Areas of Strength:
Championship experience, defense and rebounding. Now, maybe motivation as well. As much as the Lakers fell back on the confidence they could survive any playoff threat, until that lack of panic finally helped doom them, the new emotional energy will be the challenge of getting back to the top. This is still win-now mode with a roster that defends and boards at the necessary level.

Needs Work:
The Lakers clearly need an infusion of speed and athleticism, and more than just an expanded role for leaper Shannon Brown in the backcourt. They won't be able to address the deficiency in the Draft, barring a trade, so it will have to come via a swap or free agency in the offseason.

Two Stats That Matter:
4 -- Years since the last time the Lakers did not play in the Western Conference finals, since being eliminated by the Suns in the opening round in 2007.

33.9 -- Minutes a game for Kobe Bryant, his fewest as a starter, with lower averages coming only the first two seasons as a reserve.

The Way To Go:
The Lakers have a chance to jump into the end of the first round -- they can package any of four second-round picks in a year when a lot of teams will be looking to get away from the guaranteed money in a bad Draft -- but there won't be any significant additions coming June 23 barring a shock. Acquiring veterans will be the way to go.

2010-11 Stats:
Offensive rating: 107.9 (7th)
Defensive rating: 101.3 (6th)

Players Under Contract:
G: Derek Fisher
G: Kobe Bryant
G: Steve Blake
G: Shannon Brown (player option)
F: Lamar Odom
F: Ron Artest
F: Matt Barnes (player option)
F: Luke Walton
F/C: Pau Gasol
C: Andrew Bynum

Free Agents:
None

-- Scott Howard-Cooper