Playoff Teams Preview, cont.

L.A. Lakers
64-17
lead West by 10.5 games
best road record in NBA
Keys: Bryant: 27 ppg
Gasol: 18.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg
Phil: 9 rings

Probably the most talented team in the L. They have size, interior finishers, set-up men, shooters, athletes. They have Phil Jackson and a bevy of talented assistant coaches. And they still have the best closer in the game. So why don't they have the best record?

Watching LA play this year, you got the feeling they were coasting at times. Lost to Charlotte, Indiana, Sacramento, among others, but were never beat by either the Cavs or Boston. In big games, this team showed it was the best team. That should carry over into the playoffs.

Questions still arise over the guard play outside of Kobe. Fisher has really been struggling lately--he is 35-- and the Farmar and Vujacic couple off the bench haven't gotten any better since last year. Shannon Brown has been impressive lately, but does Phil really expect him to play a key role in the playoffs. Whether or not these guys can knock down shots could be the difference.

If the chalk holds and its Cle vs. LA in the Finals, I'm pretty confident the purple and gold will hoist their 15th Larry O'Brien trophy. Unlike Boston's aggressive/physical bigs, Gasol and Bynum have their way with the relatively soft Cleveland interior. And while LA isn't a great defensive team, they are long and athletic. They do as good a job as anyone of cutting off Bron's driving lanes and stacking length on his side, forcing up jumpers.

With no one else capable, James will have to guard Bryant. That will take away his off-ball prowess. The Lakers should be walking away with the trophy in June after 6 exciting games.