Lakers road to finals get easier

In the past several seasons the WC appear to be the more competitive of the two conferences for a team to advance to the finals.So far this season that couldn't be any further from the truth.The west seems to be weakening week to week.If the Lakers remain healthy the road to the finals will be a cake walk for the recent two time NBA champs.

Now that the first half of this NBA season has reached its peak several of the WC teams that started out looking like formiable opponents to the Lakers have for one reason or another found themsleves becoming less competitive at this stage of the season.The two teams that come to mind are the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets.

The Mavericks started out this season winning game after game and appeared to be positioning their team to possible contend at a high enough level to get pass the second round of the playoffs this season.By adding Tyson Chandler,Caron Butler,players that bring two very different elements to the team.Tyson a 7'center that rebounds and defends the paint and Butler a small forward that gives the Maverick's the one two punch scoring wise in their starting lineup they've needed for awhile.Both players does share a similar trait in their DNA,grit&toughness.Something that seem missing from the Mavericks despite having MVP candidate Dirk Nowintski.Just as things started to look up for the Mavericks they were hit by the injury bug with back to back players.Their two star players Dirk and Caron both suffered injuries about a week apart.Butler is scheduled to be back by the playoffs and Dirk has returned to the lineup recently.Maybe there is still hope for the Mavericks but once the playoffs start if Butler isn't fully recovered and in game shape there chances will still be slim.

Next we have the Denver Nuggets a team in my opinion has the right players to possibly compete with the Lakers again in a 7game series.The Nuggets were getting back a few injured players as the season progressed.All the cards were falling back into place alone with their recently absentee coach George Karl returning to there leadership.Just when things were starting to shape up for them Carmelo Anthony,superstar small forward of the Nuggets began contract talks with the media.He hasn't pulled a Lebron James act yet but the team seems affected by the everyday pressures of answering Carmelo Anthony questions and a few players not knowing what the future will hold.The team is playing very inconsistent due to not knowing who will be on the team from day to day.They haven't looked as focused as they were in the beginning of the season.I don't expect Anthony to be with the Nuggets passed the trade deadline in Feb.Even if he's on the team passed the deadline it will be hard to get back to the same level of intensity from a team that had issues all season long.Another team that has gone from a possible contender to a surefire pretender.

Realistically,the only team in the WC midseason that looks like a true contender to the LAKERS are the San Antonio Spurs.The Spurs have maintained the best record in the NBA most of the season.The Spurs have been their before and still have some of the pieces and coach that helped them win the NBA championship in the past.Adding sf Richard Jefferson and few sharp shooters from distance,a backup center has given an already good team a boost to being even better.Also Pop the coach has added a few new schemes to their playbook this season.The Spurs has adopted some semblance to a euro-style at times by running in transition more.Pop has figured out how to let his team play at a faster pace in spurts and keeping the ole guy(TD)engaged in the game.If there will be a team to dethrone the Lakers this season in the west i feel it might be that Teaxs team wearing the blk/white.