Lakers primed for another title run next year

Lakers fans get rowdy
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By Steve Ginsburg
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers basked in the glow of their 15th championship on Monday knowing that additional titles may be on the way.
Los Angeles defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86 on Sunday to score a five-game knockout punch in the NBA Finals and secure their first title since 2002.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who won his 10th title to eclipse the record he shared for seven years with Red Auerbach, said next year's finals might have a familiar feel to them.
"Certainly Orlando is very capable of coming back to the finals with the youth that they have," he said. "Obviously free agency in both clubs has a bearing upon what teams will do and how they'll have to maintain their roster and cap management.
"But both teams I think played extremely well during the year. Orlando's youth is quite apparent, both their frontcourt and their backcourt."
The Magic, led by 23-year-old All-Star center Dwight Howard, were a surprise finalist after shocking LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals of the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, won the crown as an overwhelming favorite in the West.
"We did have a target on our back," said Lakers forward Trevor Ariza. "To take everybody's best shot and still come out on top is a great feeling. It lets you know that you can believe."
The Lakers are a veteran-laden club but it is easy to see a few more titles before management would need to re-tool the roster.
Eleven-times All-Star Kobe Bryant, 30, and 34-year-old Derek Fisher are the senior citizens, but Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom provide enough experience to keep the club going should there be a spate of injuries to key players.
Los Angeles made the finals a year ago but lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. They were able to take the next step with Andrew Bynum and Ariza, both of whom had injuries a year ago, adding much-needed depth.
The wild card, as always, is free agency. Ariza, who scored 15 points in Sunday's series finale, and Odom, who added 17, are free agents who could decide to leave.
Should the team stay intact, Jackson could easily earn his 11th title in 2010.
"Some of the stuff is almost incomprehensible," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "The guy has won 51 playoff series now. Check your record book and see how many coaches have even won 50 playoff games.
"It's fewer than 20, and the guy has won 51 playoff series. It's incomprehensible."
(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Source: Reuters