The laughable complacency of many LAL fans that the LAL are automatically superior to all the contenders West (especially) or East is unfounded. Lakers have survived some tough series such as the one with the Thunder where Pao Gasol had a heady putback or Fisher or Artest hitting shots and right now all three of those are struggling.
Lakers have primed themselves for three opponents this year - Boston, Spurs and Celtics and left each game with their asses handed to them and a lot of excuses - the excuses have to stop soon even your GM/former part owner and your coach are already talking trades!
The Lakers are still very talented and deep 1-7 (if you include Barnes or perhaps Shannon Brown) but then they absolutely stink after that and unless Artest improves and Fisher - 2 of those 7 are slow and slipping and Gasol is in a serious funk and Bynum is injury prone. Odom has been extremely good in the past two seasons in the playoffs but can you really rely on him?
Without home court they will not get the favorable calls that all but LAL fans believe the LAL fans get time and time again, or at least as frequently.
Lakers also lack speed, and more importantly, cohesion; and if Kobe tries to win too many games by himself in a series if LAL falls behind - it could get ugly real fast.
More and more analysts including Rosen today see the Spurs as a real threat (has Spurs at better odds than the LAL - see thread on Spurs page) and as Stein said this week 6/7 teams with 40 wins by game 47 won the NBA championship. (see ESPN.com NBA stein rankings) Meanwhile, the Mavs IMO still cannot be counted out and a team like the Hornets or Thunder will play their hearts out if they even sense blood against the complacent LAL.
Rest on your past laurels and your complacency as unless the LAL get going soon with their tougher (finally) schedule they may finish a dissapointing reg season in the mid 50s and could conceivably open their first playoff series on the road and be passed in the standings by the Mavs/Thunder/and NOH.
Then although LAL could certainly still win it - it would not be an easy road at all.
Yet time and time again the LOL complacent and over-confident (some but not all - some are realistic to be fair) Lakers fans just seem so in line with the thought that this team can definetely turn it on when they want to and will in the playoffs! Are you sure? Are not your GM, coach, and Magic seemingly panicking????
By every measure Spurs led by their big three core with 10 championships between them are playing as well as the LAL after facing a more brutal schedule:
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings
Spurs 1 - Lakers right behind them after benefit from a cupcake schedule
Offense: LAL and Spurs tied right now in 2nd spot offensively:
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats
Spurs slightly ahead of Lakers defensively in 7th and 8th:
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/tea...ff/order/false
Most imporantly Spurs resting stars in minutes a game while Jackson due to LAL's lack of depth (especially in their vaunted front line) only limiting minutes of Kobe and the injury prone Bynum.
Any honest opinion would put the Spurs and the LAL on a collision course and right now Spurs fans can rightfully be very confident in their team's legit chance to come out of the West. Sure be confident in the LAL they have earned respect and Pop and the deeper and more cohesive Spurs will not trash the champion Lakers yet; but mark my words THEY ARE NOT AFRAID A BIT OF THE LAL.
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