How amazing was the Lakers' regular season? To put it in perspective, their best defensive player (Andrew Bynum) and their second-best perimeter defender (Trevor Ariza) missed a whopping 91 games combined while former starter Chris Mihm was out another 43 games as was starting center Pau Gasol for 10 more in March. All this adversity and the Lakers still managed to gain the top seed in the conference, further justifying why the great Kobe Bryant should win MVP honors every season.

It didn't take long, but the Young Guns in purple-and-gold sure shoved a few basketballs right down all the haters' throats (sorry, but I had to get that off my chest).

A season filled with the type of drama topped only by your typical TV soap opera, the Los Angeles Lakers showed the rest of their competitors what commitment to excellence really means to an organization. This team, led by the incomparable Bryant, has grown up. They've endured the journey thus far, slowly and confidently adopting the qualities and skill sets needed to become a championship dynasty while picking apart the rest of the league at the same time.

With a remarkable combination of size, athleticism, depth, fundamental play, and Zen-inspired moxie, the Lakers have become arguably the most balanced team in the NBA next to the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. L.A. went from 42-40 and seventh place in the West a year ago to 57-25 and first place this year, a 15-game improvement which in most seasons would be enough for Coach Phil Jackson to capture the elusive Coach of the Year honors. Once again, the Zenmaster won't win the annual award. But how do you explain a coach who possesses nine NBA titles and only wins Coach of the Year once in his career? Nevertheless, it doesn't matter to P.J. because we all know he has much bigger fish to fry.

There were numerous contributing factors to the Lakers' successful turnaround this season. Of course, the mid-year acquisition of Gasol catapulted the Lakers to elite status, but keep in mind that L.A. was just as strong and talented with Bynum at the center position before he went down in January to injury. At the time, Bynum was leading the league in FG% and was averaging 17 ppg, 12 rpg, and almost 3 bpg during a three-week span in which the Lakers began to peak and find their identity. The team really started to show how great they were long before Pau came to town.

Meanwhile, the much maligned Lamar Odom found his identity and began to flourish as the number-three option. L.O. was an automatic double-double every night, and he finally figured out how to play with Kobe - he cut to the basket more often, shot less three-pointers, and drove the lane with regularity (a la Scottie Pippen) to take advantage of all his length.

For those who haven't noticed yet, Lamar's extension is an absolute thing of beauty. The thought of Odom in the spotlight makes Lakers fans cringe and gasp for air, but  when he's behind the scenes and flying under the radar, he plays like an All-Star. And it has made the Lakers great. Just ask Charles Barkley.

But there's more work to be done, for the final mission still hasn't been accomplished. The Lakers cannot take solace in the fact that they have home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. After all, they haven't been that dominant at home. The Lakers are actually a better and more efficient team on the road.

As Gasol said, "This is when the fun starts," making reference to the upcoming postseason. This we know for sure: the road to the NBA Finals in the West goes through L.A., not S.A.

And finally... a quick summary on the Lakers' key rotation players in order to break down what once was and why they are where they're at now:

Bynum

Before:  Everyone, including their grandmother, wanted to trade him for Jason Kidd. Kobe trashed him publicly. Mitch "Cupcake" Kupchak stood pat and maintained the faith like most true Lakers fans.

After:  An extensive off-season workout regimen transformed him into a top-five center, and all of a sudden he's Bryant's favorite teammate on the floor. He looks like an All-Star, plays like an All-Star, and will be a perennial All-Star. Suddenly, Cupcake just might win Executive of the Year.

Odom

Before:  Everyone said he was overpaid, soft, lacked consistency, and played with no energy or passion. Nonetheless, he stepped it up in postseason play but was never a constant threat as Kobe's Pippen.

After:  Bar none, the best third or fourth option in the NBA. Defender deluxe and rebounding machine who's a triple-double waiting to happen. Surprisingly consistent, he is now playing like an All-Star, he's a mismatch for every opposing team, and he has turned into Kobe's Dennis Rodman for the all-around defensive effort he brings to every contest.

Gasol

Before:  Memphis Grizzlies, 0-12 in the playoffs, singin' the blues.

After: Los Angeles Lakers, first place in the West, singin' "I love L.A."

Derek Fisher

Before:  Leading Utah to the Western Conference Finals as the stabilizing force in the locker room, then took a pay cut.

After:  Leading L.A. to the top of the most competitive playoff race in history as the stabilizing force in the locker room. Priceless.

Sasha Vujacic

Before:  Tentative shooter with little confidence, little minutes, and was afraid to make mistakes on the floor for fear of being benched by Coach Jackson. Called the "11 o'clock player", his little hair made him look like a little boy in a big man's world.

After:  Among the top 10 most accurate three-point shooters in the league who is also a pest on defense. He gets under the skin of opposing guards, and he is now playing big minutes. Went through NBA's version of puberty and can no longer stop his hairdo from growing, just like his game.

Jordan Farmar

Before:  Young rookie was prematurely thrusted into the starting lineup during last season's playoffs. He struggled offensively and defensively, his jumpshot was highly inaccurate, and at times was almost as lost as Smush Parker out on the floor.

After:  Returned in the best shape of his career after strict off-season training regimen and yoga program in Tahiti. Outside shooting improved dramatically, but most importantly became a consistent floor leader, spearheading the Bench Mob attack into one of the best  second units in the NBA. Fans love Jordan so much they booed Smush Parker every time Parker touched the ball during his first game against his former team. The fans' message? If Smush had never been in Farmar's way in the first place, Jordan would have gotten his turn much sooner in his development.

Ronny Turiaf

Before:  Huge heart, constant energy, constant effort, not enough experience.

After:  Huge heart, constant energy, constant effort, more experience leading to a better jumpshot and better understanding of his role on the team. All of a sudden, he's tagging along with Kobe on commercial shoots.

Vladimir Radmanovic

Before:  Overpaid, snowboarding "space cadet" who was so lost in the triangle offense it made fans wonder why the Lakers ever signed a Clipper. They started to call him "Vlade", doing a major disservice to former Lakers semi-legend Vlade Divac. Somewhere in Yugoslavia, Divac kept reiterating, "There's only one Vlade."

After:  Injury-free and no longer snowboarding on company time, he actually found a way to crack the starting lineup. Once again an outside shooting threat, reputation has been upgraded from "space cadet" to "astronaut farmer", suggesting he may be on his way back down to earth. Nickname adjusted to "Vladdy", making Divac proud. 

Luke Walton

Before:  Regular starter, who averaged career highs in points, rebounds, and assists in 2006-'07 but was still a step behind the competition.

After:  Regular Bench Mobster, who averaged career lows in every statistical category but still knows the system better than most of his teammates. Scrappy player is perhaps the most well-rounded 10th man among the playoff teams, and he has finally made up his mind to post up smaller defenders in order to take advantage of game situations. New nickname is "Spanky", because there isn't a game in which he doesn't get his shot blocked at least once.

Kobe

Before:  Problem child. Need I say more?

After:  MVP. 'Nuff said.

Let the fun-and-games begin. It's showtime all over again in the City of Angels, where winnin' time happens.