It's as simple as the title.  

The Lakers are the best team in the NBA and until a team dethrones them there's no validity to any argument otherwise.  The Miami Heat are putting together a strong team with Wade, James, and Bosh but they have yet to play a game.

Los Angeles has won back-to-back NBA Titles.

Kobe Bryant has five NBA Championship Rings and is one of the greatest NBA Players in history.  They also have Phil Jackson who has eleven rings!  If the Lakers were to win a third straight title in 2011, it would be Jackson's fourth three-peat.

Think about that for a second.

Kobe Bryant would have as many rings as Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson would six and six for a grand total of twelve titles.  That's a ridiculous amount of winning

Dwayne Wade down in South Beach has won one NBA title that came in 2006 with Shaq. Chris Bosh is yet to advance past the first round of the playoffs. And LeBron James fails time and time again in the playoffs.  James has a sweep in the NBA finals at the hand of the San Antonio Spurs to his experience.

What makes the Lakers the best team in the NBA is the players that make up their roster. They play together as team and know their roles in the offense and on defense.

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are two of the toughest post players in the NBA.  They both defend, rebound, and can score points in the paint.  

Ron Artest was a defensive mastermind shutting down Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in the NBA Finals.  It was him who came up with the big shots when they needed it most in Game seven.  Afterwards he proceeded to thank his psychiatrist.

What does it matter he has an NBA ring now.  Combine him with Odom and point guard Derrick Fisher running the offense this team works together.  The offense evolves around Kobe Bryant but his teammates are a huge part of the success.

Sure the Lakers lost Jordan Farmer and possibly Shannon Brown.  Two quality bench players who were always able to contribute.

I'm sorry, but I think they upgraded tremendously in Steve Blake and Matt Barnes. Blake can shoot the ball from three and will be a great backup to spell Fisher. Remember Fisher is coming back for less money, because he is close with Bryant and he wants to continue to win.

Even LeBron and his crew couldn't pry Fisher away from where he has found home. By the way Matt Barnes is a small forward who can do it all. He rebounds and shoots the ball from three. A starter down in Orlando, he is going to be electric off the bench in Phil Jackson's system.

Los Angeles may have gotten away with robbery by drafting David Ebanks out of West Virginia in the second round.  I saw him play last season and his game is versatile.  Him and Derrick Caracter a big man out of UTEP should make in impact in Lakers uniform sometime in the future.

The bright lights and party that is South Beach has a lot of competition when it comes to trying to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers.  Best out of a seven series, I'm taking the Lakers without a question.

I saw what they did to the Orlando Magic in 2009, and then unfortunately saw them comeback with their backs against the ropes and avenge their 2008 finals loss by defeating Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics.

The Lakers at home are about as perfect as it gets in the playoffs.  Thirty-three playoff games at the Staples Center over the last three seasons and three losses. Two of those came at the hands of Boston.

People are crazy if they think the Heat are just going to go out and win 70 games.  It just doesn't happen that way.  There is too much parody and competition for that too happen their first year together.

Los Angeles is just a talented basketball squad.  They do whatever it takes to win games.  If they have home-court advantage and are healthy entering the 2011 Playoffs, I don't see them losing a series.

It's a really long season, and a lot can happen, but until the Lakers are eliminated from the playoffs they are the favorite to win the 2011 NBA Title.

Kobe Bryant is dedicated and now even more motivated to win his sixth NBA Championship Ring.  He has his coach back for one last ride on the bench.

How appropriate it would be if the Lakers defeated the Heat in the Finals next year.  A long way away, but that would be the most anticipated series in all of sports over the last two decades.

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The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst has quoted sources in reporting that Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is attempting to trade the Lakers' Sasha Vujacic .

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com has also reported on his blog that Laker free agent Shannon Brown has been offered a contract by the New York Knicks . Furthermore, he states that "two people with knowledge of the situation" confirm that the Lakers are seeking to trade Vujacic in order to avoid increasing their luxury tax hit in re-signing Brown.

