Lakers Cannot Be Stopped In Western Conference

Many sport betting enthusiasts would point to the fact that the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers did not lose any big names as the biggest reason why they should be the favorite to repeat in 2010. That point can be taken a step further by giving recognition to the face that this team has actually improved since they raised basketball’s ultimate prize by facing little adversity in their series with the Orlando Magic.

For all that the Lakers accomplished a year ago, they did those things without Ron Artest on the team. They did those things with starting center Andrew Bynum and young guard Jordan Farmar a year younger, with one year less experience. They did those things with a year less chemistry from playing together. However, 2010 is different.

When the Lakers faced the Houston Rockets in last year’s basketball betting playoffs, head coach Phil Jackson and superstar Kobe Bryant took notice by the play of one of the NBA’s best defenders, as Ron Artest did an excellent job defending one of the association’s best players, if not the best player. Los Angeles was so impressed by the play of Artest, that they targeted him in the offseason, understanding just how big of a defensive role he would play. According to a recent poll conducted by Sports Illustrated that asked 270-plus NBA players who they felt the best defensive player in the association was, the largest percentage voted for Bryant, with Artest placing second. Now both players are wearing the gold and purple this postseason.

Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum were enough to contain the Magic’s center and top big man in the league Dwight Howard, but this year that group is even better. Bynum is a year older and much more experienced, while Gasol and Odom have become stronger in the post, and are even better down low than they were a year ago. The three big men have come together to form the best rotation in the NBA, and that has been reflected in the Thunder vs Lakers odds series where Los Angeles has dominated in winning the first two games.

Perhaps what is most important is that the Lakers have spent this year developing even further as a team. Injuries and inconsistencies plagued this squad throughout much of the year, but that allowed head coach Phil Jackson to try different things, and figure out different sets and strengths his team would be able to apply depending on in-game NBA odds situations. The extra year of experience has helped the players who won the title last year learn how to compliment one another’s style even better, and with the addition of Artest, the Lakers may have the best big game defensive breakdown in the association. The added experience, compliments acquired in the offseason, and the fact that this team has lost no player from last year’s championship team to either injury or movement makes the Lakers the favorite to return to this year’s NBA finals.