Lakers Start Season Looking Impressive

In perhaps the most anticipated pre-game ceremonies for me personally, the Lakers got their championship rings. It wasn’t just a crowning of the world champions, it was the realization of what hard work, a little luck, and having the greatest basketball player can provide. As Kobe has often stated the past two years, this Lakers team has grown together, not to mention it was a very young team at that. After losing to the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, the Lakers could fall back on the youth of the team and claim they had other runs in them. Of course they were right, but it was vital they followed through on their potential. Not only did the Lakers grow as a team (most guys on the team did indeed “mature” together with the Lakers), they got back to the championship after being embarrassed at the hands of KG and Co. Even though anything short of a championship last year would have been a failure, it was no small feat coming back and accomplishing what they set out to do.

So what do they do on the night where they got what they had fought for? They come out fighting, loaded and hungry yet again, overcoming any emotion they felt. Yes, they were facing the Clippers, a team that has been in a state of mediocrity at best for many years, but, these Clippers are a formidable opponent. I actually see them making the playoffs and taking their opponent deep in the series.

On a night when emotions should have been running high, so say the been-there, done-that players, the Lakers actually looked focus. However, their focus did not compensate for their rust. Kobe missed no less than two lay-ups and Fisher was throwing up air balls. Those two instances were just a couple of the many out-of-tune plays the Lakers came up with. But all this is to be expected as the Lakers starters didn’t play much in the pre-season. Despite all this, the Lakers thrashed the Clippers, looking very dominant and full of depth. And they did all this without Pau Gasol, their second best player. Of course it is far too early to predict how great this team will be at their peak when they get their rhythm and Gasol back.

The Lakers weren’t the only elite team that played on opening night. The Celtics opened up against LeBron and Cleveland. My gut feelings proved to be correct, at least for that one night. The Celtics were clearly the more versatile, athletic, and just flat out better team. The Cavaliers don’t have an answer for a frontline of Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace, and I’m not sure that the Lakers will as well. I am not changing my championship pick yet, but I am starting to doubt it a little more after the Celtics’ performance. Paul Pierce showed again he’s a better closer than James, Ray Allen showed he is still a sharpshooter, and KG and ‘Sheed are still fantastic forwards. But I am still always reminded, it’s only one game.