Lakers motstånd säsongen 2008-2009

Här är min scoutning av Lakers motstånd uppkommande säsong. Eftersom som det är ett engelskspråkigt forum får du hålla till godo med den på engelska.

Ok, the Lakers aren't gonna go 82-0. They're probobly not gonna sweep the playoffs. But they're sure set to make a very deep run into the playoffs. So, who's the biggest competition?

New Orleans: The Lakers have for the past few seasons had a problem with quick point guards. With the addition of Posey and if he plays like last years playoffs it makes the hornest top 6 very good. But after that the bench is hardly worth mentioning. Don't know if they dropped Jannero Pargo or if he opted out, but I think that's a big loss for them.
Development from last season: None.

Utah: Traded for Brevin Knight from the Clippers. A solid backup, but not much more. Other than that, they Jazz are the same team as last year and with Jerry Sloan running the show, you know there aren't going be many changes.
Development from last season:None

Phoenix:The addition of Shaq helps Stoudemire the same way Bynum helps Gasol. Both CAN play the 5, but are more comfortable at 4. Sure Shaq, isn't Shaq of old, but he can still be effective the minutes he plays.
They also picked up Matt Barnes which helps Grant Hill who really can't go more than 20-25 min and be productive. With a bench consisting of Hill, Barbosa, Diaw and rookie Robin Lopez who looks pretty decent, I don't wanna dismiss the Suns or their new style of play.
Development from last season:Positive.

Houston: Picked up Artest which pits them with two of the best defenders in the league with Battier. My question is, how are they gonna give both playingtime with McGrady at SG? We'll see. But if Artest can keep his composure and gel with the team, this is the team I really don't want the Lakers to play. I think the Lakers would prevail, but it would be a grueling 7 game series. Houston's bench isn't as good as the Lakers, but still quite decent.
Tonights game will be the first test, although the Rockets are missing Battier.
Development from last season:Positive

San Antonio: Yes, they are 1-4. But Ginobili is out and they are a championship team. They've added Roger Mason from Washington who made good progress last year and who is a good shooter. And like someone pointed out, odd years seem to be Spur years.
Development from last season:None

Dallas: Letting Devin Harris go was a HUUUUUGE mistake in my opinion. The team now seems stagnant and the fire that was there during their finals run is gone. All that is left now is rebuilding. They are one more bad trade away from becoming the Knicks. Old players with big contracts who don't care.
Unless they pull off a miracle trade, I don't see them as a threat.
Development from last season:Negative

Denver: Short term, the trade for Billups is good. But long term I think he will look elsewhere when his contract is up and for a chamionship contender. This year, it all depends on the guys who will get the ball in Iversons absence. Look for J.R Smith and Linas Kleiza to improve and if they don't, Denver is in trouble.
But with the loss of Camby it still won't be enough.
Improvement from last season: Slight improvement.

Any other team in the west isn't worth mentioning since I don't see them as a threat.