""He's absolutely fine, he's going to come in as a beast," agent David Lee said. "He's got no atrophy anywhere. The kid's in great shape."

I don't believe we've heard anything like that come out of the Blazers' camp with regards to Greg Oden's questionable and unproven status.

Prepare yourselves Laker Haters, skeptics, critics, cynics, disbelievers, detractors, and Oden Lovers. The invasion is coming. And his name is Andrew Bynum.

Last year, you caught a glimpse. A tease. A sneak preview of what's coming to an HDTV near you. Even KOBE himself tried hard not to get too excited but wound up slipping, "With Andrew, we're a championship team."

Yes, we all know there is Dwight Howard and his ability to jump over buildings and Yao Ming and his 7 foot 5 inch stature. But trust me folks, The Big Drewski is the real deal. He'll be better than both of these centers in exactly.... one year.

He's being trained by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was trained by the legendary Bruce Lee, which pretty much guarantees Bynum will not only have the balance, discipline, footwork, and the strength, but also a good head on his shoulders. In the month of January 2008, he dominated the NBA averaging just under 18 points per game, about 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks playing less than 30 minutes, all this while playing with a guy by the name of KOBE, who accounts for over 50% of the team's offensive production. Not to mention the fact that Bynum was leading the league in FG percentage before he got injured!! 

Producing 28 points on .847% shooting, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocking a couple of shots, he singlehandedly crushed Amare Stoudemire and archrival Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day, making Coach Mike D'Antoni realize that his glory days in Phoenix were all but over and that's why he left his team for New York and got out of the conference altogether. That in itself should tell you what's coming.

Never mind the injury. His agent and his doctors just went out and said he's good to go. I kept saying during the playoffs that the Lakers should bring Bynum back and now I'm glad they didn't. The Lakers were smart for resting him and seeing what they could accomplish without their second best player, affording them the opportunity to gauge their roster a lot better.

Bynum's agent recently proclaimed, "I know what the rest of the league thinks of Andrew." The rest of the fans are about to find out what he means.

It's not only a Lakers' assault, but an invasion at the same time. And no, Chuck Norris isn't starring in this one.

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.

Since THE BIG DREWSKI, Andrew Bynum, hurt his knee on Sunday everyone west of the Atlantic Ocean has begun to talk about "it" once again and the Lakers' chances of success.

What in the heck is KOBE BRYANT going to do now? Many believe he will complain and start hogging his way to 35 points and 40 shot attempts a game if The YOUNG GUNS go on a mini-slump.

Many more believe that BRYANT won't trust center KWAME BROWN enough that he'll go away from the one part of the triangle that makes the KILLER B's tandem of Bynum and Bryant so dangerous - the pick-n-roll- and revert back to jacking up three-pointers all day.

Many, including 24-year veteran sportswriter MIKE KAHN, believe that KOBE still possesses a high level of egotistical selfishness that he'll continue to place himself above the team despite the Lakers' quiet yet convincing rise to the top of the Western Conference standings.

It seems to me that the more KOBE does, the more KOBE is hardpressed in earning the respect of the many so-called NBA fans out there, simply because of his past transgressions on and off the court.

Perhaps those same fans who hesitate in giving KOBE the much-deserved reverence are also the same fans who once questioned Michael Jordan's leadership but are now calling MJ the greatest who's ever played on that "94 x 50 hunk of wood" (to quote the legendary Chick Hearn).

Whatever Bryant does or does not do, he will never get the admiration he deserves until he wins a title as the leader of the Lakers. That's a fact.

A wise man once told me, "THE THINGS YOU DO and THE THINGS YOU DON'T DO, THEY ALL SEND A MESSAGE." Never has this statement ever applied to any NBA player as much as it has with Bryant. You either love him or hate him, there's no middle ground. 

But what irks me the most is when KOBE makes great strides to show improvement in his game, personality, vocal leadership, and maturity level, yet so-called NBA experts continue to doubt him and say, "Not to worry, he'll be the same old ball-hog KOBE once his team loses a game or two in a row."

Notice I didn't say "hate." But it sure is close.

Everyone in the world respects his ability and his game. But why not respect the man?

Every year since Phil Jackson took over from Rudy Tomjanovich the Lakers have improved. Those who have watched every single Lakers game (preseason, regular season, and playoffs) can attest to this. Those who have analyzed the roster from the top down and assessed the moves Kupchak made and didn't make will all know where I'm coming from.

Like Mr. Kahn, I, too, have been a proponent of keeping this nucleus together and not parting with KOBE or BYNUM.

