Can Anyone Derail The Laker Express?

The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers
have regained the championship swagger which is scary for the rest of
the league. Since The All-Star break there has not been a hotter team
than The Lakers. Since the break The Lakers have only tasted defeat once
and that was to a desperate Miami Heat team.

Since a shocking February loss to The Cleveland Cavaliers,
The Lakers have only allowed two opponents to top the century mark in
scoring (Portland and Phoenix). As much as The Lakers rely on superstar Kobe Bryant
to carry the team, just like any Hollywood cast the star is only as
good as his supporting cast. Bryant’s teammates have turned it up a
notch. Forward Ron Artest
has ditched his post game cologne ads in favor of staunch defense.
Artest’s defensive play will be key as he will be asked to guard the
likes of Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy in the postseason. Artest has also been scoring on the fast break
along with reserve guard Shannon Brown. The Lakers have turned it up
and are now going to being the hunter instead of the hunted. Everyone
wants a piece of the champs and The Lakers have been up to the task.
Only The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat have defeated them multiple times this season.

The Lakers have the luxury of putting three 7-footers on the floor at the same time and they all have different skill sets. Pau Gasol is a great perimeter shooter, while Lamar Odom can handle and dish the ball like a point guard while Andrew Bynum gives them a post presence. For what it’s worth it still comes down to #24.

Bryant is the engine to The Lakers Porsche
and as the sports car looks good on a Sunday drive to Venice. Bryant
has already helped to put five banners at Staples Center and he is
driven for a sixth. A sixth title would help him surpass Magic Johnson‘s five and tie his childhood idol Michael Jordan
with six. Bryant has perfected MJ’s fadeaway baseline jumper as well as
his work ethic. Some reporters made a big deal of Bryant’s recent
actions after a loss to Miami.
Bryant returned to the court after the game to work on his jump shot.
All Bryant was doing was getting the kinks out. A carpenter is only as
good as his skilled hands and a basketball player is only as great as his desire to be great.