Back on the Throne

The Lakers are now locked in to the top spot in the west for the first time in a decade, but things aren’t the same as when Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol ruled the conference.

Of course, the road to the NBA Finals will not pass through L.A. Live, but rather Orlando. The only difference the top seed makes is in opponents, and there’s truly no easy route in the west.

Depending on how the rest of the seeding games shake out, and a potential play-in, the Lakers could realistically (sorry Suns) face any of the following teams: Memphis, New Orleans, San Antonio, Portland and Sacramento.

See? It’s going to be a tough first round no matter who escapes with that eight seed.