October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash (10), small forward Metta World Peace (15), shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24), center Dwight Howard (12) and power forward Pau Gasol (16) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center. Dallas won 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Close your eyes for a second and envision this scenario.

The girl you have been infatuated with for two years just broke up with her boyfriend and is now on the market. She’s giving you all the signs that you can hit it, flirty eye contact, playful touching, the usual.

You get her number with ease and she invites you over her apartment late night to “watch a movie”. Things are going extra smooth, you two start kissing and the clothes are coming off. You’re thinking in your head you hit the jackpot.

All of a sudden a pungent smell in the area of her anatomy that should be maintained completely throws things off, but you still aren’t deterred and you handle your business. Another problem arises however, not only does she smell like a dead fish she moves like one too so you are doing all the work.

All that two years of sweating this girl and it is nothing like how you expected it to be, it is far worse actually and incredibly unfulfilling. All you can think about on your walk of shame home is how you don’t even want to tell your boys about the disappointment and how you will do anything to block that night out of your head as fast as possible.

Open your eyes now.

This about sums up how fans of the Los Angeles Lakers feel about their team right now.

After adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash via trades to a stacked starting lineup and acquiring bench reinforcements Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks, the Lakers were poised to become feared in the Western Conference again in 2012-2013.

Its exactly the halfway point in the season for the Los Angeles Lakers and it is safe to say this year hasn’t gone according to plan. Seven games under .500, an embarrassing 5-14 record on the road including losing their last six away from Staples center and 12th place in the Western Conference was not what anyone expected. If you told even the biggest Laker hater that they would be 17-24 three weeks away from the All-Star Break, they would have accused you of consuming bath salts.

The reality is these Los Angeles Lakers are flawed, very flawed. Between a collective lack of heart, problems with chemistry, horrendous coaching by Mike D’Antoni, non-existent defense, subpar bench production, injuries stunting any type of continuity and personality clashes from the players to the front office this season has been an absolute mess.

The Lakers have had a reputation for approaching games with a relaxed attitude and the arrogant attitude that they could turn it on whenever they want for a while now. In 2009 and 2010 when they were NBA Champions, they could get away with it because they were just better than everyone else.

There are some differences, Phil Jackson was the coach behind those championship teams and when the Lakers felt slightly threatened by an opponent, they would rise to the occasion and play inspired basketball. The chemistry on those championship squads was great, as players like Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher proved to be invaluable leaders and balanced out Kobe Bryant’s bad cop act by being the good cops.

Bench players Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic and Trevor Ariza all made valuable contributions at one point or another to propel those Lakers teams to victory.

Today, the Western Conference is as stacked as it has ever been. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and now best team in the city LA Clippers all represent legitimate championship threats. The Memphis Grizzlies are the perennial “nobody wants to play us” squad. The Golden State Warriors are the pleasant surprise of the conference and have arrived much sooner than most expected.

The Denver Nuggets after a mediocre start to their season are picking things up and are capable of beating anyone on any given night. As it stands right now, only the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns have worse records than the Lakers.

The core problem of the Lakers in my opinion is the 2012-13 edition of the Lakeshow exhibits the same arrogant attitude they carried themselves with when they were winning championships. Only this team is not good enough to turn it on when they need to and expect to win. Awful losses lower-echelon teams such as the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings have plagued the Lakers all season long and they have routinely been outhustled and outworked in these games.

Mike D’Antoni much to the chagrin of Laker fans was hired after Mike Brown was fired in what can only be described as a panic move after a 1-4 start to the season. His all offense, no defense reputation has reared its ugly head as it did when he was coach of the New York Knicks and since he has been hired the team has been indisputably worse, the Lakers currently rank 26th in points given up a night and routinely allow players to have career nights against them.

In addition to his defensive failures, D’Antoni has managed to alienate one of the best post players of our generation, Pau Gasol all in the name of attempting to make his system work. Gasol is in the midst of his worst season as a pro, only averaging 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds a night on 43.2 percent shooting.

