Tough Days Ahead for the Lakers

Currently owing a hot streak of nine straight wins, following their 108-88 demolition of the road-weary Phoenix Suns, the Lakers appear every bit of a champion.

Ron Artest has been fitting well in the Lakers' triangle offense, averaging modest numbers of 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals during his first 19 games in the purple-and-gold uniform.

Andrew Bynum, meantime, has up the ante of his game thus far this year. Avearging 18 points and just above 10 boards per night and two blocks, the young seven-foot Laker slotman has improved further in his post plays, posting match up problems against opponents.

One thing, however, the Lakers will have to be prepared for is the coming road games.

Considering that in their first 19 games, LA only played four road games, the most recent of which, (prior to the 9-0 streak) was a 26-point humiliation at the Pepsi Center against Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets.

As the Lakers end their six-game home stand versus Minnesota this week, LA will be away from the Staples Center 19 of the 28 times where they are expected to play against more hostile crowd, teams out to beat them, different time zones plus a lot of traveling.

The coming road games will surely test the mettle and readiness of the Lakers to defend their title, which they won at the expense of the Orlando Magic last June.

The good thing though for LA this season is the difficulty of opposing teams to decide which player to guard defensively.

Kobe Bryant, considered the NBA's premiere player now, has added a repertoire to his growing offensive arsenal-the low-post, which he improved on during the off season after his one-on-one sessions with NBA great center Hakeem Olajuwon.

Bynum also has a healthy Pau Gasol to lean on in the shaded lane for defense, rebounding and dunks, while Artest supplies the needed defensive presence against any opposing scorer.

Coming off the bench and expected to produce anytime is Lamar Odom, who has willingly stepped back and play the supporting role in the star-studded LA rotation.

With a host of scorers, defensive players and role players, the Lakers must translate these into Ws that would carry them on to the best record and the home court advantage going into the Playoffs.