Will The Lakers three-peat?

Will there ever be another three-peat? Are the Lakers the team to do it? Well, the stage seems set after back-to-back championships and a good first half of the 2010-2011 season. The Los Angeles Lakers have been a potent threat in the NBA for the last decade. There have been 2 three-peats in the history of the Lakers. One in seasons 51-52, 52-53, and 53-54 and another under the current coach of the Lakers, Phil Jackson, in seasons 99-00, 00-01, 01-02. They have been to the playoffs 9 out of 10 seasons in the last decade, reaching the finals 6 times and winning it 4 times. It seems to the eye beholding these stats that a team such as this would be a favorite to win another championship. But my question is-are they a favorite? At the beginning of the season I would listen to analysts speak of the revitalized Miami Heat, the always competitive Boston Celtics, and the Orlando Magic who were on the verge of taking the Eastern Conference championship. I would hear this talk and yet the analysts would say that the Lakers were still better coached, better fundamentally, and more talented up and down the roster than these other teams.  First of all, I think we need to realize that these “analysts” are not much more than a fan with a microphone and a contract. Secondly, I think we need to evaluate the Lakers compared to the other teams as we are halfway through the season. The Lakers are the 3^rd best team in the league with a 33-14 record. The San Antonio Spurs sit atop the NBA with a 39-7 record followed by the Boston Celtics, who carry a 35-11 record. The Lakers are not a “without-a-doubt” championship team in this 2010-2011 season. There are teams that are going to challenge them and give them a fight down the stretch of the season. The Lakers have been beaten in some primetime games this year, which shows me that they are either not prepared like they have been in past years or they think that they can “turn it on” down the stretch, in the 4^th quarter, or when they want to against these teams and they haven’t been able to so. I know the Lakers can win the championship this year-everybody knows they have the talent, coaching, and fan support-but will they execute? Kobe Bryant, the heart and soul of the Lakers, has started every game this season. He has played through injuries and shown mental and physical toughness, but is Kobe by himself enough to win another championship? Pau Gasol is having a magnificent season just like he did last year. He is giving Kobe the help that he needs on the inside, but, as any fan knows, basketball teams are composed of more than 1 or 2 players. Yes, even Kobe has come to this realization over the past few years. He needs more than his own jumpshot and Gasol’s turnaround. He needs his teammates to take control of the game even when he’s not at his best. I don’t see the Lakers winning a championship in the 2010-2011 season riding on Kobe’s shoulders. I know Kobe is still a candidate for MVP, but championship teams are not composed solely of an MVP, but a roster of capable, talented players. Will the Lakers win it again this year and put their mark on NBA history? It seems down the stretch, with their experience and coaching, that they pull it out most of the time. I’m really excited about the second half of the NBA season. Is there a team good enough to challenge the mighty Lakers of Los Angeles? We shall see as the second half of the season is on the horizon.

The DRAB 4 blogger,

Brock Fierge