Because of D’Antoni’s blatant disregard for Gasol’s talents it is becoming increasingly likely that the four time All-Star will be moved come trade deadline time. When you have a man as skilled as Gasol setting picks at the three-point line and shooting 20 foot jumpers as a major part of his offense, something is seriously wrong.

As shameful as the Lakers have played, they are lucky to only be four games out of the final seed of the Western Conference playoff race. I was messing around with ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine earlier today and other than firing D’Antoni which is unrealistic unfortunately given the financial obligation made to him by Jim Buss, I have come up with a couple ways to fix the Lakers current roster that can keep their title window open in the tail end of Kobe Bryant’s career while building for the future.

Trade #1: Houston Rockets receive Dwight Howard and Antawn Jamison
Los Angeles Lakers receive Omer Asik, Carlos Delfino, Toney Douglas, Terrence Jones, Houston’s 2013 1st Round Draft pick

Let me just start by saying I know the Rockets are winning big time in this trade when we are talking about raw talent. Dwight Howard though he does not look 100 percent out on the court is still a dominant force. He is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and is approaching what should be the prime of his career at the age of 27.

Having said that, I believe Howard’s care-free personality is one of the major factors currently going against the Los Angeles Lakers. Dwight’s immaturity does not mesh well with Kobe Bryant’s win at all cost mentality and when your two stars appear to be butting heads, the logical choice is to side with the one who has won championships.

Houston would be a great destination for Dwight, it is still a huge media market and this should satisfy Howard’s cravings for the limelight though not to the extent L.A. does. A Dwight Howard/James Harden/Jeremy Lin/Chandler Parsons core could make some serious damage in the West and Jamison though he is completely and utterly useless defensively would give the Rockets bench some scoring pop.

This deal while it may not sound like a good one for Laker fans makes perfect sense for Los Angeles. While Omer Asik is not the glamorous name that Dwight Howard is, he has an equally stellar reputation as a defender. Asik will also be a more willing pick and roll partner for Steve Nash than Dwight has been thus far in his tenure with the Lakers. Omer will endear himself to Kobe and the crew as a hard-working, low maintenance personality that does not demand the ball.

Carlos Delfino would be a nice bench piece for the Lakers as his rugged defense and three point shooting would be a nice fit in Mike D’Antoni’s system and Toney Douglas has resurrected himself nicely in Houston after a disastrous 2011-12 campaign with the New York Knicks. Terrence Jones is a project at this point in his career but is capable of playing both forward positions and is a good ball-handler. He would also help improve the Lakers athleticism.

I doubt this trade would ever happen as it would be an admission by the Lakers front office that the Dwight Howard trade was a failure but this is a workable deal for both squads.

Trade #2: I’m going to admit right now that this one has a lot of moving pieces (18 total) but with the trade rumors and contract situations surrounding some of these players some are bound to be moved anyway.

Los Angeles Lakers receive: Paul Millsap, Ersan Ilyasova, Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, Deshawn Stevenson
Utah Jazz receive: Brandon Jennings, Drew Gooden, Mike Dunleavy, Johan Petro, Jannero Pargo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Al Jefferson, Metta World Peace, Earl Watson, Jodie Meeks
Atlanta Hawks receive: Pau Gasol, Jordan Hill, Doron Lamb, Alec Burks

As much as I’d like to see Gasol retire as a Laker, the situation with Mike D’Antoni is looking more and more like it is unworkable. Sending him to Atlanta would however be a blessing for his game. Pau can play his natural center position and this will also help Al Horford as he can move to the power forward spot, Horford has played out of position his entire career with the Hawks. A Gasol, Horford and Josh Smith frontcourt is downright scary in the East.

For the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis backcourt while explosive offensively is also not a workable situation. By acquiring Al Jefferson they get one of the premiere post players in the league. Metta World Peace immediately becomes the starting small forward for the Bucks and Beno Udrih while not a household name is a capable point guard who can fill in for Jennings.

The Utah Jazz in the deal acquire a great young talent in Brandon Jennings. They are also able to usher in the new era of bigs as Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors will both move into starting roles. Mike Dunleavy also adds to Utah’s Caucasian quota but he is still a gifted outside shooter who can help the Jazz off the bench in this deal. The Jazz continue on with a strong young nucleus that can continue to get better with the trade.

