak by. If you make half you win by a comfortable enough margin.

The Lakers won the series, so no harm, no foul. But they cannot afford to do that against any of the remaining teams, especially if they end up losing a game as a result.

I'm not trying to rain on the Lakers parade. (I'm actually a big fan, in case you couldn't tell). But I would like to see some serious improvement in these categories next round—or Kobe's fourth ring will have to wait another year.