Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Lakers Make Bold Move With Odom Contract

By Anthony Pasani

And just like that, all of the Lamar Odom speculation is over.

Lakers fans celebrate the extension of their valuable forward, while the Heat wonder what could have been had they succeeded in signing Odom. Additionally, the fact that they didn't sign Odom is a legitimate blow to the team's chances of extending Wade after his contract expires this season.

Getting back to Los Angeles, does this re-signing assure the Lakers a repeat at the NBA Title? Let's take a look. In my previous Lamar Odom article, I brought about that regardless if the Lakers were to re-sign Odom or not, they would remain as the most powerful team in the NBA.

With Odom on the team alongside Ron Artest, I really can't see any way an analyst can put any team ahead of Los Angeles when compiling pre-season power rankings. They're simply the strongest team in the league.

Not just because they are the defending champions of the NBA, but for the fact that they have the best player in the league on their team, arguably the best defending forward in the game, a top five 7 footer in the NBA, and the best sixth man off of the bench amongst the entire league.

This is simply an unstoppable roster. I've never witnessed a foursome as strong as this since I began following basketball twenty years ago. And I don't see how anyone can dispute that.

This team has the veteran experience, yet no players are old enough to be considered on the way down. They have one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Sure, some other teams have made a few nice moves, but no one will touch the Lakers in the West.

This Lakers team should win more regular season games than it has in any recent years. I wouldn't be surprised to see somewhere between 68 and 71 games. Very little stands in the way, short of major injury. Anything can happen, but I predict a repeat in Los Angeles.

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