Lakers: Do They Have What It Takes To Repeat As NBA Champs In 2010-11?

In most peoples minds, the Lakers seem to be a lock to repeat as Western Conference Champions and return to the Finals this season.  This does is fact seem like a reasonable assessment since they have earned that respect by winning the Championship the past two season.

But, maybe it isn't something we should just take for granted?  Other teams have made changes during the off season, so it is a good time to examine the Lakers chances of getting to throw another parade for themselves next June.

First, let's take a look at the competition.  

Phoenix, the team that pushed the Lakers in a good Western Conference Finals last summer, is now probably a fringe playoff team with the loss of Amare Stoudemire.  They still have a chance to be good, but with Steve Nash getting older and a roster full of (good) role players, it's not likely that the Suns will challenge the Lakers again anytime soon.

Dallas and San Antonio are two good teams with a lot of veteran talent and playoff experience. However, in San Antonio's case, it appears that injuries and age won't allow them to seriously compete with the Lakers for a few years at least.  Dallas also has a lot of players who, while still good, are past their primes, and Dirk Nowitzki can't do it all.

The Jazz and the Nuggets are two teams that could go both ways this season.  Utah has a talented group of players, but that comes after losing three of their top six in free agency, along with an injury to center Mehmet Okur that will keep him sidelined to begin the season.  Denver may struggle with distractions caused by Carmelo Anthony's impending free agency, front-court injuries, and coach George Karl's battle with cancer that kept him away from the team during the post-season.

Two teams, the Thunder and the Blazers, have a lot of young talent, as well as some playoff experience. Both are led are by star players in Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy, respectively, and both have a chance to do something special this season.  Their success will largely be determined by the health of certain players and the continued development of others.

Houston also has a chance to be very good this year, both offensively and on the defensive end.  The healthy return of Yao Ming is very important, but if he comes back strong, they will be in the top four in the West.

The one advantage that the Lakers continue to have over all of those teams is size, though the off-and-on absence of Andrew Bynum tends to lessen that advantage at various points throughout the season. The Mavs are deep at the center position, with Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler, but not as skilled.  

The Blazers have the potential to compete with the Lakers down low, but only if healthy, with a quartet of Greg Oden, Joel Pryzbilla, Marcus Camby, and LaMarcus Aldridge.  The Nuggets are another team that is big and skilled when healthy, but that doesn't look very probably for the upcoming season.

So, aside from a probable size advantage, the Lakers do have a few other factors that work in their favor.  The return of Phil Jackson, potentially the greatest coach ever at the NBA level, is one.  The continued presence of Kobe Bryant is another.  Off season acquisitions Steve Blake and Matt Barnes will also provide greater depth, which is never a bad thing.

No other team in the west has taken any big steps forward since last season.  In fact, several contenders seem poised to take a step back this season.  Player health and unexpected player development can always change things, but right not it still feels like the Lakers and then the rest.

I am not a Lakers fan, but ultimately, it looks as though no other team has done enough to seriously challenge them for the no. 1 seed in the Western Conference this coming season.  It won't last forever, but maybe for the next one or two seasons, Kobe and Pau and Phil will keep the Lakers on top, as regular season Western Conference Champs.

If they reach the finals, the Lakers are likely to square off with either the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat, or the Boston Celtics.  Of those three, only the Heat seem to have the necessary talent to dethrone the defending champs.  Boston's aging stars are a year older, and the Magic don't have the necessary play makers to keep up with Kobe Bryant.

So, the end question is, do the Heat have what it takes to beat the Lakers?  I don't believe so.  Team unity and chemistry may be the deciding factors in this series.  

LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are both great competitors, and will succeed in the playoffs, but the rest of the team is relatively untested in those kinds of situations.  Talent alone should carry them to the finals, but the experience of this Lakers team should carry them to the title.  Most of the players on that roster know how to win a championship, and aren't afraid to shine on that stage.  That will prove to be the difference.