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NBA Power Rankings: The Regular Season Begins

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 20, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) prepares to shoot over Cleveland Cavaliers forwards LeBron James (23) and Kevin Love (0) at Value City Arena. Cleveland won the game 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) prepares to shoot over Cleveland Cavaliers forwards LeBron James (23) and Kevin Love (0) at Value City Arena. Cleveland won the game 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (center) huddles with teammates before the game against the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Breathe, Lakers fans. It’s nothing personal, but I have to burst your bubble: Even a resurgent MVP-caliber season from Kobe Bryant is not getting this team back to the playoffs. It’s been nearly 40 years since the Lake Show missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but I don’t see Los Angeles and that porous defense finding a way to avoid it in 2014-15. <p> </p> <p>Carlos Boozer soaking up minutes over rookie Julius Randle is going to get annoying pretty quickly, Steve Nash’s career is essentially ending on the worst possible note, Nick Young is still out and the Lakers have Robert Sacre and Jordan Hill to choose from at center. Jeremy Lin in a major market plus Kobe’s return will make sure the Lakers are as prominent on national TV as ever, but this team might give up 110 points per game this season. Enjoy whatever Vino’s got left in the bottle, because the rebuild doesn’t start until he’s gone and we’re all drunk.</p>. --. Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers. 24. team. 20

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