NBA Playoffs 2012: Breaking Down LA Lakers' Championship Run

Nothing is ever easy for the LA Lakers who are once again on a difficult path to another NBA championship, something they can most definitely win. 

Yes, the LA Lakers are NBA title contenders and have a great look at another banner to hang from the Staplers Center rafters. 

It's just so easy to dismiss a team that rides through the regular season on a roller coaster rather than a smooth thoroughfare. 

Andrew Bynum is moping, Kobe Bryant continues to heel and Metta World Peace awaits his judgement. Yup, that seems about right. 

It's average for the course of a franchise that can sometimes meander far into the realm of a soap opera. It's a gig only a Zen Master could love, but they instead have a defensive guru to lead the charge in the form of Mike Brown. 

With that, we take a look at the tough road ahead but one that could ultimately lead to us all eating our words. 

First Round

The LA Lakers may just dodge a bullet in the form of the Memphis Grizzlies. They can clinch the No. 3 seed with a win on Thursday night. 

It looks more likely they would play the Denver Nuggets, a team they hold a 3-1 season series lead over. Nothing comes easy to this group, and this is likely to go 5-6 games, but the edge goes to Los Angeles. 

Memphis frontcourt size would be far more problematic, making this the only assured round of the postseason. 

Second Round and Beyond

After that, it would become a gauntlet of the best teams in the NBA. A road of the Thunder, Spurs and some Eastern giant would stand in the way. 

The Thunder would be a mismatch on depth. The Spurs would feature a solid veteran team that, unlike the Lakers, have played the season with perfect poise. After that, take your pick of Eastern poison. 

There remains hope. 

Necessities 

It starts with defense and the bread, butter and reason why Mike Brown was picked for this job. The Lakers have to be perfect from here on out on that end of the court. 

Other than that, they have to get Andrew Bynum the ball early and often, making Kobe Bryant more of a facilitator. 

The Lakers are unstoppable when Bynum is dominating the ball, but they need the dialed-in Bynum that is willing to put the team first. 

That's really what this all boils down to—the manner of Lakers roster that hits the court. This team has the talent, and there is no question about that. 

They have Kobe Bryant, the best center in the west and a top-tier player in Pau Gasol. This is still a deadly squad, but they can check out in an instant, mentally. 

Breaks 

The NBA has to be kind on Metta World Peace if the Lakers want a shot because they need their wing defender for the deeper rounds. 

Gasol must play every game with a toughness that is lacking at times, and Bryant has to trust this cast to be the cast to get him another ring. 

In short, the Lakers need to flip a mental switch, and we will see more of the brilliant squad that has only featured in flashes this season. 

The Lakers have a rough road ahead, but that is exactly the kind of road they are used to. 

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