By Brian A. Lester

Here come the Lakers.

Really, no other words need to be said. Yet, for your reading pleasure, I shall continue writing.

Face it, Los Angeles is picking up a full head of steam as it works its way back into contention and breathes new life into its once-dead title hopes. And there is absolutely nothing the other title contenders can do to prevent the inevitable.

So forget that Shaq still has his share of sore knees and toe problems. Come playoff time, he'll be ready to dominate just as he always does.

Even without a healthy Shaq, the Lakers seem to be as dangerous ever, especially now that Kobe Bryant has proven he may very well be the NBA's next best thing to Michael Jordan.

Lately, all Bryant has done is emulate MJ. Heck, he even talks like him during interviews.

And boy oh boy, does he ever play like him.

On Friday night, he rocked Portland's world for 40 points in the Lakers' 92-84 victory, the eighth consecutive time that KB has gone off for 40 or more on another helpless opponent.

What Bryant has done is put the Lakers on his back --- much the way Jordan did for the Bulls during their glory years --- and has left opposing teams as clueless as the student who didn't study the night before a big test on how to stop him.

The truth is, the Lakers are no longer Shaq's team. They belong to Bryant, and never in a million years would I bet money against the Lakers at this point of the year.

Earlier in the season, it looked like the three-time defending champions were headed for the lottery, wallowing near the bottom feeders of the Western Conference.

Now, the Lakers can't miss, and it's all thanks to Bryant's brilliance. He's in a zone, and suddenly, the odds of Dallas and Sacramento taking over the NBA throne don't look so hot anymore.

Think about it. Would you want to be a higher seed in the West knowing that the only way you keep your championship dreams from being flushed down the toilet in the first round is to beat the Lakers in a seven-game series.

As of the final Saturday in February, the Lakers are holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot, and surprisingly, are just eight games back of Pacific Division leader Sacramento.

Maybe the Lakers won't catch the Kings and win the conference, but that matters little if Bryant continues to work his magic.

By June, that magic might just be enough to help the Lakers pull a championship out of a hat.

Brian Lester is a sportswriter in Ohio and can be reached via email at BAL4@hotmail.com.


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