Sasha Vujacic has also been widely rumored to have been offered as trade bait to the Minnesota Timberwolves, reportedly for the rights to newly-acquired Delonte West. It is unclear if this move would be to retain West, or to immediately waive him.

It does seem that if Brown was offered a contract by the Knicks, he could be waiting on Kupchak to move Vujacic's salary so that he can get a more robust offer from LA.

The Lakers own Brown's Early Bird Rights, meaning they can offer him up to the full MLE, or approximately $5.8 million. It is thought, however, that Brown would receive an offer of about half that much annually.

Sasha's contract is an expiring one, which makes him a sought-after commodity. This could be enticing to either the Knicks, in order to pursue other free agents next year or package him in a trade, or the Timberwolves.

An interesting scenario proposed by Bleacher Report's Hadarii Jones involves the Lakers trading Vujacic and Shannon Brown to the Knicks for the rights to Tracy McGrady .

However, not once has it been reported that the Lakers have even expressed interest in McGrady. If one looks at the history of Kupchak's free agency moves, he contacts the free agent players he has targeted early on, so it is exceedingly unlikely that the Lakers have any interest at all in bringing in McGrady.

Furthermore, Kupchak has stated they are looking to re-sign Brown: "I think there’s a good chance that in the next couple of weeks we can have some resolution with Shannon. I’m optimistic."

Therefore, the most likely Laker scenario at this point is that Kupchak finds a team to take Vujacic, clearing the way for Brown to return to Los Angeles. McGrady is a fan favorite though and continues to be an enticing player to Laker fans. However, it is looking very likely that if McGrady does come to LA, it will only be if he wears the red, white, and blue Clipper colors.

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The signings of Steve Blake, Theo Ratliff, and Matt Barnes appeared to signal an end to free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers, but events which transpired over the last two days may speak to the contrary.

Recent reports have said the New York Knicks are interested in acquiring Lakers guard Shannon Brown, and Sasha Vujacic could be on the trading block in an attempt to dump his guaranteed contract.

If both players leave, they would join Jordan Farmar and Josh Powell in departing the Lakers this offseason, and their absence would potentially open more roster spots on the team.

Rookies Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks look like safe bets to make the team, but Brown and Vujacic's departure would leave Matt Barnes as the only capable backup behind Kobe Bryant unless Tracy McGrady is still an option.

General manager Mitch Kupchak has been silent thus far about any intentions to sign McGrady, but if these recent rumors are true, they could be the clearest indication yet that Kupchak is exploring this option.

Although the Lakers are said to have been in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves concerning Vujacic, the Knicks are an intriguing option considering their interest in Brown.

The Lakers could theoretically offer Brown and Vujacic to the Knicks in exchange for McGrady, and avoid the subsequent hit to their salary cap which is already $22 million over the limit.

McGrady is not necessarily an essential piece to the Lakers' quest for a three-peat, but assuming he is healthy, he does have a myriad of talents that would be very helpful along the journey.

The need for a secondary scorer from the perimeter is one of the few weaknesses the Lakers may have right now, because beyond Bryant there are few players on the roster who can create their own offense.

McGrady may not have the same physical skills from seasons past, but his ability to get to the rim and finish, or either create scoring opportunities for teammates, would be a valuable weapon in the Lakers' arsenal.

Other players such as Barnes, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, and Blake are all capable scorers from the perimeter, but they usually rely on the talents of teammates for points.

That's the primary reason why Bryant finds himself the focus of attention at the end of close games, because few other Lakers have shown the ability to penetrate on isolation plays.

A healthy McGrady would cure this ill, and his versatility would make his transition to the triangle offense almost seamless. So what appears to be the hold-up in the case of both parties?

McGrady's overtures with the Chicago Bulls suggest being the focus of the offense is still one of his goals, but it's hard to believe he would place the chance to earn a championship over personal glory.

The Bulls can be considered contenders, but the Lakers have appeared in each of the last three NBA Finals and won the last two championships, and a third doesn't seem that far out of reach.

If winning a NBA title in the near future was McGrady's goal, then the choice would seem obvious, but a diminished role may not be what he is looking for at this point in his career.