Lastly the Los Angeles Lakers do quite well for themselves in this transaction. Paul Millsap has been one of the more underrated players in the league for a long time and is the epitome of toughness which is something the Lakers lack. While he isn’t the absolute ideal fit for Mike D’Antoni’s “system”, Millsap can stretch the court and would be a nice fit with Omer Asik.

Ersan Ilyasova while having an awful season so far in Milwaukee if he does turn it on would be a picture perfect fit in coach D’Antoni’s system. Just last year, Ilyasova had a breakout season with the Bucks scoring 13.0 points and grabbing 8.8 rebounds a game while shooting better than 45 percent from deep. It is reasonable to expect Ilyasova to rebound as he is only 25 years old.

Devin Harris gives the Lakers an expiring contract but when healthy can be a dynamic scorer and would instantly upgrade a mediocre bench unit. Zaza Pachulia and Deshawn Stevenson are role players who would endear themselves to Laker fans with their toughness.

Your new LA Lakers rotation:

C: Omer Asik, Zaza Pachulia
PF: Paul Millsap, Earl Clark, Terrence Jones
SF: Ersan Ilyasova, Carlos Delfino
SG: Kobe Bryant, Deshawn Stevenson, Toney Douglas
PG: Steve Nash, Devin Harris, Darius Morris, Steve Blake

While this hypothetical Lakers team doesn’t have the star power that the current team has, they are a better fit for what Mike D’Antoni wants to run and would certainly show more effort than the lackadaisical nonsense that has plagued the Lakeshow thus far this season.

There is still time for the Lakers to rectify things but with each passing loss it is seeming more unlikely. One can dare to dream though right?

Nov 21, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) stretches on the net in overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Bucks 113-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

When ranking teams 1-30 numerous factors are taken into account including strength of schedule, point differential, quality wins and overall record. Of course it is still a very young season and there will naturally be fluctuation in these rankings as the 2012-13 season progresses but here are how things currently stand in Week 5.

1. Miami Heat (12-3) – While the Heatles are the top ranked team here at HH, they aren’t without question marks. Dwyane Wade save last night’s 34 point effort in a win over the Brooklyn Nets has been largely inconsistent to start the year, the usual staunch Heat defense is currently ranked 20th in points allowed giving up 99.5 points a night and they seem to at times sleepwalk through the early part of games.

With all that being said, the Heat’s are currently on a six-game winning streak and offense is clicking at a scary rate, Lebron James is following up his 2011-12 MVP campaign with another great start, averaging 24.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists a game and Ray Allen is showing why he was the perfect signing for the defending champs hitting huge shots at the end of games including the go-ahead three he hit to save the Heat from what could have been a disastrous loss to the Duncan, Parker and Ginobili-less San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.

2. San Antonio Spurs (14-4) – The Spurs had as much media scrutiny this past week as any team as a result of Greg Popovich’s decision to bench Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green for a TNT showdown with the Miami Heat and the power trip fine levied by David Stern as a result.

Can you blame Pop though?

The Spurs are a veteran team coming off playing four games in five nights and this is a tactic Pop has used for years to keep his guys fresh. Either way, the Spurs followed up a surprisingly competitive loss to the Heat with an impressive come from behind 99-95 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies last night.

Tim Duncan is looking as good as he has in years, the bench has gained much confidence after Thursday’s game and second year forward Kawhi Leonard is slated to come back from injury soon so the Spurs should keep rolling.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (12-3) – Though the Grizz blew a 15-point lead in their loss to San Antonio Saturday night Memphis has still raised many eyes around the league with some of their big time wins including victories over the Heat, Thunder, Knicks and Lakers.

Behind the top ranked defense in basketball and a greatly improved bench the Grizzlies have forced themselves into the discussion of serious title contenders. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol have been dominant on the inside and Rudy Gay is playing some of the best all-around basketball of his career.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-4) – The Thunder had a dominant week to say the least, going 4-0 winning their games by an average of 25 points. The defending Western Conference champs have not skipped a beat after the shocking James Harden trade as Kevin Martin has filled in admirably in the sixth man role averaging 16.1 points off the bench and they currently have the best point differential in the league at +9.8 points.

