Somewhere, I stated that, if the Lakers make the playoffs, they will be pretty dangerous because it only means that they are meshing and on a roll, record-wise. Now, it's starting to look that way, and they are currently 8th. Kobe is playing some of the best basketball of his career, in his 17th season. Dwight is playing better than he has in any other month of the season. Nash is starting to shoot more shots, and learning how to play off of Kobe. 1) San Antonio Spurs 2) Oklahoma City Thunder 3) Memphis Grizzlies 4) Los Angeles Clippers 5) Denver Nuggets 6) Golden State Warriors 7) Houston Rockets 8) Los Angeles Lakers This is the West after the Lakers beat Chicago today. What teams should avoid the Lakers, in any round of the playoffs? FYI - Pau Gasol will be back for the playoffs.