McGrady may still envision himself as an elite player in the NBA, and ego has driven his decision-making process in previous stops in his career.

That may be one of the reasons a player as talented as McGrady has played for four different teams throughout the course of his career, with his next destination being his fifth.

There also could be a strong chance that Kupchak and the Lakers are not interested in signing McGrady at all, due to the uncertainty over his health and concerns on how his presence would affect team chemistry.

McGrady would represent a major move for a franchise who has adopted a less is more approach over the course of the last three seasons, and the Lakers have been very successful in their methods.

But if McGrady is available the temptation may be too much for the Lakers to resist, and if the rumors about Brown and Vujacic prove to be true, a strong push for McGrady could be the direction the Lakers choose to take.

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Despite winning the last two NBA titles, the Lakers actively sought out ways to improve their championship roster. Los Angeles upgraded their guard depth and bench depth, filling in holes and adding pieces that could make them even stronger for the 2010-2011 season.

However, the Lakers still remain at 11 players on their current roster with one last spot to fill.  There have been continuous rumors that the Lakers will resign Shannon Brown to fill that spot, but there are 10 reasons why signing Tracy McGrady, long rumored to the Lakers, is the better choice.

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Los Angeles Lakers' center Andrew Bynum finally decided to have surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his knee, and the Lakers may finally have come to a conclusion about Sasha Vujacic's future with the team.

Bynum recently had successful arthroscopic surgery in New York for the right knee he injured during last season's playoffs, but that doesn't stop the question as to why he took so long to do it.

Bynum may have been fearful of going under the knife yet again, or he could have been basking in the glow of his second consecutive championship with the Lakers, but his timing was terrible.

Bynum's value to the Lakers has increased, especially since he stands as the primary foil to Miami's new super team, but most reports say he will be limited once training camp rolls around.

Bynum's decision to delay surgery reminds me of Shaquille O'Neal's choice to do the same during his time in Los Angeles, and his struggle to get in shape after the nominal procedure was done.

The Western conference will be tighter than ever this season, and a healthy Bynum is essential to getting the jump on what will be a very competitive group of teams seeking the Lakers' crown.

Furthermore, Bynum's presence gives the Lakers the NBA's tallest and most talented front line, and when paired with Pau Gasol, it is the one area where opposing defenses have no answer.

Bynum's development has progressed to the point he could arguably be called the league's most fundamentally gifted true center, but he runs the risk of another setback if he is not fully healed for training camp.

The addition of Theo Ratliff means that the Lakers can be more cautious with Bynum's rehab, in much the same manner they were when Gasol missed the first few weeks of the 2009-10 season.

But even though Ratliff can be a defensive force, he doesn't bring the same offensive dominance that Bynum is capable of, and Ratliff is nowhere near the same type of rebounder.

On a lesser, but just as interesting note, recent rumors have said the Lakers were in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves in an effort to unload the guaranteed contract of under-performing shooting guard Sasha Vujacic.

Many Lakers' fans would welcome this move, but with recent reports linking Shannon Brown to the New York Knicks, the deal would leave Matt Barnes as the only back-up to Kobe Bryant.

The inquiries about Vujacic could be an attempt to clear up financial space in order to resign Brown, and this is actually the move which makes the most sense in terms of the Lakers' roster.

Brown is viewed as a much more important piece of the Lakers' bench than Vujacic, and he was one of the primary targets for general manager Mitch Kupchak in the offseason.

If the Lakers lose both Vujacic and Brown, it would likely mean that the Lakers are intent with starting the season with rookies Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks both on the roster.

Although both remain unsigned to the best of my knowledge, they remain the logical choices, especially when compared to Tracy McGrady, who has yet to make a decision about his own future.

Many Lakers' fans have hoped that Kupchak could convince McGrady to accept a lesser role with Los Angeles, but McGrady seems intent on proving he can still be a star player in the NBA.

In this instance, the Chicago Bulls would appear to be the more attractive destination for McGrady, because he has the chance to start immediately for the young Bulls, as well as assume the reins of leadership.