Kevin Durant is in the early discussion for MVP and Russell Westbrook has been dynamite as a playmaker dishing out almost 9 assists a game. Serge Ibaka’s improved game has given the Thunder a new dimension as well as OKC is scoring 105.1 points a game which leads the league.

5. New York Knicks (12-4) – The Knicks currently have the second best point differential in the league and Knicks faithful finally have a team they can honestly say they are proud of watching.

Carmelo Anthony seems to have matured greatly from his Olympic experience scoring at a proficient level while playing more inspired defensively. Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd have had a calming influence at the point guard position and J.R. Smith is playing great basketball off the bench.

How Amar’e Stoudemire fits into the teams plans is the looming question going forward but for now the Knicks have been playing excellent basketball. A game people should be very excited for next week is when the Knickerbockers fly down to South Beach for a Thursday night prime time matchup with the defending champs.

6. Brooklyn Nets (11-5)- The Nets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now despite having their five-game win streak snapped by the Miami Heat last night. They have largely been doing it on the defensive end which is a shocker of sorts and have allowed the second fewest points in the league to this point, only allowing opponents to score 91.1 points a game.

Brook Lopez has had a strong start to the season before recently getting injured, leading Brooklyn in scoring with 18.5 points a game while adding 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks and Andray Blatche has had a rebirth of sorts playing well off the bench.

7. Golden State Warriors (10-6) – I must say one of the reasons I am happy to have bought NBA League Pass is being able to watch the Golden State Warriors. Despite losing Andrew Bogut to injuries, the Warriors are one of the hottest teams in the NBA winning seven of their last nine games.

David Lee continues to produce without anyone knowing about it putting up a great all around stat line scoring 17.1 points, grabbing 10.8 rebounds and dishing 3.9 assists a game. Stephen Curry has played every game so far and Golden State has one of the leagues better benches. Klay Thompson has played much better of late after an early season slump and this team looks to be very dangerous in the Wild Wild West.

8. Los Angeles Clippers (10-6) – The other L.A. team has slowed down a bit after a quick start going 2-4 after starting off the season winning eight of their first 10 games. Jamal Crawford leads a balanced attack scoring 17.5 points a game and four other Clippers are averaging at least 10 points a contest with Eric Bledsoe barely behind at 9.9. CP3 is dishing out 9.3 assists a game and Chauncey Billups recently returned from injury but should provide a steady veteran presence.

9. Atlanta Hawks (9-5) - The Hawks haven’t exactly missed Joe Johnson very much and are one of the league’s early surprises with their strong start. A heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night snapped a six-game win streak but Atlanta’s sixth ranked defense and balanced offensive attack have kept them afloat as five players are averaging 10 points a game or better.

10. Los Angeles Lakers (8-8) – As disappointing as the Lake show has been to start the year they still have plenty of time to turn their season around. Despite the team being plagued by injuries, questionable effort at times and shoddy bench play, Kobe Bryant has been phenomenal in the early going, leading the league in scoring with 26.9 points a game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. It is impossible to assess this team without Steve Nash in action but the Lakers best basketball is ahead of them.

11. Chicago Bulls (8-7) – The Bulls fourth ranked defense keeps them in every game and Joakim Noah is playing at an All-Star level averaging a near double-double of 13.3 points and 9.9 rebounds while adding 4.3 assists and better than 2 blocks a game. Chicago has only allowed 86 points a game in winning three of their last four.

12. Boston Celtics (9-8) - The Celtics have had an up and down start to the season and Wednesday’s senseless altercation with Kris Humphries led to Rajon Rondo’s two-game suspension. Paul Pierce’s timeless game is keeping the C’s competitive and Rondo will return to action on Wednesday against the Minnesota T’Wolves. A home and home with rival Philadelphia this coming weekend will be interesting to watch.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (10-7) - The youth movement is alive and well in Philly with Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner all keeping the Sixers competitive in the highly competitive Atlantic Division despite Andrew Bynum being unable to suit up because of bowling accidents. Jason Richardson has provided the Sixers with a needed outside threat hitting 42.9 percent of his shots from downtown.

