Why the L.A. Lakers Will Win the Championship This Season

There you have it. The Los Angeles Lakers will win the 2008-09 NBA Finals this season.

Why, you ask yourself, am I so damn confident?

In order to win a Championship, a team needs three requirements:

• A dominant player that can take control during any part of any game.
• An outstanding defense-oriented roster.
• Experience in the playoffs.

The Lakers clearly fulfill these necessities.

We start with the first one: 

A dominant player that can take control during any part of any game.

Two words for ya, Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most dominate, clutch, all-around, defensive, and experienced players in the game today (if not the best).

Bryant is clearly the go-to guy when his team is in need of regaining the lead from any deficit in any game. He has nerves of steel and seems to never choke under pressure, providing the supreme confidence that is not found in every NBA player.

Bryant has made an endless amount of buzzer-beaters throughout his career, whether ending a simple regular-season game or an intense playoff game.

He easily qualifies as the dominant player that every team needs in order to win a championship.

Moving on...

An outstanding defensive oriented roster

The Los Angeles Lakers are a dynamic defensive team.  They are stocked with some of the most powerful shot blockers and rebounders in the league like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom. They also are very well-equipped in the steals category, as players like Kobe Bryant, Trevor Ariza, Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmar are extremely gifted at prying the ball away from opponents.

Just take a look at the defensive numbers of the Lakers' top performers:

Pau Gasol (PF/C): A career-high 3.2 OFF RPG with a total of 9.4 RPG and 1.0 BPG.

Lamar Odom (PF): 8.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG.

Kobe Bryant (SG): 5.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG.

Andrew Bynum (C): 8.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG.

Trevor Ariza (SF): 4.4 RPG, career-high 1.7 SPG.

Derek Fisher (PG): 2.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG.

Jordan Farmar (PG): 1.9 RPG, 1.0 SPG.

In addition, the Lakers currently rank...

First in the NBA in total rebounds per game at home with 44.28 per game.

Seventh in the NBA in total blocks per game at home with 5.39 per game.

Second in the NBA in total steals per game at home with 8.60 per game.

They have the best winning percentage (67.6) in the NBA when opponents score 100-plus points in a game with a record of 23-11. Basically, even when the Lakers slack on defense they still manage to win games due to their outstanding offense.

In terms of offense, The Lakers rank...

Second in the NBA in total assists per game at home with 23.40.

Second in the league in total points per game at home with 108.24.

Third in the NBA in FG percentage, shooting 47.7 percent at home.

Last but not least...

Experience in the playoffs

Let’s face it, experience wins games. When players age and get more accustomed to the ways of the playoffs, they react in a different manner as opposed to those that have not yet experienced the postseason. These experienced players are calm, cool, and collected come playoff time—and know how to react under pressure.

It is key for a team to have experienced players during the playoffs because they are what I like to call the “been there done that” type of players. They know what they have to do in order to win and help teammates who are not so sure of themselves. These players learn (from experience) to thrive under pressure and are the ones who succeed amongst all others.

The Lakers roster is built with experienced players and will be the team that is virtually unstoppable to beat come playoff time.

Here are career playoff numbers for the Lakers' primary rotation:

Derek Fisher (PG): 154 games, 8.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG.

Kobe Bryant (SG): 152 games, 24.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.4 SPG.

Luke Walton (SF): 50 games, 5.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.8 APG.

Lamar Odom (PF): 46 games, 16.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 BPG.

Pau Gasol (PF/C): 33 games, 18.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.8 BPG.

Sasha Vujacic (SG): 32 games, 7.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.8 APG.

Jordan Farmar (PG): 26 games, 5.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 APG.

There you have it. Check out my old prediction earlier this season and be sure to comment on this one with your opinion. I am ready to battle out anybody who doubts the Lakers will win the Finals this season!