Not this time

I'm not going to fall for it this year. Nope, not me.

Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers duped me into believing that they were a lost franchise of egos and attitudes. I even went out on a limb and said they would have a hard time winning a CBA title -- much less an NBA Championship.

Then came the playoffs and they steamrolled to another title, only losing one game the entire time. And that didn't happen until the NBA Finals.

But, a year later, I'm a little older and a little wiser.

Even though this year's team has struggled at times and seems to play up or down to the competition, I'm not going to think for one second that they won't win a third straight title.

For the record, though, let's examine the season so far.

After Tuesday's romp over the porous Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers stood at 30-12. They are no longer leading the Western Conference -- or even the Pacific Division. That place now belongs to the Sacramento Kings.

They have lost to the lowliest of lowly teams, which include the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Denver Nuggets.

They've also lost to marginal teams like the Toronto Raptors, same-arena-rivals Clippers, and even the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.

They've seen Shaquille O'Neal go postal and nearly take Bulls' Brad Miller's head off. That episode cost the big man three games (should have been more) and some pocket change in pro athlete dollars.

But, for all the bad, there's been good also.

Shaq and Kobe Bryant seem to be peacefully co-existing, which is instrumental for this team to go anywhere. Bryant is leading the team with 26.4 points per game. Shaq is second with 25.9. And neither has yet to utter a disparaging word about the other. That's right, it's a downright lovefest.

Samaki Walker is proving to be a considerable upgrade over Horace Grant, who manned the position last year. Walker is averaging just over seven points and rebounds per contest, while blocking almost 1.5 shots per game. Last season, Grant's numbers were 8.5 points and just over seven rebounds per game. He didn't average a whole block per game.

Derek Fisher has found his game- again. Coming off a foot injury, actually surgery, for the second straight year he has provided defense and a decent jump shot to take the heat off of the dynamic duo.

So why all the fuss over the Lakers losing a game or two here and there?

Because this team is the deepest and most talented on paper and really shouldn't have lost more than eight games all year. Especially after opening the season 16-1.

The 14-11 stretch they've been on doesn't exactly scream "World Champions", and this year they can't afford to fall too far behind the Kings.

In the NBA Playoffs, home court advantage is the key and they'll need it to fend off this year's contenders. Teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kings, and San Antonio Spurs would not only be challenging match-ups, they'd love to be the one to send the Lakers home early without the trophy.

Is it possible that this might be the end of the Lakers run? Of course. The competition in the Western Conference is as strong as it's ever been.

But, I'm not going to believe it this time. Not yet anyway.