Tonight marks the start of the 2008-2009 N.B.A regular season. The last time that I blogged about the Lakers earlier this spring I was predicting that they would win the N.B.A Championship unfortunately; they were out played in the finals by the Boston Celtics and lost the final series four games to two much my disappointment but very satisfying to all of my friends who are Celtics fans. That was last year and now it is times to put that loss behind and go forward to the new season of hope.
What will the 2008-2009 season bring to the Lakers? Well if everything goes as planned and barring some unforeseen major injuries, the Lakers should be the team hoisting up a Championship banner at this time next year.
My main reason for being so optimistic about the Lakers this season is due in large part to the return of center Andrew Bynum. He missed most of the second half-last season and all of the playoffs with a badly torn ankle injury. Despite his loss, the Lakers were still able to win the Western division largely to the trade for Pau Gasol after the Bynum injury. Although Gasol filled in admiralty at the Center position during Bynum absence his smaller frame and his style of play is more suit to play the power forward a position he will be able to play this year with the return of the big powerful center. The Celtics used the muscle of their centers to Knock Gasol of his game in the finals but they will have a harder time controlling him if he is able to play more outside and let the inside work to the bigger boys. The lakes also return the regain league M.V.P in Kobe Bryant who is hungry for a championship to go along with the gold Medal he won this summer as part of the U.S men's basketball team. Point guard Derek Fisher runs coach Phil Jacksons triangle offence, he will be back up by Up and coming star Jordan Farmar. Vladimir Radmanovich might join the starting five to give the team a little more size up front for now Lamar Odem is going start and Radmanovich will be the coming off a very deep Lakers bench that includes sharp 3- point shooting guard Sasha Vujacic and the smart play of Luke Walton and the for mentioned Jordan Farmar.
Even though the Western conference is loaded with talented teams like the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets and the Phoenix Suns the Lakers are clearly the best team and should make it back to the finals and a rematch with the Boston Celtics with a different result. The Lakers will win four games to three to claim the title of N.B.A champions.
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