But unlike Kahn, I don't have reason to believe Kobe will revert back to his old ways. In fact I'm glad Kobe was what he was. Simply because when it's all said and done, his legend will tell an even greater story. 

Don't get me wrong, I have doubted Kobe's leadership abilities in the past because I always believed he wasn't being vocal enough with his teammates in the same way Magic, Larry, Isiah and Michael were with theirs. But beginning last year, I started to see a change in the man. An evolution wherein I knew it would lead to greater heights for the Lakers and their young team.

And we're beginning to see them blossom right before our eyes, much to the chagrin of the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and the rest of the Western Conference including Tim Duncan and the aging San Antonio Spurs.

Despite the overall progress of the Lakers the last couple of seasons (most notably this year), "experts" like Kahn nonetheless repeat what has constantly been repeated in the past without giving it much thought. He questions the Lakers resolve, mental toughness, and will to win.

He says about THE BIG DREWSKI, "the concern is how [the knee injury] will affect the growth and confidence he has developed this season as he has begun to dominate the interior at both ends of the floor", obviously questioning whether or not Bynum has the mental strength  and work ethic to overcome adversity and indirectly implies that Bynum may wilt under pressure when it's time to return to the floor because he may be tentative with his left knee.  

What I've got to say is this: Andrew Bynum is no chump. First of all, he's no Shaq because he's hungry enough to want to be in shape and physically capable enough to want to dominate. Secondly, take a look at his statistics and one will see that he has vastly improved every year he's been in the league and that speaks volumes. Thirdly, he is being taught, mentored, tutored, coached, guided, and led by the greatest big man ever to play the game in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 'Nuff said.

I have every bit of confidence in the world that Andrew will come back stronger than ever and the Lakers will be even better. But I don't blame people for doubting them because when you're a great franchise, it all comes with the territory just like the New York Yankees and now the New England Patriots. And also because in years' past the Lakers have given critics and skeptics every reason to doubt. Go ahead and favor the Phoenixs and Dallases of the world, teams who don't win titles. It's all good, because after all The Young Guns will need a little competition.

The bottom line is this: No other franchise in the history of the NBA gets to the FINALS as consistently as the Lakers do EVERY DECADE.

The reason? Because Jerry Buss and the Lakers front office know exactly what it takes to reach and triumph at that level.

Besides San Antonio and maybe Detroit, the rest of the NBA are just a bunch of pretenders who make the sport a fun game to watch.

Now getting back to KOBE...

The fact of the matter is... KOBE has begun to mature and that alone is lifting himself to the next level. Obviously, it has already rubbed off on the rest of the team (Bynum for one) and we are seeing the evolution of THE YOUNG GUNS, much like we saw in Chicago during the late eighties with Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright and co. after they got sick of losing to the Bostons and Detroits of the world.

Bryant is such a winner that two years ago, he HAD TO average 35 because he did it for the team in order for them to stay competitive. He realized (and so did Phil) that he had to take on that role because no one else could step up. No one else was ready so KOBE took over in Jordan-like fashion. If Kobe doesn't score that much then the team doesn't even make the playoffs, and how bad would that look for the city of L.A.?

And between 2000-2004, KOBE could have averaged 30+ if he wanted to, but SHAQ was the number one option so he understood that and kept the peace for the betterment of the team. It was Shaq who couldn't deal with KOBE's ascension to legendary status.

Why else did the INSECURE O'Neal keep saying, "The offense needs to go through me" or "I need touches" if it wasn't for his jealousy of Bryant's impending stardom?

Shaq basically knew that KOBE would potentially threaten his position as the leader of the Lakers. Shaq couldn't deal with it. Period. It wasn't Kobe because if it was, Shaq would still be here. And when O'Neal screamed at Buss to pay him, the final string was drawn. It is my hunch that Shaq took his final year with the Lakers for granted and that's why he didn't get in shape.

All the while, Kobe played within the confines of the system and held back in order for the team to be ultra successful while still being able to take over games when the situation called for it.

Yes, Kobe had his share of moments when he tried to do too much by himself during certain stretches of games. But he was also in his early twenties and he still had a lot to learn about the nuances of the game.

Nevertheless, he played his cards right. If he didn't, I guarantee the Lakers don't win three titles.

Fast forward to the present day...

Kobe bashes Bynum and since then the team has responded and is now first place in the WESTERN CONFERENCE.

The Lakers have defeated Phoenix twice, Utah twice, Denver twice, Detroit, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Golden State.

