What to Expect from the Los Angeles Lakers This Season

The shortened 2011-12 NBA season tips off in just three days, and there has been a lot of hype going into this season. The Miami Heat have a whole year under their belt and are ready to get a ring. The Dallas Mavericks are out to repeat after adding Vince Carter and Lamar Odom. The Clippers are instant contenders with Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups.

With all the positive talk going around the league, the Lakers haven't gotten any of it. Nothing but regret, dissatisfaction and hurt players in Laker Land.

I'm here to say that it won't be all that bad. Are the Lakers still the best team in the League? No. Are they the best in the West? Probably not. Should they be forgotten about? No. Not by a long shot.

After a rumor-filled offseason and short training camp the team is complete (for now), here are some predictions for what is in store for Laker fans.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum Will Carry This Team

Kobe Bryant is no longer trapped in an offense that required more passing and ball movement than attacking the basket. Andrew Bynum wants a bigger role.

They now have a coach that could quite possibly make both men happier than ever.

Kobe is going to be Kobe this year. He'll be in an offense that will allow him to get the ball in his hot spots (block, free-throw line elbows), and he will get the shots he wants. Age will not appear to be much of a factor in the shortened season. Look for Kobe to average upwards of 27.8 points a game this season on 50 percent shooting.

Bynum showed in last night's game against the Clippers that he can put the ball in the net when he is aggressive and when he gets the touches. He is a force to be reckoned with and is the best center in the Western Conference when he is healthy. Look for him to be very healthy after a long off season of resting his body.

He may finally surpass Gasol as the No. 2 option, as he averages 11 rebounds and 18 points a game and earns his first selection as a starter in the All-Star Game.

What's Wrong with Pau Gasol?

Last year's playoffs were not a fluke for Pau Gasol. Now, with that said, do not freak out Laker fans.

Gasol will have a nice season. He will not struggle as bad as he did in the playoffs last year.

This slide means one thing: GASOL IS TRADEABLE.

Thirteen points and seven rebounds in the playoffs last year will not be his numbers this year, but they will be close. Look for him to average around 15 points per game and around seven to eight rebounds, but it won't be as bad as it looks. Don't expect Pau to get as many shots as he has in the past as Andrew Bynum develops into the Paint Monster. Look for Pau's assists to be quite higher this year.

His production on the court and the improvement of Bynum will force management to look at trades for Gasol and not Bynum.

Disappointment of the Year: Steve Blake

Steve Blake is a great player, and I hope that I am wrong about this one, and watching last night's 20 point performance against the Clippers in the preseason finale may prove that I am wrong, but if there is one player to struggle this year, look for it to be Steve Blake.

He struggled last year in his first season with the Lakers, and I don't expect that to change much. There has been nothing but point guard talk around Laker camp for the last couple years. Steve Blake signed with LA, and that talk didn't die down. They need to improve at this position.

While Fisher has proven himself with the fans, Blake hasn't. If they get a star-caliber point guard, Fisher will come off the bench, and Blake will be...gone? Blake has a lot to prove, but won't meet expectations. He will shoot better than last year, but he will get abused on the defense end of the floor. That will drop his confidence and his shooting percentage.

Surprise of the Year: Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy

This is a tie by two new signees. Josh McRoberts stolen from the Indiana Pacers (yes, stolen, because he is a steal to get), and Troy Murphy, who has coasted...somewhere around the league since he left the Indiana Pacers a couple years ago.

Here's why:

Mike Brown is a defensive-minded coach and more free on offense than the Triangle was. Brown's defense will force turnovers, and the Lakers will get out and run more than they have in the past few years. Now, don't expect this to be a 2-on-1 fastbreak like the Suns or the Heat, but expect them to have the numbers.

Murphy is the best in the league at trailing a fast break and pulling up for threes, and for some reason, he is always open and hits it more times than not.

Josh runs the floor as well as any big and can finish at the rim. He will streak down the lane and guys will look for him.

But the biggest reason: no Lamar Odom.

This gives room for Troy to back up Pau Gasol and Josh to back up Andrew Bynum. Josh is undersized at center, so he will play power forward as well, but either way, look for these guys to have a great season. Not huge numbers, but look for their plus-minus to be great.

What Will Happen

Ron Ar...Metta World Peace will be waived by the Lakers by the end of the season thanks to the new amnesty clause in the new CBA.

The Lakers have four, possibly five, small forwards on the team: Barnes, Ebanks, Walton, Kapono and Peace.

He has been given the sixth man role to replace Lamar Odom, and a part of me thinks that he will do amazing things in this role just like Lamar did. He could very well be Sixth Man of the Year, but seeing his production the last couple years, I don't see it happening.

Mike Brown will give Barnes and Ebanks plenty of opportunities to play, and when he sees the production he is getting out of them, they will let Artest walk to sign with another team to erase the memory that they should have stuck with Trevor Ariza three years ago.

Superman Doesn't Return

Dwight Howard will not be a Laker by the end of the trading deadline. The Lakers had their chance, but when they got rid of Odom for nothing, the lost all their chance. The only way to get him is to give up Bynum, Pau and some other parts. They would lose all of their size and have to take back Hedo's enormous contract.

Mitch won't want to do that when all the dust clears.

It's too much to risk. The Lakers won because of their length. As good as D12 is, he is just one guy, who isn't even seven feet (although he jumps over guys that are). Even Dwight might not be able to replace Odom, Gasol and Howard.

Howard will be a member of the Magic all season until they work out a sign-and-trade with another team at the end of the season.

The Big Finish

With all the distractions going on in Los Angeles this season, look for the Lakers to have another strong showing.

Of course, as it seems every year, they will have their slip-ups against some of the worst teams in the league (last year's Cavs game), but will go toe-to-toe with the best competition in the league.

The Clippers will skyrocket this year with their new-look roster and leave the Lakers finishing in second place in the Pacific Division.

They will finish in fourth place and have home court for the playoffs. They will finish behind the Thunder, Mavericks and Clippers.

But it will all come together for playoff time. Everyone on this team will be healthy, and they will find a strong bond with each other and play inspired ball.

They will finish the 66-game season at 41-25, fourth place in the West.

They will meet the Miami Heat in the NBA Championship, but most likely lose in six games.