Sports Equipment

The Los Angeles Lakers made a statement last season. In the face of so many naysayers, Kobe Bryant proved that this team had what it takes to win a championship. Many fans and experts doubted Kobe Bryant once the Lakers lost Shaq.

The Lakers were one of the few teams in the NBA that showed what they did in regular season didn’t matter. The Lakers weren’t playing for more then 60 wins, having home court advantage or just a finals appearance, their whole season was based on winning the championship.

It should also be noted that the only significant player the Lakers have lost is Trevor Ariza. While Ariza was a valuable role player in Los Angeles, he’s not one of the team’s stars, so all indicators would point to the notion that they should be okay without him.

More importantly, the Lakers have made a big acquisition during the off season and this has led many to believe that the team will dominate the league flat out during the 2009-2010 NBA basketball season.

Andrew Bynum needs to have a break out year this season because he has contributed little in his career thus far. Bynum has improved his scoring average every year he has been in the league but can’t stay healthy. Bynum is a good talent; he has size and has shown signs of having the potential to be a great big man.

The only issues with Ron Artest is problems he may face off the court, but I believe those days are pretty much behind him as he’s learned his lesson.

Still, other teams in the league have steadily improved over the past few years, and some like Orlando, Cleveland, San Antonio, and Boston have all made worthy acquisitions too.

Having said that, I’d peg the Lakers as the favorite but wouldn’t expect them to dominate. It’s definitely up for grabs, but Artest makes this powerhouse even stronger. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with Kobe.

For more on the Lakers, check out the Los Angeles Lakers forum at RootZoo Sports. Enjoy their NBA pick ‘em game and more, all for free.