The team is responding to Bryant's leadership and tonight's OT win against Seattle was another perfect display of how far Bryant has come along.

Did you see all his teammates give him a hug after the game? Did you see how his teammates supported Bryant by playing hard the entire game, after seeing the total effort Bryant gave to his team the previous two games while being sick?

Like many people say, only time will tell. But I'll bet my BMW that Kobe has indeed evolved and does trust his troops. He'll go to battle with them and die for them, because he's already done so.

And Mr. Kahn... if Kobe, who has three rings, is not a championship caliber leader, then why don't you tell me who is.

LAKERSFAN19 recently spoke about how boring the NBA has become then went on to write about the proliferation of haterfans in our precious blogosphere, mentioning in particular the constant perceived hate that is dumped on our once revered SHAQUILLE O'NEAL and the so-called brat of the NBA, KOBE BRYANT. As I was commenting on his blog, I began to remember and my comment turned into paragraph after paragraph. So I decided to write a little sumthin sumthin, courtesy of Lakersfan19's original idea. 

The NBA is certainly not boring. In fact, it is exciting. It's where "Amazing Happens."

Seven teams in the Western Conference are on pace for 50+ win seasons and the two teams with the best record in the league are both surprisingly from the Eastern Conference. Boston is on pace to for 70+ wins, which has caused Michael Jordan to pay more attention of late. The Minnesota T-Wolves are threatening the record for futility and the New York Knicks is in another league of their own. Scoring is up while defense continues to determine who wins, and never has there been this many international players in the NBA. The great Scottie Pippen has gone international as well, at the ripe young age of 42, and is apparently still harrassing opponents from the defensive end. I guess the only thing missing is THE RETURN OF THE WORM, Dennis Rodman. Okay, maybe not.

Nonetheless, unprecedented talent has given way to parity which, in turn, has provided fans a ton of great basketball to watch.

But nothing will ever duplicate the drama that developed from the love triangle that was Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson. Not even the famous Jordan-Pippen-Rodman triad from Chicago.

Here, I attempt to briefly revisit what once was and why so many of us have come to "hate" although deep down inside we "love". And more importantly a glimpse of what is to come with these two lead actors, one OSCAR worthy and the other an ESPY nominee.

As far as the "hating" is concerned, I can see why so many fans do it. If you notice, most people will intensify the hate when things are going bad for a particular player on court or off it. It's in our nature as fans and it is, believe it or not, a normal behavior for extremely passionate fans.

What I don't understand, however, is when people continually bring up the past and use this as an excuse to hate even if that particular player has changed. Case in point, KOBE.

Everyone is now beginning to see with the Lakers' drastic improvement that KOBE's immature remarks this offseason may have served a purpose. In fact, Bryant and Jackson may have tactically strategized this in order to get more from the rest of the team.

We all know that the ZENMASTER is known for his psychological ploys, so as fans do we really know for sure that KOBE was all to the bad here?

Bottom line: KOBE BRYANT is a leader and among the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen. Ever.  Always has and always will be. In due time he will get the respect from fans that he rightfully deserves (he always had the respect of his peers) because after all, like former pro sports brats ahead of him - Terrell Owens and Randy Moss - and like that old cliche, "winning solves everything."

I was around to digest everything MICHAEL JORDAN had to endure throughout his early years in the NBA and I see a similar pattern here with the two players, especially since JACKSON is the coach of the two stars.

KOBE is only 29 and for those who have paid attention to all the nuances of his entire career, one can only have utmost respect for his dedication to the purity of the game of basketball. Never mind the off-court antics and stuff because that is really irrelevant.

We as working class people  have issues outside of work that tend to affect our professional careers at times. It's normal folks.

Haters fail to look at what KOBE has brought to his team and to the game. Instead, they find someone to blame and something to blame that someone for. And in a place like Los Angeles, everything becomes all the more magnified.

Why the heck would Jerry Buss pay KOBE all that money in the first place and let SHAQ go for less-than-equal value? Because BUSS not only is a smart businessman but he also recognizes hard work and discipline. Game recognizes game.

And isn't Lamar Odom's 15 and 9 panning out much better than Shaq's 14 and 7 right about now? As far as O'Neal is concerned, he got what he wanted. The cash, the quick championship, and the short-lived glory. Shaq knew in 2004-2005 that guys like 'Zo, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, White Chocolate, James Posey, D-Wade, and Coach Riley were all hungry to win so he squeezed in at the opportune moment, fit in perfectly, and took advantage.

