As the Playoffs Approach, the Lakers Emerge as Heavy Favorites

The Los Angeles Lakers came into the 2010-2011 as two-time defending champions, and they were looking to become the first team to three-peat since the early 2000s. The Lakers began the season winning games and they were playing as a cohesive unit. The team chemistry was incredible, and they were looking like title favorites despite the absence of Andrew Bynum. Although a myriad of other teams improved their rosters in the off-season, the Lakers made small changes to their squad and while keeping their nucleus intact.

Despite the hype surrounding the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, the Lakers were playing like the best team and they were well on their way to a 60+ win season. However, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were beginning to feel fatigued after playing extended minutes due to Bynum’s injury. As the season progressed the Lakers began to play lackadaisically and it seemed as though they were not interested during regular season games.

While some teams get anxious and amped up to play an upper echelon team, the Lakers were not entirely focused and did not seem to care when playing in a marquee game. Heading into the All-Star break, the Lakers lost three straight games and they were struggling to keep hold of the second seed in the West.

However, the weekend break helped the Lakers regroup and reestablish their season goals; once the All-Star break concluded in Los Angeles, the Lakers caught fire and raised their effort to another gear. The Lakers are currently 16-2 since the All-Star break and their seemingly impossible chance of claiming the top seed in the West is very plausible at this point.

The 2011 Playoffs are just around the corner, and the Lakers are beginning to look like the heavy favorite, not only in the Western Conference, but also in the entire league.

Next: Why the Mavericks are no match for the Lakers

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The Dallas Mavericks are always one of the best teams in the Western Conference record wise, and they are usually competing for a top seed. The Mavs and the Lakers are perennial playoffs, and neither team has any pity for the other. The Mavs want to beat-down the Lakers, while the Lakers want to do the same to the Mavs. But if history has any indication, the Lakers should not face any problems against the Mavs.

The Mavericks are a very unique NBA team, they always win 50 games, but they cannot find any success in the post-season. The Mavs challenge the Lakers whenever they play, but they have yet to overcome the Lakers in April or May. The Mavericks can enjoy their prosperity, but their fame will be ephemeral. Once the NBA’s field is reduced to 16 teams, the Mavericks will no longer be a dangerous team. For the past several seasons, the Mavs have proven to be a dynamic regular season team, but not a successful playoff team.

The Dallas Mavericks are currently 2.5 games behind the Lakers for the second seed in the Western Conference, and their match-up last Thursday was crucial in deciding who captures the position. Nevertheless, the Lakers should not worry about the Mavericks in the playoffs. Second seed or not, Los Angeles should have no problem beating Mark Cuban and his inconsistent team.

Next: Experience Trumps Youth

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The Oklahoma City Thunder shocked the world last season when they did not back down from the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder were not afraid to play the Lakers, and troubled Los Angeles with their speed and athletic players. Unlike many teams in the NBA, the Thunder play an up-tempo style and their young players are committed to the defensive end of the court.

The Lakers had trouble guarding the Thunder last season in the playoffs, and they were taken to six games before finally putting away Kevin Durant and his team. The Thunder’s crowd was an extraordinary unit, and the Lakers had to play three games in that hostile environment. Luckily, the Lakers’ veteran leadership and playoff experience aided them in overcoming the vicious crowd and knocking off the Thunder.

This season, the Thunder have emerged as one of the best teams in the Western Conference, and they are looking like a serious impediment in the Lakers’ quest for another title. This season, the Lakers are 2-0 against the Thunder and have a five game cushion for the second seed in the West.

The Thunder will cause the Lakers a lot of problems in the playoffs since their offensive system is something the Lakers have had trouble containing. However, the Thunder are still incapable of beating the Lakers in the playoffs and their players are not as experienced in the post-season. The Lakers have made deep playoff runs the past three seasons, and their entire roster has the ability to make clutch shots in late game situations. Unlike the NCAA tournament where one game can be decided with a fortuitous bounce off the rim, the NBA playoffs are dominated by veteran teams that know what it takes to win a playoff series.

Next: The Aging Spurs Cannot Knock off the Lakers

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The San Antonio Spurs have held the top seed in the Western Conference for the majority of the season, and it seemed as though they would challenge the Lakers for the crown. The Spurs have been an upper echelon team for nearly a decade and they have been the Lakers biggest threat year in and year out. However, no one expected the old Spurs to emerge as one of the best teams in league since their “Big 3” was nearing retirement.

The Spurs were a major disappointment last season, as they were trying to integrate several new players into their system. However, this season the Spurs and Gregg Popovich have decided to abandon their long-lasting style of play, and instead have adopted a more offensive oriented scheme. In addition to their new found offense, the Spurs are relying less on Tim Duncan and they are trying to preserve their hall-of-famer’s energy and endurance.

San Antonio came out of the gates on fire, and they were knocking off the league’s best teams with little turbulence or problems. In their first meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers the Spurs pleased their home-crowd by beating their rivals 97-82. As the season went on the Spurs maintained a healthy roster, and they were looking forward to a strong playoff run. With the Lakers looking complacent and struggling in certain stretches of the season, it seemed as though the Spurs would win the West in 2011.

However, unlike the Spurs who had a healthy team and were playing their best basketball, the Lakers had yet to play with a completely fresh roster and they were still not living up to their full potential. Once the Lakers began to realize what was at stake, they cranked up their focus and intensity. The Spurs once had a double-digit advantage on the Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference; however, that cushion has dwindled down to a mere 2.5 game lead.

The Lakers are playing like a championship team and it goes to show that this team, when focused, is the most dangerous squad in the league. To further exemplify their unprecedented amount of talent and potential, the Lakers dominated the Spurs in a nationally televised game in San Antonio, 99-83 in a game in which they led by 27 points at half-time.

It is clear that the Lakers are devoted to both ends of the court and if they are fully focused on their goal, another championship is inevitable.

Lakers Rout Spurs in San Antonio

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-zZdcmSN1Y

 

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