The Los Angeles Lakers have had a big week this week and are now 25-5. They have proven everyone wrong and have proven to themselves that they can beat the best.

Christmas Day was a date marked on their calendars long ago. The rematch with the Boston Celtics was something every Lakers fan drooled about since we lost to the men in green in last year’s finals. The 39 point defeat was difficult to swallow and guys like Sasha Vujacic refused to wear the color green until they redeemed themselves and beat the Celtics.

How about a round of applause to the Lakeshow for coming up big and beating the Boston Celtics. Coming into Staples Center with a 27-2 record, a 19 game winning streak, and every positive emotion a team can carry, the Lakers broke their hearts, and in the process, gave Phil Jackson his 1000th career victory. The Celtics lost the next night to the Golden State Warriors and dropped to 27-4.

Last night, the Lakers took on the Warriors beat them quite easily by 17 behind 31 points for Kobe, 19 for Fisher, and a season high 17 for Vujacic. The analysts appreciated the Lakers effort and rewarded them.

The following are the power rankings from various sites showing where the Lakers currently stand:

ESPN.com

2008-09 Power Rankings: Week 9
RANK (LAST WK)		TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
	1 (3)	Lakers	25-5	About Adande’s theory for the Lakers’ up-and-down play in December after such a dominant November because they couldn’t get excited about anything except the Boston game: They sure made him look good.
	2 (1)	Celtics	28-4	Sorry. Don’t want to hear how dangerous that game in Oaktown supposedly was. Even the previously irresistible Celts can’t avoid a drop after blowing a big lead to a team at the top of the Disarray Rankings.
	3 (2)	Cavaliers	26-4	You know how we say that sometimes teams drop a spot or two because they’ve been leapfrogged, not because they did much wrong? For the Cavs, with two losses in their past 27 games, this is one of those times.
	4 (4)	Magic	24-6	We’re asked all the time: When will the ever-improving Magic, now 24-4 since an 0-2 start, be seen as an elite team? Realistic answer: It’ll probably take playoff success against Cleveland or Boston, like it or not.
	5 (6)	Spurs	20-10	Clutch as they’ve been in double-overtime games — up to 3-0 after another escape Saturday against Memphis — you can safely assume that the oldest team in the league would rather avoid the extra court time.

NBA.com

	TEAM (LAST WEEK)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
1	Cleveland (2)	26-4	Off: 114.7 (2), Def: 100.5 (2) Until the fourth quarter of Sunday’s comeback win over the Heat, the Cavs’ offense wasn’t looking too sharp (and the Blazers have passed them in efficiency). Still, they’re 25-2 since the first week of the season and are 16-0 at home. They play the same Heat in Miami on Tuesday, a chance to redeem themselves, so to speak.
2	L.A. Lakers (4)	25-5	Off: 114.3 (3), Def: 104.0 (4) The Lakers needed that win over the Celtics and they got it. And we shouldn’t overlook Tuesday’s win in New Orleans. But Jordan Farmar’s injury (he’s out two months after knee surgery) hurts, so they’ll be looking for a backup point guard.
3	Boston (1)	28-4	Off: 111.5 (5), Def: 99.8 (1) Just when you thought the Celtics were going to go 80-2 … they drop two straight in Cali, reverting to their sluggish offensive ways of the first 10 games of the season. The Kings were then the unfortunate souls who felt the 108-63 wrath on Sunday.
4	Orlando (3)	24-6	Off: 110.0 (9), Def: 101.8 (3) That second half against the Hornets on Christmas may not have been too pretty, but the bottom line is that the Magic have now won seven straight and 11 of their last 12. Jameer Nelson, averaging 22.3 points on 60 percent shooting (including an unreal 25-for-41 from downtown), should be getting some All-Star consideration.
5	San Antonio (6)	20-10	Off: 109.4 (11), Def: 105.8 (8) With three close victories this week, including Thursday’s last-second win in Phoenix and Saturday’s double-OT escape against the Grizzlies, the Spurs are now 10-3 in games decided by six points or less or in overtime. Tony Parker has been taking over lately, averaging 31.7 points in the last three.

USAToday.com

Rank	Team		Prev.	Comment
1		Boston Celtics (28-4)	1	After two-game losing streak, they blow out Sacramento by 45.
2		Cleveland Cavaliers (26-4)	2	Cavs are 16-0 at home.
3		Los Angeles Lakers (25-5)	3	Gasol shines in sweet Christmas Day revenge win over Celtics.
4		Orlando Magic (24-6)	4	Jameer Nelson emerging as one of the top point guards in the East.
5		San Antonio Spurs (20-10)	10	Ginobili’s ankle still a worry, but they’ve won 11 of 13.