It was good enough for him to do it for one year, just like it was always good enough for him to treat his conditioning half-heartedly once he earned his contract and delivered three titles to Los Angeles. His contentment is the nature of his personality, unlike Kobe who always believes he can get better. This is the difference between a superstar and a legend. This is what sets apart the Michaels, the Magics, the Kobes, and the Larrys from every other Hall-of-Famer.

Shaq had always been The BIG QUOTATION, so he told Miami fans that he would bring two more titles although he probably knew deep down inside that he was probably done. He will try to mask his inadequacies by simply taking time off here and there in order to play out his contract and honor his fans. But we all know what's best for the team. The Heat should buy him out if they want to be competitive. 

Simply put, The BIG ARISTOTLE is running out of excuses and things to say. His best one came recently when he mentioned that he at least has a Master's Degree to fall back on. A sign that he has reached the end? Definitely so.

I actually believed he had one more solid year in him in 2007-'08. Guess I was wrong. The BIG DIESEL is now The BIG INACTIVE, while KOBE continues to lead the LAKERS' ASSAULT to everlasting greatness and basketball immortality along with THE BIG BYNO-MITE, Andrew Bynum. 

When it's all said and done, KOBE will have more rings than SHAQ and his LAKER legacy will undoubtedly leave a more lasting effect on all of our hearts.

I am sure of this only because KOBE puts more work into his craft than O'Neal ever did.

In any profession, the ones who demonstrate unrelenting work ethic and desire to be the best at what they do regardless of innate ability or talent usually move higher up the ladder (look at the careers of MJ, OLAJUWON, BIRD, MAGIC, who all improved different parts of their games as they got older). Since 2002, tell me one thing SHAQ has improved in his game? Free throws? A go-to move? Rebounding? Defense? Absolutely nothing. Shaq will continue to (and always has) rely on his sheer size and strength in order to intimidate, be physical, and get easy buckets (which helps to explain his high career FG%).

His huge miscalculation about the nature of the game has led him to be ineffective because injuries have now taken their toll on his body and he can no longer rely on what was once his only major strength.

A dedicated center like DWIGHT HOWARD, who continues to work hard on his craft, may wind up becoming a better basketball player than SHAQ (even if he winds up with less rings or no rings at all) because we can see that HOWARD is starting to develop a wide array of post moves, is a force on the boards, and blocks shots like Olajuwon once did. Shaq, with his size, should have led the NBA in rebounding and blocks EVERY year since '99 but he never did so except for maybe one year.

Upon making these points, one would see that no matter SHAQ's dominance between '99-04, he still would not have won those rings without KEY ROLE PLAYERS like Kobe, D-Wade, Rick Fox, Glen Rice, Ron Harper, Brian Shaw, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Horace Grant, A.C. Green, Alonzo Mourning, Jason Williams, Gary Payton and Antoine Walker. Think about it. This was SOLID talent built around Shaq.  

After all, when was the last time we saw SHAQ make a game clinching bucket to decide the outcome o####ame?

Way back in 1997-'98 during the last Lakers' home game of the regular season against UTAH. Turn around 12-foot jumper from the left baseline to seal the deal. Del Harris was the coach and L.A. was swept by the same Jazz squad in the playoffs that year.That's probably the only time he ever made a basket at the end of the game when it counted most.

Don't get me wrong, I will not discount Shaq's greatness in his era. However, if you compare his basketball abilites against some of the greatest of all time, in my opinion he is not even top five.

From SHOWTIME to the LAKE SHOW, it's a new era in LAKERLAND. As we look ahead, it might not be long until THE YOUNG GUNS conquer the WILD WILD WEST and the rest of the 'boring' NBA.

FALL QUARTER GRADE:  B-

Maybe the L.A. Lakers should use those throwbacks a lot more often.

Kobe Bryant and co. gave everyone a glimpse of what is to come on a nightly basis, and the TEAM's convincing win over the Golden State Warriors last night was just another indication of what this lineup is capable of doing when playing with complete balance while dictating the tempo.

Seven players in double figures resulting in an easy win, 123-113, against Don Nelson's small ball bunch. Not only did the Lakers exploit their mismatch in size by utilizing the talents of Andrew Bynum and Ronny Turiaf, they run-n-gunned their way to victory over arguably the NBA's hottest team. Looking reminiscent of Showtime, the Lakers were true to form in their old uni's. With a little defense here and there, some timely three's, and the usual display of late-game artistry from Kobe, this version put on quite a show at the right time. It's time to brand this nucleus a new nickname. Showtime was perfect for the eighties. The Lake Show? There's a moniker out there that's definitely better.

