Is the championship window for Kobe Bryant and the Los
Angeles Lakers closed? All those years may finally be wearing down Bryant, as
L.A. was shockingly swept out of last season’s Western Conference semifinals by
the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. However, L.A. has opened as the
second-favorite on Bodog’s NBA basketball odds at 5/1 to win the 2012 NBA
championship and as the favorite to win the West at 2/1.
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Certainly any forecast for the Lakers would
change dramatically if L.A. somehow is able to trade for Orlando superstar
center Dwight Howard, who reportedly wants to play out in
Hollywood, or Hornets point guard Chris Paul. New coach
Mike Brown still has as much talent on the squad as any team,
with Kobe, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum (suspended the first five
games of this season for his ridiculous flagrant foul in the Mavericks series),
Lamar Odom and Metta World Peace (i.e.
Ron Artest). The Lakers could use another scoring guard to take
the heat off of Bryant, and last year’s backup, Shannon Brown,
is a free agent. Plus point guard is a question with Derek Fisher
now 37 years old. L.A. is way over the salary cap so there’s only so
much the Lakers can add unless it’s via trade.
Mike Brown no doubt will
ditch the triangle offense of Phil Jackson and his pedigree at Cleveland was
defense and an ability to co-exist with a headstrong superstar (LeBron
James). There certainly will be an adjustment period to Brown with the
lockout wiping out much of training camp and the exhibition season. Bodog lists
L.A.’s win total for the 66-game regular season at over/under 48.5. As long as
Kobe stays healthy, this team will contend for a title. And if Howard or Paul
comes on board for a package built around Bynum, L.A. is probably the
favorite.
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