Let the Games Begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well the time has finally come. The real season is here. Lets get right to the point. We have 4 games today: Chicago vs Indiana at 11am PST , Miami And Philly at 1:30pm PST, Orlando vs Atlanta at 4:00pm PST, and Dallas vs Portland 6:30pm PST. With that being said the Lakers will open the playoffs tomorrow at Staples at 12:30pm vs The New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers have swept the season series against N.O., but for sake of argument lets take a look at how this series can unfold. Bynum did have a full practice on Friday despite a little soreness. He said " I feel fine. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to start winning games." He said it doesn't feel any worse than it felt last year. But, Phil doesn't seem so optimistic, still saying he may rest the center for game one. Matt Barnes did not practice Friday due to knee soreness and is a game time decision. Phil Jackson dropped off some N.O. game tapes to Steve Blake and said though he was " covered with spots" he should be back Tuesday for game two.Ron Artest also banged his knee in the Sacramento game and did not practice Friday. Ron Artest never being the one to let injuries stop him wouldn't even tell Phil which knee it was. He said there would be no chance he would miss game one.
Despite all that's going on with the Lakers I just don't think N.O. has enough fire power to win , especially on the road. The best match up here will be Bynum and Okafur. Bynum has averaged 15 points, 64% shooting, 5 rebs, 1 block against N.O.  Okafur has averaged 12 points, 62% shooting, 10 rebounds, and one block , though he only played in three of the games. In order for them to even have a shot he has to have a breakout game. That means taking on Drew, Gasol, and sometimes Odom with no David West post help. He does have Carl Landry. We are all too familiar with him. He has killed us many times in Houston. We know what hes capable of. He has averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds against us this season. Former Laker ( on his way to working at Target thanks to his agent) Trevor Ariza will have his playoff homecoming tomorrow as well. He never ducks at the opportunity to tell the Lakers " You should've paid me instead of this nut case.", speaking of  his successor Ron Artest. Jarrett Jack also provides a spark of the bench and Willie Green has been know to ignite the team as well. Our bench MUST come out of its funk if we want to make a statement in round one. I would actually like to see more time from "newbie" Tray Johnson!!!! Now on to CP3. His good friend Kobe Bryant said we need to be ready for him. He can be real scary. I still see him as a threat as well even though knee injuries have slowed down his play as of late. He averages 7.3 points a game at 31% shooting. But, he has the ability to take over a game with his assists, sometimes not needing to score.Hes gotten his season high against the Lakers more than once. But if need be he can penetrate the lane and take the Lakers off the dribble and we know how the Lakers are with dribble penetration.....
All in all the Lakers couldn't have asked for a better 1st round opponent. The Hornets are the only team in the West that the Lakers have beaten 4 times. With most sports analysts picking the Lakers to sweep the series, I'm thinking NO may at least get one. Hopefully with the West being as stacked as it is, we will get some much needed rest before Game 2 with Portland or Dallas lying in wait.
So folks this is it. 16 wins until we 3 peat. Will the 17-1 Lakers please stand up????