There is still a small sliver of hope that the Lakers could convince McGrady to come to Los Angeles, but that would likely depend on whether or not the Lakers can get the Brown and Vujacic situation cleared up before McGrady signs elsewhere.

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Ever since the signing of the "Big Three" in Miami, there has been an overwhelming amount of articles on the Heat, for them or against them.  There are a fair amount of haters, as well as those who view the Heat as favorites to win it all.

Something I have come to notice is that a lot of those haters tend to reside on the West Coast.  The city of Los Angeles, to be exact.

Before I take my dive into the meat of this piece, let me start off with the fact that of course the Los Angeles Lakers deserve the proper respect for winning the 2010 NBA title.  Don't forget they repeated and will be going for a "three-peat" this year.  Kobe and his boys deserve all the respect and more at this point and time as any defending champion in any sport does.

But, and that's a huge but, there's a difference between the Lakers and their fans demanding respect and being straight up arrogant and quite frankly ignorant.  

Many Lakers fans are upset at the amount of attention the Heat are getting this summer. Can you blame the Heat?  Can you blame the media?  Can you blame Heat fans?

This is, without question, the biggest free agent summer in perhaps all of sports, and now you have a superstar pairing like none before.  And you expect people to not talk about it and instead only talk about the Lakers and how great they are?  No, so get over it, Lakers fans.  And you know you would be talking just as much and be just as proud if you were in the Heat's situation right now.  Don't even bother attempting to deny that.

Secondly, yes, many NBA fans and analysts have gone a little bit overboard with the predictions for this coming season.  Some refuse to give the Heat the credit they deserve for acquiring James, Bosh, and Wade and filling out the rest of their roster.  Some continue to give the unproven (yes, I am a Heat fan and yes, fellow Heat fans, we are unproven at this point) Heat too much credit, predicting an easy Heat win in the 2011 championship.  

Are some Heat fans selling short the Lakers' greatness?  Sure, but this is a two way street.

I have read many overconfident articles and comments on here and different sites regarding Kobe and the Lakers.  Lakers fans give off the sense that they believe they are dominant and unbeatable.  No one can beat the Lakers in their minds, because after all, they have won back to back championships.  The back to back titles is without a doubt where this false sense of being invincible is coming from.

Many Lakers fans have stated the Heat still have no chance, that LeBron is a choker and still unproven, that the Heat team doesn't match up with the Lakers at all.  There are even those who say the Heat will have a very difficult time getting out of the East. Let me put things in the right perspective here.

Lakers fans, by no means did you dominate this past season.  Didn't the Lakers barely escape a near first round upset against the young Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder?  LA's best playoff series in 2010 was against the Jazz, but other than that, where was all that Laker dominance their fans speak of?  Taking a series in six games as you did with the Thunder and the Suns is by no means dominance.

Then we look at the finals.  Lakers fans, you do realize you barely beat an old, worn out Celtics team that conquered an extremely weak and pathetic Eastern Conference.  It took you seven games to beat them, and in that seventh game, you barely squeaked by.  Things might have gone differently if Perkins were healthy to play, there's no room to deny that.

To put this in perspective with how the Heat fared in their series against the Celtics, remember how the Heat were in every game but one.  Miami even had a nearly twenty point lead in the opening game over Boston, in Boston.  A very, very average Heat team hung with the Celtics last year, and despite only winning one game in the series, that average Heat team did put up a fight.

If an average team was good enough to just hang with the Celtics last year, what do you think this new and greatly improved Heat team is going to be able to do?

I'm not saying this to bash the Lakers, because as a Heat fan, I have an immeasurable amount of respect for the greatest franchise in the history of the league.  I'm saying this to put the Lakers' fanbase in their place. 

Lakers fans, realize this.  When you rush to your computers to bash the Heat and dig for reasons as to why they won't be able to beat your Lakers, understand that many will view that as ignorant, arrogant, and even scared.  If you are so confident in your team, there is no reason to come racing to the Internet to write long, opinion filled articles and comments as to why the Lakers are still the best and why the Heat will never come close.  Let your team do the talking.

