Kevin Durant and the upstart Thunder gave L.A. a tough battle in the first round last season, and will just keep getting better. No team has worse luck when it comes to injuries than the Blazers, but a healthy Portland squad can compete with any team in the NBA.
The Mavericks put together a team with the hopes of tangling with the Lakers in the playoffs, and the Spurs have surrounded aging veterans with a nice young nucleus.
Realistically, it's difficult to imagine more than a handful of teams knocking off L.A. in the playoffs. For the sake of argument, here's a look at how the entire Western Conference matches up with the Lakers.
Begin Slideshow
...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
