L.A. Laker Predictions

Where will the Los Angeles Lakers finish in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference? Get 12 different takes from ESPN's NBA experts.

ANALYST
DIV
CONF
COMMENT
Chris Broussard ESPN Mag
2
8
Kobe will play out of his mind, and Phil will get the most out of a limited squad.
Ric Bucher ESPN Mag
3
8
Everything I've seen suggests this will be a long, fruitless season. Phil Jackson, Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant insist it'll all come together. I'm compromising – which is always deadly – and having them eke into the playoffs.
John Carroll Scouts Inc.
5
14
Coaching makes a difference, but over 82 games talent wins. Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown are question marks, both offensively and defensively. Who will play the point? The Lakers may improve on 34 wins, but I doubt they return to the playoffs.
Chad Ford ESPN Insider
5
13
Phil Jackson is back and Kobe's promising to be on his best behavior. However, after Lamar Odom, the supporting cast is very thin. They're going to need a big year from Kwame to make the playoffs.
John Hollinger ESPN Insider
4
12
The return of the Zen Master is reason for optimism in L.A. The return of Aaron McKie as an NBA starter ... not so much. Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom will have to carry a talent-depleted roster.
Scoop Jackson ESPNPage 2
2
8
This pick is more about Amare missing half a season than Phil coming back.
Tim Legler ESPN Insider
4
12
See Item 7 for Legler's analysis of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Eric Neel ESPNPage 2
3
9
If Kwame buys in, they could be the eighth seed.
Jim O'Brien ESPN Insider
4
11
Phil Jackson, the master of the mental game, will need all his skills to start making Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom the 1-2 punch that MJ and Scottie Pippen were in the '90s. The emergence of Kwame Brown would help immensely.
Will Perdue ESPN Insider
3
11
Has the "Master" taken the ultimate challenge? Would Kobe mind being called Grasshopper? Let's all take a moment to think. Don't forget to breathe. If Phil gets this team to the playoffs, it might be his best coaching job ever.
Chris Sheridan ESPN Insider
5
12
Can Phil Jackson and Kobe reunite successfully? The answer here is no, and we'll predict the following Feb. 22 conversation: "Hello, Mitch, it's Isiah. My final offer for Kobe is Steph, Crawford, Ariza and a No. 1."
Marc Stein ESPN.com
3
8
They have no bench, major PG issues and only one All-Star talent (Odom) besides Kobe. Yet for some reason I expect the Zenmeister to overcome all that and get Kobe back to the playoffs.