So as I near my closing of this article, I must say this.  Lakers fans, if you don't want the to hear the Heat talk, stay away from the articles.  It's an exciting time for the Heat fanbase and organization, and it's only natural for us to be acting this way.  As Heat fans, we have three big reasons to be excited and talk.  

Proven teams don't need to talk, but unproven teams like Miami can't do anything but talk at this point before the season.  Understand?

I will close with this last statement.  The Lakers are currently defending champions and on their quest to another three-peat, they deserve respect.  The Heat have put together a phenomenal and competitive team, most likely the team with the best shot at taking the crown away from LA.  Miami deserves respect too, but just how much will be determined by this upcoming season.

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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat are not only considered the top two shooting guards in the NBA, but they also claim the title of two of the game's greatest players.

Bryant and Wade have different styles and approaches to their game, but their roles on their respective franchises are as similar as the career numbers each have managed to accumulate.

Bryant, who will be entering his 15th season, has averaged 25.3 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists throughout the course of his career, while shooting 45 percent from the field.

Wade, who will be entering his eighth season, has averaged 25.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, while shooting 48 percent from the field as the leading man for his Heat franchise.

Wade's star has taken a backseat to Bryant's in recent years, mainly due to the inferior supporting cast that surrounded him, but that should all change this year with the arrival of LeBron James and Chris Bosh as teammates.

James' presence should allow Wade to emphasize the stronger points to his game, which are attacking the rim with aggression, and having the strength to finish once he gets in the lane.

The only player in the NBA who penetrates the lane more frequently is James, and the combination of the two players should cause opposing defenses nightmares.

Bryant was once known for his first step which was indefensible, but during the latter stages of his career, Bryant has evolved his game in much the same way Michael Jordan did with the Chicago Bulls.

Bryant's mid range jumper has become as much a signature part of his game as his athletic forays to the rim used to be, and his numerous pump fakes and spins have made his shot almost impossible to defend.

Most observers, if given a choice between Bryant and Wade, would probably choose Wade because of his age, but even while approaching 32, there are some parts of Bryant's game that remain superior to Wade's.

Wade is a decent on-ball defender, and with the presence of a great help defender like James that part of his game will improve, but Bryant has been among the league's elite on-ball defenders for the last decade.

Last season, Bryant was named to the NBA's all defensive first team for the eighth time in his career, as he used his knowledge and instincts to remain an elite defender once his quickness began to decline.

Wade's assist numbers suggest he is a better distributor than Bryant, and while the subject of what actually makes a teammate better is up for debate, Wade has done more with less.

The Heat have managed to remain a relevant playoff team almost solely because of Wade, and even though Miami has yet to advance past the second round since 2006, it's an amazing achievement to qualify at all.

Because of the talent disparity between the two teams, it would seem unfair to include each player's playoff success, but the fact Bryant was surrounded by better players is something that is beyond his control.

Bryant's five championships far out-distance Wade's one, and both players have captured the Finals' MVP trophy while leading their teams to the NBA's promised land.

The journey is just as important as the destination and Bryant has shown a drive and passion to succeed that is unrivaled in the game today, and may possibly never be seen again.

Wade's will to win has never been a question and his desire can be found in every play in which he sacrifices his body, but Bryant's attitude and approach are legendary.

This attitude has led to Bryant's reputation as a clutch player, and that theory is backed up by his seven game winning shots last season, which rank as the most in the last decade.

There is no player in today's game who relishes the chance to take the last shot as much as Bryant, and few players are as equipped to deal with the consequences of their decision.

Both Wade and Bryant will be expected to lead their teams to the NBA Finals this season, and in the eyes of many, anything less will be a failure. But, each player has the necessary tools to achieve that goal.

The hopes and dreams of each franchise lay at the capable feet of Wade and Bryant, and should fate allow their paths to cross in the NBA Finals, we may be witness to the greatest match-up of shooting guards this generation has ever seen.

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