The Los Angeles Lakers spent the first third of the season atop the Western Conference looking like championship contenders. The injury to Andrew Bynum has derailed this team from winning the conference to staying in the playoff hunt, however that is sure to change again once Bynum returns. With five to six weeks remaining until the anticipated return of our star center, the Lakers must work hard to keep up their pace in the mighty Western Conference.

Even teams like the San Antonio Spurs are struggling to stay competitive losing their last three, two of which are their first two games on their own nine game trip. The Spurs will face the Phoenix Suns tonight in what can potentially be an exciting playoff series this year, while the Lakers head farther out east to take on the Detroit Pistons.

To Laker fans, the Pistons have been somewhat of a downer in the last couple years since the five game stretch of the NBA Finals. Detroit has lost Ben Wallace since then but they still sit pretty atop the East with only a few losses more than the mighty Boston Celtics.

Tonight’s game will be a test of will power and pure confidence. Vladimir Radmanovic will get the starting spot at the small forward position due to the hip injury to Luke Walton in the game against the New York Knicks just two nights ago. Vlad hasn’t played that many minutes recently due to an ankle sprain but did shoot 2-2 in the game the other night (both 3-pointers). Sasha has been playing great as well as Jordan and I really look forward to them both stepping up big in this game. The Lakers have a chance to make this road trip a great experience and a win in Detroit tonight would be a great start, especially since their next stop is tomorrow night in Toronto against the thriving Raptors.

There is a chance that we may play with a smaller line-up throughout the game due to Detroit’s quickness but I figure Sasha and Jordon would be getting plenty of playing time either way based on how well they’ve been doing recently. Look for Kobe to play the three a lot more tonight and if Vlad can have a solid shooting night he will steal a bunch of minutes away from Lamar. Ronny will get plenty of burn and Kwame will have the chance to pick up a bunch of fouls as Sheed shoots his threes. Look for Kobe to be the leader tonight and have plenty of conversations with the refs regarding Rip Hamilton’s pushing off and use of his off arm during offensive sequences.

Who knows? Tonight may just be a preview of the rematch of the 2004 NBA Finals. The Lakers are solid enough with a full line-up and the Pistons continue to be what looks like the strongest and most consistent team in the East. A toast to a good game and another shot at the Pistons in June.