Experience and depth are critical to winning an NBA championship. No other team has more of these two intangibles than the Los Angeles Lakers. The team has not only the best coach in the league, but also the best finisher and pure scorer in the game.
When it comes down to it, the Lakers possess an extraordinary ability to finish games, and while they struggled with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, the rest of the road is easy.
Of the teams remaining in the Western Conference, only the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets had winning records against the defending champs during the regular season. If the series hold true to form, the Lakers will face the Utah Jazz, whom they defeated in three of four meetings this year. Against the next highest seed, the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles was again 3-1 during the season.
The Lakers are the deepest team in the NBA with the most experience and talent coming off the bench. Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar provide a spark on offense while Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic contribute tenacity on the defensive end.
Having an All-Star coming off the bench in Lamar Odom makes the Lakers’ second team a legit power in itself. The five aforementioned bench players could easily be the starting five for a playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
Coaching does not affect the course of a game as directly as players do, but there is not a better or more accomplished coach in league history than Phil Jackson. The Zen Master earned his 10th title last season when the Lakers disposed of the Orlando Magic in five games. Phil is never frazzled.
Los Angeles also boasts the best big man duo in the league. When both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are clicking, like we saw in game five against the Thunder, the Lakers are nearly unbeatable. The size and athleticism of Odom, Gasol and Bynum make this team difficult to guard. Gasol and Odom can back defenders down as well as spot up and hit from 18 feet.
The defensive tenacity of Ron Artest is enough to frustrate and limit even the most explosive scorer. Artest was added in the offseason for the sole purpose of having a shut down defender with enough size to guard Kevin Durant, Manu Ginobli or even stay with LeBron James.
All things considered, the Lakers still have the best pure scorer in the game. Kobe Bryant in the last five minutes of a close game, is an assassin. With a laundry list of big game-winning shots and four championship rings to his name, the Black Mamba is poised to kill any foe in his path.
Experience and depth paired with a Hall of Fame coach and the greatest player since Michael Jordan will prove to be a lethal combination once again as the Lakers look to lock up their 17th NBA title, tying the Boston Celtics for the all-time lead.