Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Reasons They Could and Couldn't Win the West

The Los Angeles Lakers have been inconsistent so far this season. At times, the old age of many of their veteran players has shown.

Many believe the Lakers have no shot at winning the Western Conference and their time has passed. However, the Lakers do have a few things in their favor that could help them make their fourth NBA championship in five years.

3 Reasons Why: 1. Kobe Bryant

When you’ve got the Black Mamba, anything is possible. The 16-year veteran is still the NBA’s best closer. He leads the league in scoring and had a stretch this season where he scored 40 points in four straight games.

I realize that he’s 33 years old, but Michael Jordan won an NBA championship and a scoring title at the tender age of 35. There’s no guy in NBA history besides Jordan that you’d rather have with the ball in their hands with the game on the line.

If Bryant is able to stay healthy for the entire season, the Lakers will be a team that no one will want to see come playoff time.

2. Size

No team in the NBA has a power forward-center combo that can match up with the Lakers.

Andrew Bynum has taken major strides this season and has turned himself into the league’s second best center. Pau Gasol is still a very good scorer and his size and length make him a valuable rebounder and defender.

These two can single handedly out rebound an opposing team and both their offensive and defensive rebounding ability could help lead the Lakers to another Western Conference title.  

3. The West Is Wide Open

Has there ever been a year when the Western Conference has been more wide open? There’s always been a sure fire favorite to win the conference, but this season there are six or seven teams that have a legitimate chance to make the finals.

The favorites right now are the Thunder, but they are still a very young team and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook continue to struggle with their shot distribution.

I don’t think anyone would be shocked if the Lakers made a run and represented the West in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in five years.

3 Reasons Why Not: 1. Kobe Bryant

Kobe’s durability and scoring prowess this season has been amazing. However, he needs to pass the rock.

He has two elite big men to back him up, and he needs to stop launching up jump shots every time down the court. Bryant is leading the NBA in scoring, but he’s taking way too many shots which is slowing down the offense and preventing his teammates from getting involved.

If Kobe doesn’t start trusting his teammates on the offensive end, the Lakers will not be a threat in the Western Conference.  

2. Point Guard Position

The Lakers have the weakest point guard tandem in the NBA. I don’t think it’s even close.

Derek Fisher probably should have retired a few years ago and Steve Blake, who’s had to play major minutes at times, is an average backup.

The NBA has so many good point guards now that not having one hurts your team tremendously. If they match up with a team like the Clippers or the Thunder in the playoffs, they are going to have major problems containing Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook.

3. Depth

The Lakers might have the worst bench in the entire NBA.

Josh McRoberts was good at Duke, but he’s a mediocre NBA player at best. Their best bench player, Matt Barnes, would be the eighth or ninth best guy on most teams.

Besides their big three of Kobe, Bynum and Gasol, the team has a major lack of talent. They are going to need to add a role player or two at the trade deadline in order to make a playoff run.