Memo To Laker-Haters:

I’m writing this to all of the Laker haters. Some friends, some family, many strangers… all motivators.

Of course it’s a long season. Of course there will be trades, injuries, internal team drama, etc that can and will happen, but…

It’s time for you haters to unite. It’s time to pool your efforts. It’s been said that there is power in prayer. That’s very true. Honestly, that would probably be your best option. Pray for a trade by the Cavaliers to get another key player (Stephen Jackson would be a pretty good fit – but not necessarily enough). Pray for an energized and healthy Kevin Garnett to return (and a trade by the Celtics to get another key player – or two). Pray for dissension and/or injuries to affect the Lakers. Otherwise, based solely on talent… there is NO WAY this Laker team that Mitch Kupchak has assembled loses 4 out of 7 games to ANY current NBA team in the playoffs.

In their first game together since acquiring Ron Artest in the offseason and losing one of their 2009 playoff heroes Trevor Ariza (albeit a meaningless preseason game against the mediocre Golden State Warriors, where they won 118-101), the Los Angeles Lakers looked like every bit of a 70+ game winner. They were leading by 16 points at halftime (65-49). Kobe Bryant had the Warriors players cursing out the referees in frustration in the 2^nd quarter. He only scored 22 of the 118. This team, which was stacked last year, has only gotten better. Ron Artest, in his Laker debut, had 12 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals (in only 23 minutes). Andrew Bynum had 24 points in 30 minutes, and shot 8-9 on free throw attempts. However, I have to ask, “Why only 5 rebounds, Drew?” That’s an area of major concern for me… that shows he doesn’t yet have that fire in him. (Maybe it will be there next year when they go for the three-peat).

The potential lineup combinations for the Lakers are scary, though. Just look at some of the players the Lakers have on their roster:

· Pau Gasol, who is the most skilled big man in the game.

· Lamar Odom, one of the most versatile players in the NBA, is a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches.

· Artest, who can score 20+ points on any given night and provide lockdown defense on the opposing team’s best perimeter player/scorer.

· Andrew Bynum, who still has a long way to go to reach his potential, would be the best player and #1 option on more than half of the teams in the league.

· Derek Fisher, whose age is much less of a factor considering the depth the team has at the point guard position… he won’t have to play as many minutes during the regular season.

· Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar would both be starters on most teams

· Shannon Brown, who plays with as much energy and hustle as anyone in the league when he comes in off the bench. Check out this play from the preseason opener. Pay attention to how his defensive awareness enabled him to steal the ball in the first place…

· While tweets from some fellow @lakersnation fans declaring Sasha Vujacic was “back” after he made 3 field goals last night were laughable, he, along with Adam Morrison, should both provide timely offense off the bench.

· And, of course, the best player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant, is still the leader of this team.

Bottom line: this shirt bearing the number of rings (ie, championships) Bryant has won will be obsolete in about 9 months, when the Black Mamba adds his 5th "chip."

Between all of the haters, and my first full NBA season on Twitter, this championship run will be a lot of fun!

**To all the Lakers fans on Twitter, let’s make “#16” a trending topic on every game day this season, as we enjoy the Lakers’ run to a 16^th NBA championship!