I was on the Lakers home page today, checking out what’s what, and I glanced at our record and standing. Then it really hit me. The Los Angeles Lakers, my favorite basketball team, is leading the Pacific division. It never hit me harder before. Sure, I’d known about it, but never really thought about it. We have some tough competition. The Clippers are no pushover, in my opinion, they have everything they need to win a game. You can’t get much better then them. Then you have the Golden State Warriors, impressing everyone not only with Baron Davis’ awe-inspiring court presence (which I have been really waiting for), but a rising star that surprised everyone. You can’t underestimate Sacramento either. A defensive presence in Ron Artest, and a definite leader and clutch player in Mike Bibby. And then you have Phoenix; started off rocky but you can never underestimate a team that made it to the Western Conference finals last year. Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Amare Stoudamire – WOW!
So amidst all this, the Lakers lead all of them. I admit, I was a doubter of what could happen with this team. Sure, I would always cheer for them, but my gut told me that they weren’t as good as I claimed them to be. And that is my GUT, not a small factor at all.

I doubted Andrew Bynum’s ability to start for the Lakers with both Kwame AND Mihm out. I was wrong.  I doubted Lamar Odom’s leadership and aggression. I thought he would break down without Kobe’s court presence. I was wrong.  I doubted starting Luke Walton, letting Turiaf prove himself, and the Lakers’ being able to stand against playoff-predicted teams. Guess what? I was wrong.
But I’m happy that I was wrong. Now the Lakers are 9-4, leading their division, and not looking to stop any time soon. Sure, I will always have that doubt. But the feeling of a Lakers win – well there’s nothing like it.

7Goat