LakerTom,

("When you combine the easiest path with home court advantage through the conference finals, it is easy to see how the Lakers have a golden opportunity to win the championship. " Posted by LakerTom)

While I agree with you that the Lakers have a golden opportunity here, I believe that the path to the championship trophy would not be that easy as you described it. AB is definitely needed for the series against Celtics, though I am hoping for an upset and we could face the Pistons which will be a better matchup for the Lakers this year.

Having said this, AB needs to return as soon as possible even if he is not 100%, as long as the risk to his long term health is minimal. I beg to differ with those that we put all our money into next year---that is nonsense! By next year, we will be facing a different set of challenges, i.e., Portland, Sacramento, Hornets also have a bright future. Many look at our future as if the other teams' situation will be stagnant, this is clearly not true.

Dirk understands how difficult it is to just to get to the finals, that is why he is playing right now despite his recent injury.

It's true that the potential for AB to get some golden opportunities in the coming years is great, but if I were him, I definitely will not discount this year. All one has to do is to ask Karl Malone, KG, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, they all came close but never got a ring. This year is just as good as any year for the Lakers!!!

Having said this,

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?

videoId=3349610&categoryId=2459788&n8pe6c=1

Plays of the year. Is Trevor #3? If he is, there's a sick dunk in there.

And what's with Bill Simmons? I love his stuff, but I didn't need to be teased into coming back the second day to find out his MVP pick is Garnett. What I really don't get is Kobe at #4. He still can't stop drinking the haterade.

I agree, Nice set up for the road to the finals. Great to see that even if PHX gets past SA (don't bet on it if Ginobli is healthy) the Bowen will soften Nash up with a few knees to the groin and a couple head butts. SA is the better Defensive team and has proven they know how to close out teams. That series will tax both teams. Dallas has looked better closing out the season but CP3 will destroy Kidd. No way old Jason can stay in front of him. If the young NO guns can stand the pressure I look for Dallas to have another 1st round exit and Cuban to go nuclear. How fun will that be? Houston had a nice streak but this is the playoffs and Utah will win. Denver will go down hard. Get out your brooms Laker Nation.

Robyn,

Thanks for the response. We really DO have a golden opportunity to win it all this year and although I have been a Lakers fan long enough to know that this team will have many more such golden opportunities, such chances are still precious enough that you never want to waste one. That is what I see in the eyes and play of this Lakers team, a total realization and understanding that they CAN win the NBA championship NOW.

I will concede that the path may have a few more twists and turns than might be expected because that is the nature of the game. Based on what I have seen this year from this team, however, I believe it is our destiny to win the NBA championship this year and do not see how we can be stopped. IMO, we are fated to win it all this year, just as Kobe is fated to win his first MVP award this year. It is part of the Lakers karma and mystique.

The Mavs and Suns are watching their championship windows close this year just like the Trailblazers and Kings watched their hopes for a ring suddenly and painfully die. But we are the storied Los Angeles Lakers and we are NOT bound by the same rules simply because GOD is a Lakers fan. Our championship windows are wider and longer than other teams and are ultimately measured in dynasties not seasons

I agree with you that the key to the ring is the guy that KB24 said made the Lakers “championship caliber.” AB17 must return if we are to complete this Cinderella story and ride this perfect storm of good fortune all the way to the 2008 NBA championship. Kobe Bryant is the leader but Andrew Bynum is the key. The Beast must return for the Lakers to complete the last chapter on the greatest season in Lakers history.

The good news is that due to our winning #1 seed in the West, Drew will have up to 5 weeks to get healthy and ready-to-go before we really need him. The Lakers know they are strong enough with Pau at center to easily handle Denver and Houston or Utah without Andrew Bynum. It was prophetic that the Spurs, Suns, and Mavs were all trying to avoid being in the same bracket as the Lakers on the last day of the season.

There is also NO reason to believe that Drew will NOT be ready to play even earlier than 5 weeks. He was not far from returning when his doctor pulled the plug. The Lakers wanted him to wait for another week but Drew wanted to push that, which the Lakers smartly resisted. No way they risk permanent or long term injury to the next great Lakers center.

As to rumors of Drew not playing until next year, Phil Jackson laughed at the idea of shutting Drew down for the year. Andrew will play as soon as he is ready to play because we need his defense and rebounding. I am guessing that will be sometime in the 2nd round where Drew will come off the bench and work on getting back in shape and ready-to-go in time for the Western Conference Finals.

I think there was a double strategy at work in how the Lakers handled the latest delay in Drew’s return. First, I think the Lakers wanted to take pressure off of Drew trying to come back early. Second, I think the Lakers did NOT want the players to count on Drew returning until later in the playoffs, knowing that the team was good enough with Pau at center to take care of business until then.

Finally, I agree that the Pistons would be an easier opponent in the Finals but I really want to defeat the Celtics to complete the greatest season in the history of the Lakers. While the Pistons are definitely a worthy opponent as well as a long-time heated rival, there is nothing more exciting in the history of the NBA than the legendary battles between great Lakers and great Celtics teams. That is our destiny.

Tom

Tom,

Good post and some very good points, particularly the one with regards to Drew. I had observed that Lakers actually settled down and became more focus on their games since the recent disappointing news. Clearly, the on again-off again returning of AB was a distraction we do not need. We just have to go and take care of business with or without Bynum or Ariza.

("I think there was a double strategy at work in how the Lakers handled the latest delay in Drew’s return. First, I think the Lakers wanted to take pressure off of Drew trying to come back early. Second, I think the Lakers did NOT want the players to count on Drew returning until later in the playoffs, knowing that the team was good enough with Pau at center to take care of business until then.")