Are The Lakers Really In Trouble?

First there was the beat down on Christmas day by the Miami Heat. Then there was the 4 game losing streak. Then there were the embarrassing losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and the LOWLY Sacramento Kings followed by a Sunday loss to hated rival Boston. As we approach the all star break people within the organization have started to question whether this Laker team is ready to three peat. Jerry West (Mr. Logo) has gone on record as saying the Lakers are getting a little long in the tooth to play great defense. Mitch Kupchak has said a trade to shake things up is not out of the question. Critics have pointed out the fact that the Lakers are 9-9 against the elite teams in the league. What does all this mean?

Absolutely nothing. The Lakers are a veteran team that knows how to conserve energy and keep their bodies fresh for the long playoff run ahead. The Celtics went into the playoffs last year as the #4 seed and look how that turned out for them. Quiet as kept the Lakers have the 5th best record in the NBA and aside from the San Antonio Spurs no one in the Western Conference is a threat to their crown. The OKC Thunder are young and talented, but they're not ready to take down the 2 time defending NBA champs just yet. The biggest opponent the Lakers have are themselves and there's 4 months left to get it in gear.

I'm not just saying this because I'm a past president of Laker Nation, but the Los Angeles Lakers will win the 2011 NBA title and Kobe Bryant will tie Michael Jordan's total of 6 championships and 2 three peats. It's all about Kobe Bryant. You think a guy like that comes this close to realizing all his hope and dreams just to let it slip away at the last second? Think again. Kobe Bryant is Michael Jordan's equal. What would Mike do?