By Jon Palmer

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and despite the benefit several teams received from a Shaqless Los Angeles squad, it is the Lakers themselves who have the most reason to be thankful.

Sure, the Lakers have dropped a few games to teams that seemingly wouldn't stand half a chance against the Diesel-led dynasty they're used to facing, and lots of media attention has been given to apparent dissention forming within the ranks of the purple and gold. Everyone is expecting Sacramento, Dallas, or some Western Conference dark horse to finally topple the Lakers this year - and that's exactly what the Lakers were hoping for. I can tell you right now, the Lakers are going to be deadlier this year than they have been in their three previous championship seasons. Here's why:

The absence of O'Neal leaves the door open for the growth of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers role players. Having Shaq out gave an opportunity for players like Devean George to step up and prove that he can be a factor. Players like Jannero Pargo have shown bright flashes of potential, and while the Los Angeles frontcourt sans-Shaq is mediocre at best, the Lakers big men have performed about as well as can be expected. Even though their record isn't great, the role players are growing together, and a win-loss record alone cannot measure the kinds of steps they're taking - individually and as a team. Kobe Bryant has shown an ability to carry his team when it is necessary. An argument can be made against that point, citing the Lakers' poor record, but clearly Bryant cannot beat teams by himself, whether he puts up two consecutive triple-doubles or forty. After some more time to grow together without O'Neal, the Shaqless Lakers will be a much less laughable team.

The Lakers' poor opening record - along with media field days such as the Bryant/Tex Winter fiasco - has every man, woman, and child who doesn't wear purple and gold doubting them. Sorry, Laker-doubters, but in a few months you'll all be looking silly for kicking the champs when they were down. Let's recall the beginnings of the seasons leading to the second and third consecutive Lakers championships. Everyone remembers the Kobe-Shaq feuds over which of the two would end up carrying the team and all the beef between the two superstars and head coach Phil Jackson. What everyone seems to forget is how the Lakers came out of all the negative media attention, pulled together just prior to the playoffs, and steamrolled their way to another ring - and another.

The other thing many fans seemed to have forgotten came out of the mouth of Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich after watching Hakeem Olajuwon carry the team to a second consecutive NBA title: "Never underestimate the heart of a champion." I can assure you, all the doubt in the Lakers' ability to win another title ends when you step into their locker room. They know exactly what they are capable of, and they've been through all of this before. They know that they only need the latter part of the regular season to get back into championship form with a healthy Shaq. They're as confident as they've ever been, and until that confidence is wavered by a series loss in the playoffs, they will not be denied of what is rightfully theirs: a fourth consecutive NBA championship.

Jon Palmer is a writer and avid Timberwolves fan from Roseville, MN. You can see more of Jon's work by checking out the InsideHoops Timberwolves Fan Report, updated weekly at insidehoops.com.