14. Houston Rockets (8-8) – The Rockets have won three of their past four games and their third ranked scoring offense is a big reason why. While the Rockets can’t stop anybody these days, James Harden is the fifth leading scorer and Chandler Parsons is enjoying a nice breakout season under the radar and filling up the stat sheet, averaging 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists a contest.

15. Utah Jazz (9-9) – The Utah Jazz are a tale of two different teams. In the friendly confines of their home in Salt Lake City they are undefeated winning all six of their games. However away from home they are 3-9. Luckily for the Jazz five of their next seven games are home. Seven Jazz players average between 9.4 and 16.7 points a game making the Jazz a squad that can hurt you in many ways.

16. Denver Nuggets (8-9) – Not a good week for the Nuggets by any means, losing all three of their games this week on the road. Tough losses to the Jazz and Warriors followed by a three point barrage at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson have struggled greatly to start the season and need to step up in order for the Nuggets to keep up in the West.

17. Milwaukee Bucks (8-7) – The Bucks are currently tied with the Bulls for the Central Division lead which looks like it could be an open race all season long. Ersan Ilyasova’s early season struggles continue to plague Milwaukee though he had a solid performance in yesterday’s win over the Celtics, scoring 15 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists.

18. Indiana Pacers (8-9) – Much like the Denver Nuggets, the Pacers are a young team struggling. While savvy veteran David West has looked great early on, up and coming players Paul George and Roy Hibbert have not been able to build on the momentum from last year. Indiana is ranked 29th in scoring averaging 90.9 points a game so the offense must improve.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-8) - The T’Wolves received some encouraging news when Ricky Rubio was cleared to practice fully for the first time today. Kevin Love is rounding into form averaging 21.7 points and 15.3 rebounds a game and I expect this beat up team to finally get some good fortune coming their way soon.

20. Dallas Mavericks (8-9) – After a strong start out of the gate winning four of their first five games, the Mavs have regressed and gone 4-8 in their last 12 games. O.J. Mayo has been a revelation offensively averaging 20.2 points a game and Dirk Nowitzki should be coming back in the next couple weeks which should help matters in Dallas.

21. Portland Trail Blazers (7-10) - A rough week for the Blazers, losing back to back games to the lowly Detroit Pistons and previously winless Washington Wizards before winning a thriller in overtime last night in Cleveland. Damian Lillard has had the typical rookie growing pains of late but is still the early favorite for Rookie of the Year while Wes Matthews and Nic Batum continue to play solid basketball for Portland.

22. Charlotte Bobcats (7-8) – The Bobcats were down 54 points in their embarrassing loss Monday night to the Thunder and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. I guess it’s not all bad in the Queen City though since Charlotte has already matched their win total from last year. Mike Dunlap has done a commendable job as first year coach of this young team.

23. Phoenix Suns (7-11) – I must say the Suns have performed above expectations despite losing four of their last five including a 40 point beatdown at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. A strong bench has kept Phoenix competitive for the most part and Jermaine O’Neal is looking as healthy as he has in years, hopefully he can keep it up.

24. Orlando Magic (5-10) – I guess that 2-0 start was an abberation after all and there is no Ewing Theory here with this Orlando Magic team. J.J Redick has played quite well for the Magic and is a candidate to be traded to a contender as his outside shooting could certainly help many squads.

25. Detroit Pistons (5-13) – After starting the season 0-8, the Pistons have played much better basketball of late going 5-5 in their last 10 games. Greg Monroe is looking more and more like a franchise cornerstone, leading the team in points (16.1), rebounds (9.7) and steals (1.7) while doing a nice job creating for teammates with 3.4 assists a night.

26. Toronto Raptors (4-13) – The Raptors have been a mild disappointment to start the season. Kyle Lowry has been plagued by injuries after a hot start and Dwane Casey’s guys have reverted to their typical struggling defensive ways. The Raptors are currently allowing 101.2 points a night which is the fifth most points in the league. Jonas Valanciunas has certainly had his moments as a rookie and should post even better numbers provided he stays out of foul trouble.

