Laker Thoughts, part I

I knew my Lakers would be good this season, but after watching a few preseason games and the first two regular season games, they look so much better than I thought. This team is much better than last years team that went all the way to the NBA Finals. The bench is deeper, and that is saying a lot since last years bench was one of the league's best AND when you find that Luke Walton is the ninth or tenth man. We have also added Lamar Odom to the bench. With the energy provided by Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, the up and down fast-breaking of the second team can stomp any other team's bench and can keep up with their starters. And our defense is just down right awesome! It seems like Kobe's great trip to China and his role as 'The Redeem Team's' defensive stopper has been infused into this Laker team. They held the Blazers and Clippers to 34.5 and 38.5 percent shooting, respectively. I know it very early in the season, but seeing their high energy on defense is very refreshing.

I feel that this is the time that we Laker fans have been waiting for. Considering the start to last year, with Kobe wanting to be traded (which I feel was blown out of proportion once the season started), waiting for Lamar Odom to step up to the plate, and the uncertainty of Andrew Bynum, we certainly didn't have to wait long to be a championship contender and, for now, the best team in the league. Of course, with the help of the acquisition of Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies after Bynum's knee injury has allowed that to happen. And with the pairing of Bynum and Gasol in the front court, and moving Odom to the bench has made this Laker team even more dangerous.