Why the Lakers are now the team to beat.

The Lakers acquired Steve Nash in a sign & trade with the Phoenix Suns yesterday that shocked the NBA world. The Lakers with this acquisition have put themselves over the top WITHOUT A DOUBT, some might argue no but here is why they are WRONG: 


- Last year they had Kobe and Ramon Sessions running their "Offense" on a team with 2 elite caliber NBA big men they were surrounded with no true 3 point shooters(arguably Blake), they now have one of the best 3 point shooters ever to play the game in Nash(10th in all time 3 pts made) to help spread the floor.


- Nash has been known to make the most out of his big men exhibit A(http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2758/marcin-gortat). Now imagine what he'll do with Gasol & Bynum.


- The Lakers were relatively easy to defend last year because the motion of their players on offense just COULD NOT WORK, why? Because Kobe at this stage of his career CAN'T run an offense, and Ramon Session can't be relied upon past the regular season. Now they have one of the best show runners ever in Nash commanding and directing this Lakers offense which will allow Gasol & Bynum to get wide open looks under the basket and Kobe will remember what it's like to shoot open jumpers again. 


- People keep bringing up how Steve Nash doesn't play defense when the fact is he's a very underrated team defender, people claim "OH HE CAN'T GUARD TONY PARKER, HE CAN'T GUARD RUSSELL WESTBROOK, HE CAN'T GUARD DERRICK ROSE". You know something, that TRUE! But they can't guard him neither and can you guys name 5 players who CAN guard those guys? Exactly. So that's clearly over blown. 


- This Lakers offense with Nash goes from, Isolation & Isolation post ups(Last year's Laker offense) to pick & roll, pick & pop, post ups, and when the offense breaks down throw it Kobe, the best bad shot maker arguably ever. 


Now does it means they're set for a championship? No off course not, they are going to have to work out the kinks but that's a process for all teams. Last year in the playoffs the Lakers weren't even that far away from beating the Thunder despite poor performances from Bynum, Gasol & Sessions. Game 2 & 4 was anybody's game and were decided on last second shots by Kevin Durant. And I know this sounds bizarre but I felt that if the Lakers gets past the Thunders they would've won the title, their size would've proved to be too much for San Antonio as well for Miami; those which weren't advantages against the Thunders because their front line guys are top tier defenders. For the ignorant people who makes assumptions about Steve Nash because they only base their argument on random crap they read off ESPN or some random sports writer on Yahoo!; they obviously don't watch Suns games. Especially for those who say things about his age, sure he's 38 but he's not your typical 38 year old. When was the last time a 38 year old lead the league in assist per 40 minutes? When was the last time a 38 year old made a team with the 2nd best player as Marcin Gortat playoff contenders? Lakers may not have punched tickets for a title, but they should definitely be favorites.