27. New Orleans Hornets (4-11) – It’s a shame we haven’t seen what this Hornets team could do when they are healthy. Rookie cornerstone Anthony Davis has only played in 6 games and Eric Gordon hasn’t played at all. Greivis Vasquez has turned into a quality point guard though, he is tied for fifth in assists with Russell Westbrook with 8.7 a game.

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-13) – Kyrie Irving’s fractured finger has tempered expectations for the Cavs as he was playing great prior to his injury. Anderson Varejao is the consummate professional and could conceivably be an Eastern Conference All-Star this year, he leads the league in rebounding averaging 15.3 a contest and has scored 15.1 points a game as well. Dion Waiters must improve his shot selection as he is shooting a brutal 36.3 percent from the field.

29. Sacramento Kings (4-12) – The Kings are a mess, they are the most selfish team in basketball ranking last as a team in assists with only 18.4 a game. Demarcus Cousins appears to have regressed as well, shooting an awful 41.7 percent from the field for a big man and has already let his temper get the best of him with his post-game confrontation with Spurs announcer Sean Elliott a few weeks ago.

30. Washington Wizards (1-13) – Bradley Beal guarantees playoffs? Let’s be real fellas you JUST got your first win.

Feb 09, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) looks for the rebound in the second half against Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) and small forward Metta World Peace (15) at the TD Garden. The Lakers defeated the Celtics in overtime 88-87. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

I won’t inundate readers with the history that exists between these two legendary franchises. The longest running rivalry in the NBA has been rekindled over the past five seasons with the Boston Celtics defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals behind their big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, winning the clinching game by 39 points.

2010 was a different story, however, with the Lakers returning the favor coming back from a three games to two deficit to stun Boston in seven games. Despite Kobe Bryant shooting 6-24 from the field in the deciding, the Lakers dominated the boards and overwhelmed the Celtics with their size in the paint along with some heroics from the man formerly known as Ron Artest.

The Lakers won both contests between the two teams last season but only by a combined four points meaning that these games could have just as easily ended in Boston’s favor. With both teams looking drastically different heading into the 2012-13 NBA season, I don’t envision last season’s results having much bearing in future games between these long time bitter rivals. Players from both teams have a mutual admiration yet hatred for one another and this could very well be a preview of the 2013 NBA Finals.

Point Guard

Rajon Rondo/Dionte Christmas vs. Steve Nash/Steve Blake/Darius Morris

Jan. 28, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard (13) Steve Nash against Boston Celtics guard (9) Rajon Rondo at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

In any other NBA off-season, the addition of Steve Nash would be the marquee acquisition for the Los Angeles Lakers. Even if he has taken a backseat to Dwight Howard in the press, Nash solves the Lakers biggest weakness which was their spotty point guard production. Even at the age of 38, he is seemingly defying father time and still playing basketball at a high level, almost leading a mediocre Phoenix Suns supporting cast to the NBA playoffs last season while averaging 12.5 points and 10.7 assists a contest, which was good for second in the league.

With an obvious upgrade in personnel at his disposal, I expect Nash to thrive playing alongside Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace even if there is a period of transition where players adjust to one another. The two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star keeps himself in excellent shape and will be highly motivated to win his first NBA title.

The number one assist man in the NBA during the 2011-2012 season however plays for the Boston Celtics. Rajon Rondo dropped 11.7 dimes a game last season and watching his improvement from year to year has been a special experience. Rondo because of how the Lakers have defended him in the past tends to score more than his usual output when the two teams meet. In two matchups against L.A., Rondo averaged 19 points a game but this came at the cost of his assists total.

While Rondo averaged 8.5 assists in the two games which would be a good amount for most other facilitators, this is well below his season averages. The Lakers do an effective job making Rondo a scorer instead of a distributor which is his preferred role. Kobe Bryant and other Laker guards who have been assigned to guard Rajon Rondo are notorious for being five to six feet off him, daring Rajon to shoot jumpers and limiting his drives to the basket.

