Image via WikipediaTop Offensive Player: Kobe Bryant
Top Defensive Player: Ron Artest
Top Playmaker: Kobe Bryant
Top Clutch Player: Kobe Bryant
The Unheralded Player: Derek Fisher
Best New Addition: Steve Blake
Strengths
The Lakers have size, depth and star power. They're well coached and have both experience and continuity. LA can play big or play small – fast or slow. The trio of Bynum, Gasol and Odom provides tremendous versatility and rebounding up front.
LA's bench is vastly improved which should mean fewer minutes for the starters and strong legs come playoff time.
Kobe is still Kobe – and that's a problem for the league.
Weaknesses
The Lakers aren't especially young. Other than their rookies and the explosiveness of Brown, LA doesn't have the kind of foot speed and athleticism a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder can boast.
The Thunder were the Lakers toughest foes in the West last year and they're only going to improve.
While Bynum is still young, until he's able to play through a season without a knee injury – the Lakers aren't playing to their potential. Perhaps this is the year for Andrew but given that he's still going through rehabilitation on the knee from offseason surgery – it's certainly not a lock.
The Burning Question
It seems to be the same question every year. Can Bynum hold up physically?
The seven-footer is turning 23 on October 27th, a day after the Lakers open the season against the Houston Rockets.
In 2008, Bynum's knee injury kept him out for the entire postseason - a key factor in LA's loss to the Celtics. In 2009, Andrew made it back for the playoffs but was hampered significantly by the second knee injury.
Last season, Andrew tore his meniscus and while he still wasn't 100%, Bynum was able to play through the pain and give the Lakers a more credible effort.
Once he completes rehabilitation, be it in time for the season opener or even early December - he should have a clean bill of health.
Can he maintain it?
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