Preview: Back-to-Back NBA Champion L.A. Lakers

Now that the FIBA Championships are over I decided to start previewing some of the best teams in the league as the season gets closer. I’ll start off with the back-to-back NBA Champion L.A. Lakers. While most of the attention was focused on Eastern Conference with Lebron and all the teams interested, Lakers also had a very nice off-season by adding a few solid pieces. First off, the Lakers have lost a few players due to free agency with Jordan Farmar (Nets), Adam Morrison (FA), Josh Powell (Hawks), and DJ Mbenga (FA). Newcomers to the Lakers are Matt Barnes (Magic), Steve Blake (Clippers), Theo Ratliff (Spurs), and drafted players Derrick Caracter (UTEP) and Devin Ebanks (WV).

I think with the additions the Lakers have made they are now an extremely deep team and are solid all the way around. I like the Barnes pick up who can come in off the bench and provide solid and knock down the open 3. Blake is kind of a shoot happy player but can get on the roll from 3 and is a threat if left open. Ratliff is getting to the end of his career but provides insurance for Gasol and Bynum and can still rebound and block shots when called upon. Caracter and Ebanks will be battling for that 12th man position on the Lakers but both will probably end up on injured reserve. Something to watch for during the preseason.

This is how the Lakers depth chart currently looks according to me. I like the Lakers to win the West again, with their depth and talent I see them finishing with a better record than last year. The Lakers 12th man will probably be Luke Walton or Vujacic who are probably some of the better 12th men in the league.

PG- Fisher,Blake
SG- Kobe,Brown, Vujacic
SF-Artest,Barnes, Walton, Ebanks
PF- Gasol, Odom, Caracter
C- Bynum, Ratliff

----Preview of the Eastern Conference Champs Boston Celtics coming soon.