Steve Blake is the primary back-up point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. An old college friend of mine that I used to play basketball with coined the acronym “STD” which is short for scared to death. I know when one thinks STD’s their mind immediately turns to sex but STD is a perfect way to describe how Steve Blake has played basketball since joining the Lakers in 2010. While Mitch Kupchak has done an excellent job as GM for the Lakers, Steve Blake is most likely a signing he would like to have back.

Blake’s once reliable three point shot betrayed him this past season as he only shot 33.5 percent from downtown, more disturbing is the fact that he has never shot better than 38 percent from the field in his two seasons in Los Angeles. Darius Morris though he has potential had an underwhelming rookie season in 2011-12 and is the next alternative for the Lakers.

The Celtics do not have a clearly defined back-up for Rajon Rondo, but Dionte Christmas is capable of playing the point in stretches, as is Jason Terry. Even with the lack of a clear cut back-up for Rondo, you can’t do much worse than Steve Blake. Rondo and Nash are fairly even as starters but the reserves for each team swing this matchup in favor of Boston.

Advantage: Boston Celtics

Shooting Guard

Avery Bradley/Courtney Lee/Jason Terry vs. Kobe Bryant/Jodie Meeks

Feb 10, 2011; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots the ball during the second half against Boston Celtics shooting guard Von Wafer (12) at the TD Garden. The Lakers defeated the Celtics 92-86. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

While the Celtics have enviable depth at the two-guard position, the best shooting guard in the NBA is currently employed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston does have the luxury of giving Kobe different looks defensively, Avery Bradley is already an elite level defensive player and Courtney Lee is also fearless at that end. However, Jason Terry stands no chance in a matchup against Bryant and will likely have to cross match and guard whoever the Lakers are playing at the point.

Kobe’s size and skill level will give anyone fits that has the misfortune of guarding him. Doc Rivers defensive schemes have given Kobe problems in the past and the Celtics always make Bryant work hard for his baskets.

Even still, Bryant is still playing at a high level and averaged 26.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4 rebounds while shooting 45.5 percent from the field in the two wins against Boston last season.

Jodie Meeks is an underrated acquisition by the Lakers, his ability to spread the court will make him an integral piece off the bench and is a solid defender. Meeks for his career is a 37.1 percent three-point shooter and should be able to get plenty of open looks with the firepower the Lakers have on offense.

Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers

Small Forward

Paul Pierce/Jeff Green vs. Metta World Peace/Devin Ebanks

Feb 10, 2011; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) drives the ball during the first half against Los Angeles Lakers small forward Ron Artest (15) at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

In my opinion, this small forward matchup is the reason the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals in 2010 over the Boston Celtics, Ron Artest err.. Metta World Peace’s defense on Paul Pierce in Games 6 and 7 was nothing short of masterful, holding “The Truth” to 15.5 points on 37.9 percent shooting over the final two games of the series.

While Pierce at this stage of his career is the better player, World Peace has a track record of giving Paul a hard time, including feeling obligated to perform an ode to Pierce after one of their matchups dating back to World Peace’s days as an Indiana Pacer. It is always fun when these two all-star caliber players go at it, both are notorious trash talkers and relish the challenge of going against one another.

I happen to like the backups for both starters in this matchup. For the Celtics, Jeff Green has great size as a small forward and has a well-rounded game. He may take a while to get back into the groove of things as he is recovering from heart surgery which required him to miss the entire 2011-2012 NBA season. When utilized correctly however, he has proven to be an effective player.

Devin Ebanks has the potential to be Trevor Ariza like off the bench for the Lakers and even looks like him. Ebanks is a lanky wing player who has great defensive instincts and is a very good rebounder. In my estimation, he is a solid athlete who is a consistent jumper away from seriously threatening Metta World Peace for the starting small forward spot.

Advantage: Boston Celtics

Power Forward

Brandon Bass/Chris Wilcox/Jared Sullinger vs. Pau Gasol/Antawn Jamison

Feb 09, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) drives the ball in the first half against Boston Celtics power forward Brandon Bass (30) and center Jermaine O

Pau Gasol’s length in this matchup will prove to be very problematic for the Boston Celtics to contend with. Gasol was very effective against the Celtics last season, averaging 19 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4 assists in their two matchups. Gasol stands 7 feet tall and has a four inch height advantage over the shorter Brandon Bass. While Bass is competent defensively, this is a matchup the Lakers can exploit relatively easily. Gasol is a willing passer out of the post and if the Celtics elect to throw double teams at Pau, it will create opportunities for other Lakers to hit easy shots.

