They are currently on a 7 game winning streak and are 17-3 in their last 20 games. With Phoenix falling to the Clippers last night, the Lakers jump into the top spot of the Western Conference leading San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix by a 1/2 game.

Obviously, the last 20 games have been a great run by the Lakers but in the next few weeks, we will find out just how good they really are. Their next 4 games include home games against Phoenix and Denver, then they travel to Texas and play Dallas and San Antonio. Then, starting Jan. 31, they have a 9-game road swing that includes: Detroit, Washington (one of the hottest teams in the league) and Orlando.

Having Andrew Bynum sitting with an injury is going to really hurt. I believe he has really been the key to how strong the Lakers have been over this amazing run they have put up and it showed they were missing him with a 1-point win against Memphis, 100-99, and an OT win against Seattle. Bynum is expected to miss at least 8-weeks with a temporarily dislocated knee cap and a bone bruise. Hopefully he will have a full and speedy recovery and the Lakers will stay focused during this time and continue to play hard and play as a team.

Gooooo Lakers!!

I think they can be a contender. The Bynum injury does hurt them a little, but I think they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs. I guess not trading Kobe was a good idea.

Well, we will never really know if it was a good idea or bad idea. It all would depend on who they would have got in return. Personally, I would rather see him in purple and gold than in something else. So far, they are 17-5 against other Western Conference teams which is also tops in the conference. I'm not getting my hopes up too high just yet, because they did start 23-11 last year as well and fell hard the rest of the year. Hopefully, that won't happen again this year.

IMO...I think it will be hard for them to make a playoff run. The top four seeds will probably be the 3 division winners and the loser of the southwest. I don't think they will win the division and the best they could be (again IMO) would be the 5 seed. I do think they could beat Portland/Denver/Utah in the first round but then that would probably be it.

Well, after losing to the Suns tonight, they are 1/2 game out of 1st place in the West and are 17-6 against other Western Conference opponents. According to ESPN.com, if the season were to end today, they would be the 3rd seed and would play the Spurs in the 1st round, a very scarry thought. We need Bynum back quick.

pretender......the west is way to deep for them

Contender and for one reason, Kobe Bryant. Brant is the best player in the NBA, he can take over a game and determine the outcome by himself. With Kobe the Lakers can go all the way.

The west is very deep, but so far, the Lakers are 18-6 against their western conference opponents. Only the Mavricks can match that record. Plus, they had a really good game against Denver without Andrew Bynum. At 27-12, they are currenty in the 3rd spot of the west just 1 and 1/2 games out of the top spot.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. Although I agree that he is the best player in the NBA, he can NOT determine the outcome by himself. He can take over games when he needs to, but it takes more than his efforts for them to win. The keys to the Lakers winning, I believe, are:

- Consistancy from Lamar Odem. He can have nights where he scores 30+ points and the next night struggle to put up 10 and have several turnovers. If he could just find a happy middle, that would be great. I actually wouldn't mind seeing him traded somewhere for another good young player.

- Andrew Bynum. He has really started to show just how good he can be this year. He was starting to really break out and then his unfortunate knee injury is going to keep him out for 6 or 7 more weeks.

- Jordan Farmar and Derek Fisher. Fisher is a really good PG that isn't afraid to take big shots and can drain them (ie. the tear-drop over Tim Duncan in the Western Conference Finals a few years ago when they were down by 1 with .3 seconds left on the clock.) And Jordan Farmar has really developed into a really good PG. I'm sure he would start for most teams and probably could start over Fisher, but he does a great job coming off the bench. He can 'D' up, shoot the 3 and take it to the hole. Fisher and Farmar are a great 1-2 punch at the PG position.

Pau Gasol played his first game as a Laker tonight and had a huge game, finishing with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. A great game if you ask me, especialy considering it is his first game into the triangle offense. Their potential starting lineup once Andrew Bynum is healthy:

PG - Derek Fisher
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Lamar Odem/Luke Walton
PF - Pau Gasol/Lamar Odem
C - Andrew Bynum

Then you have either Gasol, Odem or Walton coming off the bench, along with Jordan Farmar, Vladimir Radmanovic, Ronny Turiaf and Sasha Vujacic. This Laker squad not only has a deadly lineup, but also have a very deep bench of talented players. They very well could be heading to the finals this year.

They have also completed 4 of their 9 straight away games and are 3-1 so far and have won 3 in a row after losing in the final seconds to Detroit to start the road trip.

I was watching ESPN earlier and Gregg Anthony was asked who he thought was the best team in the Western Conference and he said the Lakers. I wasn't able to hear his explanation though since I was at work and we aren't able to play the sound.

They are defintly a contender, but I don't think they could beat the Mavs or Spurs in the playoffs with their good defenses.

Contender, Pau Gasol is a really good player that was on a really bad team, Bynum will come back and dunk some more, Lamar Odom will be their 4th best starter, and Derek Fisher is a very experienced PG that won't turn the ball over, and Jordan Farmar is good. Walton and Turiaf are very good energy guys.

