Los Angeles Lakers vs. Everyone Else

There is the Los Angeles Lakers, and then there is everyone else. The Miami Heat have gotten considerably stronger in a short period of time, but they haven't played a single minute together on the court.

Orlando will always be tough as long as they have Dwight Howard, but sometimes they have too much three-point fever.

Boston is definitely a threat, but can they go through a season without age and injury going against them?

The Western Conference has gotten weaker and in the upcoming season, there seems to be no true threat from blocking LA's path to a fourth straight NBA finals appearance.

I will compare the positional matchups between the Lakers and the rest of the contending teams.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

Point Guard: Derek Fisher and Steve Blake vs. Rajon Rondo and Nate Robinson

Rondo is one of the top point guards in the game and Robinson is an explosive scorer. No way around this, and although I believe Steve Blake is a better player than Nate, Rondo alone overpowers Fish and Blake.

EDGE: CELTICS

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant, The Machine (Sasha Vujacic), and Shannon Brown vs. Ray Allen, Marquis Daniels, and Avery Bradley

Kobe is the best player in the NBA and has suitable backups to give him a breather in Sasha and, hopefully, Brown. The best player in the NBA vs. the best three point shooter in NBA and a bunch of scrubs.

EDGE: LAKERS

Small Forward: Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, Luke Walton, and Devin Ebanks vs. Paul Pierce and Michael Finley

Ron Artest is still considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the game. Adding Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks (who was great in the summer league) will only help solidify the Lakers defense on the perimeter.

But despite Artest outplaying Pierce in last year's Finals, I give Pierce the edge, but the Celtics don't have great depth behind him at that position.

EDGE: LAKERS

Power Forward: Pau Gasol, Derrick Caracter, and Lamar Odom vs. Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, and Luke Harangody.

Pau is the best big man in the game right now and Odom could definitely be starting with another team instead of coming of the bench. Caracter performed well in the summer league and could be a potential steal that late in the draft.

Garnett has lost a step and his skills will continue to diminish, but Glen Davis turned out to be a fantastic bench player for the Celtics, despite being undersized. Also, Luke Harangody had a great summer league and might turn out to be a steal, but that still doesn't beat the duo of Odom and Gasol upfront.

EDGE: LAKERS

Center: Andrew Bynum and Theo Ratliff vs. Kendrick Perkins and Jermaine O'Neal

Andrew Bynum is a legit seven footer who takes up space in the paint and has an array of post up moves. His presence is what makes the Lakers so special. Perkins has proven to be a great defensive center and can cover many big man alone.

O'Neal is defintely an upgrade over Sheldon Williams and will be a great backup when Perkins returns from injury. Even with Bynum injured, Perkin's struggled to contain Bynum at times.

EDGE: LAKERS

Overall Edge: LAKERS

The Celtics are an experienced team, but they are also old and very injury prone. Injuries happen to everyone at crucial moments (Bynum's injury two years ago), but the Celtics still fought and almost won Game Seven in last year's Finals.

The Lakers are getting a healthy Andrew Bynum back and some new bench players, which just makes LA stronger at every position, other than the point, and maybe the wing.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic

Point Guard: Derek Fisher and Steve Blake vs. Jameer Nelson and Chris Duhon

This will be a little tricky to analyze.

Will the Jameer Nelson of last year's playoffs show up or the watered down version of Nelson who was present for most of last year's regular season? Nelson had a bad 2009-2010 regular season, but was the Magic's best player during their playoff run, which concluded with an exit at the hands of the Celtics.

I'm willing to give Nelson the benefit of the doubt.

EDGE: MAGIC

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant, The Machine (Sasha Vujacic), and Shannon Brown vs. Vince Carter and J.J Redick

Vince Carter is old and washed up. Redick isn't more than a back-up.

EDGE: LAKERS

Small Forward: Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, Luke Walton, and Devin Ebanks VS. Quentin Richardson and Michael Pietrus

I like the pick-up of Richardson for the Magic, but Barnes was the better fit. Pietrus can provide solid defense and three point shooting from the bench.

LA has better depth at this position, especially with the addition of Barnes, who provides another tenacious wing defender.

EDGE: LAKERS

Power Forward: Pau Gasol, Derrick Caracter, and Lamar Odom vs. Rashard Lewis, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, and Stanley Robinson

Rashard Lewis isn't a Power Forward, yet the Magic keep passing him off as one. Bass is a great role player and Anderson has potential, but won't get playing time on a stacked Orlando team.

Gasol and Odom are just too much for the Magic to handle down low.

EDGE: LAKERS

Center: Andrew Bynum and Theo Ratliff vs. Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat, and Daniel Orton

Dwight Howard is the best center in the league and, though Bynum could eventually get there, he isn't on the level as Superman yet. Gortat has already proven to be a great backup (look at his contract) for Dwight Howard.

EDGE: MAGIC

Overall Edge: LAKERS

The Lakers already know how to beat this Magic team and they will continue to have success. LA has an advantage at every position other than point guard and center. Vince Carter is just too erratic and too old to be the guy in crunch time, but the Magic still believe he can get it done.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat

Point Guard: Derek Fisher and Steve Blake vs. Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo, and Kenny Hasbrouck

Chalmers needs to improve on his three-point shooting, but he is a great defender. Arroyo is a decent back-up but doesn't really do anything special. LA has the better talent and experience at the point.

EDGE: LAKERS

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant, The Machine (Sasha Vujacic), and Shannon Brown vs. Dwayne Wade and Mike Miller.

Wade is one of the best players in the NBA and has already won a championship. He is very quick and can attack the rim at will.

Bryant will have his hands full checking Wade, but the same for Wade as well. Wade will have to guard the best player on the planet right now, and Mr. Bryant has four more championships than Wade.

Kobe is a couple of inches taller than Wade and will use that to his advantage.

EDGE: LAKERS

Small Forward: Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, Luke Walton, and Devin Ebanks vs. LeBron James, Yakhouba Diawara, James Jones, and Da'Sean Butler

LeBron James is second to only Kobe Bryant in this league. James is the best small forward in the game right now and there aren't many players who can guard him one on one.

Artest doesn't have the quickness to stay with James, but has the strength. Ron will slow down James a bit, but the matchup doesn't favor Ron-Ron. Barnes might have a better chance or, if that fails, LA should try to put the Ebanks on James (that should be fun for the rookie).

EDGE: HEAT

Power Forward: Pau Gasol, Derrick Caracter, and Lamar Odom vs. Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Jarvis Varnado, and Shavlik Randolph,

This matchup is pretty much Pau Gasol and Odom vs. Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem. I believe Gasol is the best big man in the game right now and Odom is one of the best sixth men in the league right now.

Bosh is a great player on offense but is horrible on the defensive end. Haslem is a great defender but he has trouble with bigger and longer players like Gasol and Odom.

EDGE: LAKERS

Center: Andrew Bynum and Theo Ratliff vs. Zydrunas Illgauskas, Juwan Howard, Dexter Pittman, Jamal Magloire, and Joel Anthony

The Heat have a bunch of role players, at best, as their center, while LA has an established powerhouse in Bynum and a great defender/shot-blocker in Ratliff. Big Z is just too slow to guard Bynum and Joel Anthony is too vertically challenged to affect Bynum's shot.

EDGE: LAKERS

Overall EDGE: LAKERS

Miami has formed a great trio in Bosh, Wade, and James, but the rest of the team isn't up to par yet. Pat Riley has done a good job in getting these role players with what they had left, but it might not be good enough against the likes of the Magic, Celtics, or Lakers.

LA just has too much size for this Miami team, and the overall chemistry/experience will be too much for the super trio in South Beach.