With a quarter of the season done and a 12-8 record, the Lakers' maturation process continues as they get better at minimizing mistakes and taking care of possessions. The young team took full advantage of mismatches, controlled the paint, and ran with the Warriors only when they needed to. In other words, they played smart. These are signs that the Lakers have what it takes to be a championship caliber team. Some may see it as an overstatement since the Lakers are the second youngest team in the league, but don't ever count out the brilliance of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. Both are still hungry for more domination.

All the Lakers need to do is be more consistent on both ends of the floor, which is no easy task. It's nothing new. We all know the recipe for success in this league. We all know what this well-balanced unit is capable of doing against the top teams. Last night was a perfect example because it was against another quality playoff opponent.

When the Lakers move the ball and play solid team defense, they usually come out on top: 11-0 when having more assists than the other team. 'Nuff said.

Let's see... So far the Lakers have quality wins versus regular playoff participants Phoenix, Utah, Detroit, Denver twice, Houston, Golden State, Chicago, and Indiana, and suffered humbling defeats against Boston, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Orlando, among others. So far so good, because they are learning to win and are only going to get better with experience.

Anyone who has watched EVERY Lakers game this year will tell you that Bynum is a beast waiting to happen. His play has become assertive of late and he is showing signs of dominance.  Andrew is a walking double-double and if Lamar Odom ever wakes up he could be one too.

Ultra-quick Jordan Farmar is a Tony Parker waiting to happen. His leadership and steady play allow Derek Fisher to preserve and pace, something San Antonio knows a little about (sorry Mike D'Antoni but you're not at that level yet).

Turiaf is a Kurt Rambis with an outside shot. Not quite Dennis Rodman but more like A.C. Green. Plus Ronny's a much better dancer than Mark Madsen. Turiaf's energy and ability to play big at the 4 and quick at the 5 makes him the perfect complement to Kobe in the triangle and pick-n-roll. His improved play on both ends of the court gives the Lakers a strong option in the event oft-injured Kwame Brown can't suit up.

Vladdy "Don't call me Vlade" Radmanovic is what he is. And the same goes for Sasha Vujacic. You already know what you're going to get, but you're not gonna underestimate what they can bring. The key thing for these two is not how many three's they make but when they make them.

And I still haven't mentioned Trevor Ariza, who brings it on D, and future superstar Javaris Crittenton, who has more highlights this year than Smush Parker had his entire Lakers career. L.A. is loaded and you better believe it.

It might take several months, but it definitely won't take years until the Lakers are dominating the West again along with San Antonio. Call them young but they certainly don't lack the big-game experience, and that's dangerous. Especially when you've got the NBA's best player, an up-and-coming seven-footer, a deep bench, and arguably the best coach of all-time. All the Lakers need is more and more time together on the court and no injuries. In due time the world will see what I've been talking about for the last couple of years.

What will ultimately make this team great will be its ability to adapt to any style of team and beat them at their own game with Kobe at the helm. LA's incredible combination of size, speed, depth, and talent allows the Lakers to do that.

Many will say the Lakers are maybe one player away from contending and that may be true in some respects. But if Odom can ever realize his potential it would be a moot point. If LA trades Odom and Brown, I can live with it. If Odom is content in being a third scorer and is allowing Bynum to get more touches in the low post where Odom is most comfortable, I'm fine with that too. Nonetheless, Odom needs to be more consistent and should take more advantage of moments in the game when he has a mismatch. Just play smart and have a more aggressive mindset from game to game, that's all.

If the Lakers end up keeping this team together, the only moves Mitch Kupchak and Coach Jackson need to make are complementary ones. Veteran players who come cheap but have the ability to add something to a ballclub come playoff time. Chris Webber, are you listening?

If the Lakers still are not satisfied, then it's time to make a blockbuster move once and for all while they still have the chips to make something happen. I wouldn't mind seeing Pau Gasol in purple and gold play alongside Bynum on that frontcourt. Then again, why tinker with the chemistry?

All in all, a solid victory for the Young Guns. Bring on the Spurs baby.

***side note***

Among the 12 Laker victories, eight have come against teams with a combined W-L percentage of .620

Among their eight losses, three were against teams who came from behind after the Lakers had them down by double-digits.

Los Angeles has played the top four teams in the NBA (SA, Bos, Pho, Orl) at least once, going 1-3.

What all this means: despite arguably the toughest schedule in the league after 20 games, LA is winning and showing they are a force to be reckoned with. They could easily be 15-5.