L.A. Lakers: 7 Reasons Why They're Now the NBA's Most Dangerous Team
The Los Angeles Lakers are red hot at the moment. With a 12-1 record since the All-Star break, the purple and gold are playing their best basketball of the season.
Kobe Bryant isn't playing his best on offense, but the team keeps winning. Even with the San Antonio Spurs 6.5 games ahead of them, the Lakers can be considered the best team in the NBA right now.
Phil Jackson's team is healthy (aside from Kobe's minor ankle injury) and Andrew Bynum is playing at a very high level.
Why else are the Lakers the most dangerous team in the NBA right now? Let's take a look...
They've Beaten Worthy Opponents After the All-Star Break
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Since the break, the Lakers have beaten the Spurs, Mavericks, Thunder and Magic. Even with the loss to the Heat, Los Angeles has been impressive to say the least.
The Spurs and Mavericks are both among the best three teams in the Western Conference, but the Lakers beat each of them by double-digit margins.
Phil Jackson has repeatedly said that the regular season doesn't matter very much to him, but there's not even a month of regular season basketball left. These games matter for playoff mentality, and LA is coming up big at the moment.
Kobe Bryant Doesn't Have To Play His Best
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Regardless of how poorly Bryant has shot in recent weeks, Los Angeles keeps winning.
Bryant has shot 42 percent from the floor since the All-Star break, breaking 50 percent only once in 13 games. However, he made a key late-game shot against Portland on Sunday night and continues to be clutch.
Teammates like Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown have stepped up this season, taking some pressure off Bryant in terms of his offensive role.
The Lakers are spreading the wealth at the moment, even though Bryant continues to take at least 20 shots every night.
Lamar Odom Has Played Great
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With 32 minutes per night, Odom's statistics are through the roof. At 14.3 points per game and 8.7 rebounds, he should be given the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Odom's player efficiency rating is 19.86 and he's shooting 54 percent from the floor. "The Candyman" has been the biggest surprise for the Lakers this season and may be the biggest key to the team's success.
No other Western Conference power has a bench player as solid as Odom, who's playing his best basketball since the 2007-2008 season.
Phil Jackson's Recent Chatter
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Coach Jackson knows exactly what he's doing when communicating with the media.
He's dissed the Miami Heat several times and he's never short of breath when he's upset with his own team.
Jackson knows this might be his last season as the Lakers coach, but he'd love nothing more than to get his fourth three-peat and win a 12th championship.
He continues to have confidence in his team because he knows the Lakers come alive in the playoffs. Los Angeles has the greatest coach in NBA history on the bench and he's the motor that keeps the team running.
Andrew Bynum Is Healthy
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Bynum being healthy is the most important piece to the Lakers' recent success.
He provides Los Angeles with two seven-footers in the frontcourt and he's playing the best basketball of his career. He's averaging 1.9 blocks per game and has been very efficient on offense, shooting 57 percent from the floor.
Even though Los Angeles beat Portland without him on Sunday, Bynum exudes a competitive fire when he's on the floor. He's opened the door for Lamar Odom to come off the bench and thrive, instead of having to guard larger power forwards in a starting role.
The Lakers' patience with Bynum is finally paying off.
Matt Barnes Is Finally Back
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In relief of Ron Artest's horrid season, Matt Barnes is healthy again for the Lakers.
Barnes is also a stingy defender who might be a little bit better than Artest on offense. He gives the Lakers more depth and an extra defender who can even give Kobe Bryant some more rest down the stretch.
Barnes is the third option off the bench, but he provides the hard-nosed defense that Phil Jackson likes to see.
Kobe Bryant Wants Ring No. 6
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Since the Lakers only have 12 regular season games left, the playoff feel is beginning to hit Kobe Bryant now.
Bryant is the most successful active player in the NBA, but he won't be satisfied until he at least ties Michael Jordan with a sixth championship.
He has been showing great emotion late in games, as was the case Sunday night against Portland.
Even though he has not shot well recently, Bryant knows how to win. This Lakers team is nearly the same as last season, so Bryant has the ultimate trust from Phil Jackson and his teammates.
