Why the Lakers Will Repeat

The Los Angeles Lakers were the best team in the NBA all last season. Even with the emergence of the Magic as a dominant team back east, the team from LA was playing for title all year round and they showed it. This year they've held on to some of their key free agents and added a controversial All-Star to their lineup. The Lakers are the favorites again to win the championship even with the strongest teams getting even stronger (Vince Carter went to Orlando, Rasheed Wallace went to Boston, Shaq joined King James in Cleveland, and Richard Jefferson was traded to San Antonio). This year's NBA season will be one of the best and most competitive in recent history, maybe ever. But here are five reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers will win their second consecutive championship.

1. The addition of Ron Artest - The Lakers signed Artest this off-season and he will be replacing Trevor Ariza in the starting lineup. Artest was one of three players in the NBA that could guard Kobe Bryant consistently and do well. The other was Artest's former teammate Battier, and the other, Bruce Bowan, retired. This means there is one played in the league that has a shot to guard Kobe. Not only that but Artest is a potent scorer from the outside, and if he relegates himself to a Scottie Pippen type position, he could end up just like him and in the Hall of Fame if he helps Kobe and Company win a few more rings.

2. Deepest lineup in the league - They have potential All-Stars all over their lineup. Lamar Odom is the sixth man, the best in the league, and he could be starting for any other team in the NBA. The lineup includes a veteran clutch three point shooter in Derek Fisher, the best player in the NBA in Kobe Bryant, the most intimidating forward in the NBA, Ron Artest, one of the best passing and scoring big men in the game, Pau Gasol, and a rejuvenated center in Andrew Bynum. Their bench consists of Odom, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, and Luke Walton. They also have Adam Morrison for those blow out games.

3. Kobe, Kobe, Kobe - Bryant is just reaching his prime and seemingly no one in the league can stop him and he seems to act at will on the court. He has become more of a leader in his older age, 31, and he can coach the team on the floor and off. He is a lock for the Hall of Fame, but what he does in his next ten years in the league will cement his destiny. You know he has the fire and the determination to go for at least three more rings. He wants that 7th trophy to one up Jordan, kind of like he changed his number to 24.

4. Phil Jackson - Jackson decided to return to the bench for another year with the Lakers and that means very good things. He is the all time winningest coach when it comes to championships and his Triangle offense is deadly when he has the right players, and indeed he finally has the second big time inside outside threat with Ron Artest. Jackson will settle for nothing less than his 11th ring and hang up his coaching whistle at the end of the year. He wants to go out on top, even though he already is.

5. Experience and toughness - This was what the Lakers lacked the past two years and why they lost to the Celtics two years ago in the Finals. With the addition of Artest and if Bynum can stay healthy they are as tough as anyone in the league. Kobe can guard your best player, Bynum, Gasol, and Odom, can crash the boards (they are all 7'0" or taller) and Artest will rattle opponents. They know how to win now and know what it takes to do so, plus they have the determination on their side with Artest who took a pay cut so he could win a ring.