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Unlike brain surgery, neither an advanced college degree nor a significant level of insight should be required in selecting the preseason favorite in the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title rather easily last season. They defeated the Orlando Magic in five games in the championship series. Their four victories were by a combined 51 points and their one loss was by four.The Lakers, who open the 2009-10 season tonight in Los Angeles against the Clippers, have Kobe Bryant and all key members of his powerful supporting cast back. Their only challenge in the playoffs was from the Rockets, who forced the Lakers to seven games before losing. LA responded by signing Ron Artest, who was one of the primary reasons Houston gave the Lakers such a hard time.There is no reason to believe the Lakers have declined in the slightest, so why is it so tempting to pick the San Antonio Spurs?Perhaps it is because during the Tim Duncan era, they have won four championships — 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Duncan is 33 and going into his 13th year, but when healthy, he is good as ever. At least that’s what Shaquille O’Neal said."Yes, yes, they [are competitive for the West title]," O’Neal said in a recent visit to San Antonio. "You know they’re always going to be there. Last year didn’t count for them, because Mr. Fundamental [Duncan] had those knee problems. But he got a lot of rest, just like I got a lot of rest. I know they’re going to be ready."The Spurs have also added depth in Richard Jefferson, who has a career average of nearly 18 points a game, and veteran big men Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff.The Artest signing was so significant for the Lakers that some Las Vegas books established them as 2-1 favorites during the summer. Despite their moves, the Spurs were at 15-1.With a rich recent history of excellence, the Spurs are not going to go down easy. The safe bet is still the Lakers, but an even better bet is that if both teams stay healthy, the West finals will likely be a great one. The playoff teams1. Los Angeles Lakers: They say they are still motivated by the loss in the Finals to Boston in 2008 and there is no reason to believe they will have a letdown. "I still want to keep in mind what it was like losing the year before," forward Pau Gasol told reporters in LA. "To be able to dominate for a few years in a league that is so demanding and so competitive, that’s motivating." Center Andrew Bynum was injured again during preseason, missing playing time with a shoulder injury. In the past two years he has missed 77 games with various injuries. Still, the Lakers have been to the Finals both years and won once. With a deep supporting cast led by Gasol, Artest, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher, the Lakers are loaded. And despite some opinions to the contrary, Kobe Bryant, above, is still the No. 1 player in the world.2. San Antonio: They lost in the first round to the Mavericks last season, but Manu Ginobili missed the series with an ankle injury. He enters the season healthy and so does Tony Parker. They also have the new guys, who are hoping they can help boost the Spurs to a fifth championship. "Their heyday wasn’t that far off," Jefferson said after arriving in San Antonio from Milwaukee, "and they’ve got some of the same core still here."
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