The Lakers have quality depth at the power forward spot, Antawn Jamison was acquired as a free agent to add some scoring punch off the bench. Jamison though coming off a poor shooting season with the Cleveland Cavaliers is still a matchup problem for most power forwards. He’s a crafty scorer who has the ability to stretch the floor.

Jared Sullinger has the chance to be an impactful rookie for the Boston Celtics with his strong rebounding presence and ability to score around the basket. His health is the main concern as he has a bad back which caused his draft stock to plummet. Chris Wilcox is a good athlete who will provide energy off the bench but is not very skilled otherwise. This matchup is clearly in favor of the Lakers.

Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers

Center

Kevin Garnett/Darko Milicic/Jason Collins/Fab Melo vs. Dwight Howard/Jordan Hill

Feb 06, 2011; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) returns up court during the second half with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) at the TD Garden. The Celtics defeated Orlando 91-80. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

Dwight Howard after pissing most NBA fans off in the process of his indecision is finally a Los Angeles Laker. His impact will be most felt on the defensive end, where the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is expected to shore up a Lakers defense that was already pretty good despite their difficulty guarding uber-athletic point guards. He is also as good a rebounder as there is in the NBA and should get many easy pick and roll baskets playing alongside Steve Nash.

Kevin Garnett much like Dwight Howard is also an elite defensive presence. Boston has annually been a top defensive team since KG arrived in Beantown in 2007-08 and while he has lost some athleticism, the move to the center position seems to have reinvigorated him. KG’s mid-range game can be very useful in this matchup as he can take Dwight Howard away from patrolling the paint.

For the Boston Celtics, Darko Milicic, Jason Collins and Fab Melo are all in contention for minutes as backups to KG. Most likely Milicic will be the main backup and despite his reputation as a 2003 draft day bust, Darko is a good shot blocker and can be useful off the bench.

Jason Collins is actually serviceable in this matchup as he is big enough to guard Dwight Howard without help and has experienced success guarding him in the past. Fab Melo is extremely raw and is not expected to contribute much as a rookie for the Celtics.

For the Lakers, Jordan Hill is a high-energy big man who is a great rebounder. He isn’t much of a scorer but is capable of hitting a short jumper and should be a valuable contributor off the bench. Overall, the Lakers have the advantage at the center position though it is not as pronounced of an edge as it would be against other teams.

Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers

Coaching:

Doc Rivers vs. Mike Brown

All things considered, I thought Mike Brown did a pretty good job in his first season as the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. With a very short off-season to implement his system, Brown led the Lakers to a 41-25 record and the third seed in the Western Conference despite numerous distractions.

The vetoed Chris Paul trade which led to Lamar Odom being traded to Dallas and the nauseating Pau Gasol trade rumors made it an eventful season in Los Angeles in 2011-12 and Brown did a nice job weathering the storm.

The expectations are different though in 2012-13 and it is championship or bust for the Lakers with the new additions they have added this off-season.

With that being said, Doc Rivers gives Boston the edge in coaching. He consistently brings out the best in his players despite the surrounding circumstances and will do his due diligence to relive the glory of 2008.

Advantage: Boston Celtics

Outlook:

I see this series being a battle of wills. The NBA’s two most historic teams going at it and so much at stake, the Boston Celtics have 17 championships and the Los Angeles Lakers have 16 of their own. Will Kobe tie Jordan in rings? Will Steve Nash win his first title? Do KG and Paul Pierce walk off into the sunset bringing the Celtics back to glory?

I believe the Lakers size down low will be the defining difference, LA has dominated Boston in rebounding in past seasons and I don’t expect that trend to change. Boston does have advantages of their own but in a low-scoring series as I anticipate this being, the team that will win the rebound battle will win the series.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers in 7