That's a pretty good team if you ask me...... I know I'm forgetting someone else they have on their team too

NOT! He may have been the most dominant player in the NBA at one time, but I am not so sure now. Will they make the playoffs? Probably. We'll see how Gasol fits in over time...could be interesting.

i think gasol is a huge piece to the laker puzzle, but i don't see them winning the west.

L.A. is now 6-2 on their 9-game road trip after beating Charlott last night. Kobe and Gasol are playing really well together, almost as if they have been doing it for years. They are currently 34-17, 2 games back of Phoenix who holds the top spot, and would be the 5th seed if the playoffs started today. They would play Utah who has a record of 33-19, 1 and 1/2 games behind the Lakers, but since they are their Division's leader, they are ahead.

This time last year is when the Lakers started to have a melt down. They started the season 23-11, same as this year, and then started tanking to barely finish above .500 and a #7 playoff seed.

The Lakers are 1 of 3 teams that Jason Kidd wants to go. If we could get him with giving up any young players but Bynum and Farmar, we will be in the Conference Finals this year.

I told everyone when Phil Jackson signed with the Lakers that they would be in a position to get to and/or win an NBA Championship within 3 or 4 years. I do believe that this is his 4th year back. So hopefully I'll be right.

They have a shot but it will be a nightmare coming out of the West....The Rockets have won 11 of their last 12 and are currently 31-20 and are the ninth seed in the west.....Even if they make it through they will have a date with the Celts who are 16-0 versus the West or the Pistons.....All that being said ~ no doubt with the addition of Gasol they are contenders....

with the way the mavs and spurs are playing i think the lakers have a shot to make it to the finals

If the Mavs don't get it together they'll be lucky to get a #8 seed. They are definetly missing Devin Harris but they haven't looked that good with him. I've said this before and I'll say it again. The Mavs missed their shot at the Title two years ago and I don't think they are going to get back there with the players they have now. Irk isn't getting it done.

As far as the Lakers. I think they are a contender now with Gasol. Kobe is and always has been one of the best if not the best player in the League.

yep the west is crazy good this year there is going to be a really good team that dosent make the playoffs i believe right now that houston is 31-20 and are the 8th seed

actually just looked on espn the rockets are a 9 seed. but in the east new jersey is 23-30 and are a 8th seed man this is crazy

Well, the Lakers finshished their road trip 7-2, but its not all good for L.A. Kobe discovered that his right pinkie finger, originally thought to be dislocated, has a ligament team and partial fracture due to the tendon pulling off a small piece of the bone.

He and the Lakers have trying to get him excused from playing in the All-Star game, but since he played Tuesday and plans to play his first game back, they are saying that it is very unlikely for him to get the waiver. If he doesn't get it, he will still start in the game, but likely only play a few minits and sit the rest of the game. Dirk Nowitzski will be taking his place in the 3-point shoot out.

Bryant saw a hand specialist who recomended surgery that would likely sideline him for 6 weeks. But he says that he is going to try to hold it off and play through the injury until after the Lakers' season and after the Olympic games.


ESPN

Kobe and the Lakers spoiled Shaq's debut with the Suns last night in Phoenix. Kobe had 41, giving him his 90th 40+ point game in his career, behind only Kareem and MJ.

The Lakers have now won 6 in a row and 10 of their last 12 games to put them in a tie with Phoenix for the Pacific Division lead and only 1 game back of Western Conference leading New Orleans. The Lakers have won the season series over the Suns, 3 games to 1.

Last night was the 1st time that I've been able to see them play since Gasol arrived and you can see a world of difference in this team than last year. Right now, they are easily a contender to win the NBA Finals and they still have Andrew Bynum out. Once he comes back and gives them a big man down low, they will be scary good. Their starting lineup will be:

PG - Derek Fisher backed up by Jordan Farmar
SG - Kobe Bryant backed up by Sasha Vujacic
SF - Lamar Odem backed up by Luke Walton
PF - Pau Gasol backed up by Ronnie Turiaf
C - Andrew Bynum backed up by Vladimir Radmanovic

That gives you 3 or 4 guys coming off the bench that either have started before or could be with another team. Very dangerous if you ask me.

The Lakers are definitely a contender as long as Kobe stays healthy, but in the Western Conference there are 8 or 9 teams that are legitimate contenders.

The Lakers currently hold the top spot in the West by 1/2 game over San Antonio. Lakers play Portland tonight.

I'm a Mavs fan, but I would have to say that right now, the West is (not necessarily going by current standings):

LA Lakers
San Antonio
Phoenix
Dallas
New Orleans

Now if Kidd and the Mavs get to clicking, and they possibly get Magliore or some more inside help, this could change. I know the Mavs lost to NO, but that was Kidd's first game with the team, so it is hard to go on that.

Anyhoo, that's how I see things shaping up at the moment.

