By Ray Diaz

It’s here again. It’s March, one month until the playoffs. If you look around most power polls in the NBA, including Inside Hoops’ Power Rankings, the Lakers are at the top again. Sure, last year they weren’t at the top, but everyone knew, felt something was going to happen. Didn’t you? Feel it again?

I do, and I’m in Japan, where TV is currently showing former UCLA star Charles O’Bannon’s team help his team win.

Last year it happened. The triangle offense was turning into triangle offensive. Kobe vs. Shaq, Kobe vs. Phil. Not exactly the harmony that Phil Jackson was used to in Chicago. Some of my friends wondered what was tougher on Phil, last year, or Rodman. (I still can’t make up my mind.) But then the playoffs start, and the bandwagon started, and it was over before we knew it. The best postseason ever. Second ring in a row. Another parade in downtown L.A. Madsen gettin’ jiggy with it.

And it sure looks like its going to happen again doesn’t it? All year we hear about the Lakers coasting through another season. Lots of drama within the locker room as a Hollywood team is expected to have. Shaq’s toe. Kobe’s aggressiveness. Shaq fighting. Kobe fighting (with two people, one on his own team again, but the other Reggie Miller, which, y'know, seems somewhat ok.) Unacceptable losses to the worst teams in the league in each division. All equals to hope.

And other teams are playing well, too. Sacramento is ballin’ out of their minds. Thanks to that unbelievable record without Webber in the beginning of the year, the Kings are making everyone believe that they are still the best chance for knocking off the Purple and Gold. The Mavs, with that open checkbook policy (hey, Mr. Cuban, let me know if you ever need an assistant), could go deep into the playoffs. So, there is hope.

As for the East... well, they’re still the East.

The Lakers are again on top of the division. Now, people are getting upset that the Lakers “coast” through the regular season. Some are angry that they think they can just turn it on anytime they want (see: Vlade Divac; or do you think Vlade is just mad because he used to be on that squad?). But, why doubt them? They did it last year. They can do it again.

It’s up to the other teams to do what Shaq tells all other “centers” in the league: Just Play! Come March and April, and especially June, no team other than the Lakers is better at doing that. Just like last year. Déjà vu.