How far will the Lakers go this year in the playoffs?

Well, maybe I was a little bit too optimistic. I agree with you that they have a young team, however between Fisher and Kobe, they have lots of playoff experience (and 3 rings that they've won together). They might have an uphill climb against the powerhouses in the West, but on any given playoff game, Fisher or Kobe can make that miracle shot in the last minute to elevate the Lakers into the Finals.

I tell ya what.. If they do end up winning, it will be because they executed the points that you highlighted. I do think there is potential do make a great run.. For sure..

I would love to see that match up occur... And if Bynum returns and can play like he did before... that would give the lakers a legit opportunity to win it all...

Amen! and let's hope for a repeat of the 80's when the Lakers and Celtics won 8 of the 10 championships that decade.

And now that they traded for Pau Gasol and kept their star players, they will really be the team to beat. In the last week since Gasol has been a Laker, he's proven to be a valuable asset. Prediction: Celtics vs. Lakers in the Finals, and it will go to game 7.

Although Boston has a tough lineup with K. Garnett, P. Pierce and R. Allen, I still believe the Lakers can defeat them in a championship series. Bryant has emerged as the league's true MVP, not just scoring 50 a game, but maturing into a leader. He now realizes making his teammates better wins games. Lakers win a tough series in 7 games.

he did win MvP.. right on...

I have to argue that the MVP race has not already been won by Kobe Bryant. The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (averaging 30.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game) also has a legitimate claim for the award, out-scoring, out-rebounding, out-blocking, and out-dishing Bryant (averaging 28.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game) this season. For most of the season, both players were stuck with average players on their roster, but James has emerged as a better leader. Could either team had their successes if they didn't have their leaders in Bryant and James? No. So both should be given credit for their significant contributions to their respective clubs. But the thing that people have to realize is that James has been more of a monster than Bryant, keeping his team close to a conference Finals appearance with this average of a team. He did it last year, and with the improvements this season in the form of Ben Wallace and Delonte West, he's got a good chance of doing it again this year. He might not have the great supporting cast Bryant is surrounded with nowadays, what with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom on his trail, but his franchise is still a formidable one. They're in different conferences and this makes the comparison harder to measure but they're about at the same level when it comes to every aspect of competitiveness. I also can't give that much of a credit to Bryant for playing through an injured pinkie at this point in the season and still scoring 52 points; James didn't have anything to do with the injury and it's not his fault he hasn't got the chance to play through the same pain, so there should be a level field of comparison when it comes to that. No one would really know who should get the award until a few more weeks of playing basketball, but I'm guessing this could be a really close race. Both players are above everyone else in the league and both are deserving of recognition, and whoever gets it this season should recognize the performance of the other, knowing that through the season a battle was fought and respect was given to each other's talents.