I believe with their play in the regular season that the Lakers have established themselves as a legitimate contender for the NBA title this year. They claim the #1 spot in the West and will have home-court advantage all the way to the Finals. It still hasn't been determind if they will play the Denver Nuggets or the Dallas Mavricks yet, but L.A. is a combined 6-1 against both of those teams, the lone loss coming to Dallas. With Andrew Bynum expected to return for the playoffs, they will be even tougher to beat. It's going to be a fun road to the Finals!

The Lakers opponent was decided two days ago.

Why are you a Lakers fan? It looks like you are a band wagon fan. Lakers, Red Sox??

As much I hate the Rockets and River City Burriots, at least their fans are legitimate, rooting for an in state team.

I guess I haven't watched enough SportsCenter to have known that. The last I knew, the seeding still wasn't final. I actually learned about that tonight at work.

I used to really love the Orlando Magic back in the day because of Shaq and Penny Hardaway. Then they left the Magic and Shaq went to L.A., so I started to cheer for the Lakers and have ever since. I hated to see Shaq leave and became a small Miami Heat fan because I still liked Shaq. But I hate the Suns so he won't be recieving any cheers from me while he's playing for them. But even after he left the Lakers, they stayed as my favorite team and will always be my favorite NBA team.

As for being a Red Sox fan, I've been a fan of them since I was 11, because that was the name of my little league team when I was 11 and 12. In fact, Troy O'leary was one of my favorite players, I even wore his number as my own. Now I wasn't nearly the fan then as I am now, but am still a fan none-the-less.

So call me a bandwagon fan if you want, but that definately isn't the case. Why are you questioning my fanhood anyways or even care why I like a certain team?

I just think that people should, "root, root root for the home team...if they don't win it's a shame."

Gilmer may not have a professional sports team, but Texas has a ton of pro teams to be proud of.

Why should you care which teams he follows??!! I lived in Southern California as a kid, but now live in Central Texas. Guess what....I'm a Dodgers fan. Just because you don't live in the same state/region as the team you pull for makes you a "bandwagoner."?? Very leihm comment.

Oh, I'm sorry. Forgive my ignorance for not knowing or doing what YOU THINK people should do. As of now I will be a Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavricks fan only, because it's what YOU THINK I should do. Thank you for helping me to correct what's wrong in my life.

Actually, I think you can claim the Dodgers as a "home team".

You actually lived in the area where the team is located at one point in your life.

My point is our loyalty should lie with the team. When you start picking teams because of their won/loss record you end up rooting for the players.

But you're not understanding that I don't like those teams because of their win/loss record. But again, I don't have to prove myself or my fanhood to you. You call me what you want. Ask me again when those teams aren't winning a lot, i.e. the Lakers the past few years, and ask me if I'm still a fan of those 2 teams. You will find my answer is still the same.

With the tough win last night in Denver, the Lakers are the only team to sweep their 1st round opponent. It is also their 1st sweep since the 2002 season when they swept the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals.

The Lakers will face the winner of the Rockets - Jazz series, Utah leads 3-1. The Lakers were 2-1 during the regular season against the Jazz and were just 1-2 against the Rockets, one of those losses came during the historical 22-game winning streak.

Dude, don't you ever question someone's fanhood again....

or else....

The Lakers swept the Nuggets a few nights ago and continued to play well in the playoffs with a 109-98 win over the Utah Jazz earlier today. The Lakers are now 5-0 in the playoffs and lead 1-0 in their series against the Jazz. Game 2 is Wednesday night in L.A.

Last night, the Lakers took game 2 over the Jazz, 120-110, to take a 2-0 series lead. The series now moves to Utah, where the Jazz have only lost 4 games all season.

The Lakers are now 6-0 in the playoffs for the 6th time since the team moved to Los Angeles. One of those times they were swept by the Piston in the NBA Finals and 4 of those led to NBA Championships. I guess only time will tell how this time will turn out.

THE CONTENDER.

The Lakers jumped out to a big lead early and held on to win a close game in Utah, 108-105. The win moves the Lakers into the Western Conference finals for the 1st time since 2004. The loss was just Utah's 6th home loss of the season and only the 2nd win by a road team in this round of the playoffs.

L.A. now awaits the winner of New Orleans and San Antonio. Game 7 of that series is set for Monday night in New Orleans.

Okay - as much as it sickens me to type this: the better team won. The Jazz certainly challenged them and made tonight's game fun to watch. But in the end - Congratulations to the Lakers!!!!

It doesn't matter who wins the SPURS / Hornets series ... they (the Lakers) are going to be tough to beat!!!!

The Lakers ugh!!! The media loves them. the media likes to have east/west coast big media market cities in the finals -they make more money, and more people watch just to see the celebrities in the stands.

But then again Eva(Parker) can pack a house!!! lol

The media has been itching for a Lakers/Celtics Finals since the beginning of the playoffs. It looks like it very well might happen. With that being said, GO Spurs GO!!