Why these new Lakers are so darn lovable

Last night, Ronny Turiaf was jumping around, high fiving and chest bumping his teammates like the Lakers had just won the game.

But the game hadn't even started.

The players were just having fun with each other and the fans in Los Angeles are loving it.

Jeanie Buss was recently posed this thought: There's something about this team that is very likable. Laker fans are having a lot of fun particularly with this roster. Not to say anything negative about those championship teams of the early 2000's, but it just seems to be more enjoyable than even those Shaq/Kobe teams.

Apparently Jeanie is part of that Lakers crowd. "I agree with them and I can't put my finger on it either," she echoed, "I just love this team. I don't know what it is but they're just lovable."

Looking up and down the roster it's easy to find endearing about each player.

Lamar and Pau are both talented, multi dimensional players who haven't been able to carry teams on their own but are finally in the perfect positions to flourish as complimentary players.

Sasha's on court passion borders on hilarity. His teammates teased him about a particularly warm embrace he gave to Pau Gasol during the Phoenix game, when cradled himself into Pau's bosom like a young child. His boy band appearance, over exaggerated expressions whenever a foul is called on him, and unexpected eastern European accent add to the charm.

Farmar's local and thriving. He's becoming the steady floor leader that Fisher was on our championship teams. And the fans love Fish. They 0.4 bucket, the charge taking, and his baby daughter's eye cancer story is heart warming.

Ronny's endless energy, Caribbean vibe, and big toothy smile make him Mark Madsen version 2.0, with better dancing and actual basketball playing skill. His impressive comeback from life saving open heart surgery makes him the most lovable Laker of all.

Speaking of survival stories, Coby Karl's bout and victory over cancer, coupled with him going undrafted has made him another feel good story. His little boy haircut makes him the team's little brother, and Lakers fans are rooting for him to make it in this league. They chant his name whenever he appears on the floor, despite very limited minutes. Those aren't KO-BE chants, they're CO-BY chants.

The fans don't chant Kobe's name. They chant MVP. Bryant is still a polarizing figure, but his youthful cockiness has been replaced with deserved respect even among cynics. Fans are excited for him to finally with his first MVP, a necessary milestone in a remarkable career.

Fans are watching Andrew Bynum's development with arrested fascination, although his big baby face reminds us that he's still a boy. In fact, this team's inexperience and youth is why we love them. The 2000-2002 teams were stacked with crafty veterans, but it's a different feeling watching players who have never done it before try for the first time.

We also love the quick turnaround. It was just four years ago that Shaq was dealt and now we're already back up top, right where the Lakers should be, no matter the generation. Lakers fans embrace the new look Lakers like Sasha embraces, well, everyone.

Kobe loves Mitch Kupchak, after publicly throwing him under the bus. The city of Los Angeles loves Jerry Buss, after publicly doubting his decision making. The players love each other, despite a training camp saturated with uncertainty. And Lakers fans, who have been spoiled by great team throughout the years, love their team, perhaps more than ever.

How the Gasol trade saved the Lakers' season

Last season, the Lakers got off to a surprisingly hot start, going 26-13 to establish themselves as a top four team in the West and darkhorse championship contender.

Then the wheels fell off.

Half the roster went down with lengthy injuries and the Lakers scraped their way into the playoffs, a beat up vehicle that was quickly beatdown by the superior Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers, mired in a dreary rebuilding project, had regressed. Kobe was booed. Mitch Kupchak was hated. Phil Jackson wasn't signing an extension. The franchise was on the verge of trading away it's last remaining remaining superstar.

Fast forward.

The Lakers are sitting atop the most stacked Western Conference in the history of the NBA. At 40-17 they have their best record since 2002, their last championship year. They are the favorites, in a conference loaded with nine teams winning more than 60% of their games, to win the championship.

The New Look Lakers are deeper than the Spurs and Mavs, have a better starting five than Detroit and Phoenix, a better big three than Boston, and the league's best player and best coach.

Injuries have slammed the Lakers once again, but the same doom that destroyed the team last season was quickly vanquished when Mitch Kupchak stole Pau Gasol from the salary cap shedding Grizzlies. Andrew Bynum is out and Kobe's pinky is hanging on by a tendon that doesn't exist anymore. But the Lakers are playing with a dominating team effort behind their new big man who runs the offense on the interior as efficiently as Bryant does on the perimeter.

Kobe has refused the recommended surgery, sensing that this team has a very real possibility of winning the championship right now. He'll gladly wear his fourth championship ring on his thumb this summer while his pinky recovers.

Gasol is a dream fit in the Phil Jackson's triangle. An intelligent big man who can catch, pass, and shoot. Pau is the anti-Kwame Brown. He fit's in flawlessly with the rest of the Lakers front line, leaving room for Andrew Bynum to operate in the paint by playing skillfully on the elbows. Odom handles the ball like a guard and will play on the perimeter. The biggest front line in the history of the NBA, with Bynum at 7-1, Gasol at 7-0, and Odom at 6-11, is also a meticulous blend of big man with complimentary skill sets.

Last year in February the Lakers went 5-7 and started March with a 7 game losing streak. This February they are 12-1, so good that after the Clippers were trumped by the Lakers, Coach Mike Dunleavy conceded if "you look at their schedule, you don't see them losing any more games." The next night the Lakers blew out the Sonics, and coach P.J. Carlisemo agreed; "It looks like this team's not gonna to lose a game the rest of the year."

Most important, the Gasol trade re-instilled faith. Kobe's faith in his teammates, in management, and even in deity, jubilantly proclaiming "There is a God! There is a God!" after Pau's first game with the Lakers, a 24 point (10-15 shooting), 12 rebound, 4 assist sign of things to come.

The Pau heist wasn't the first great move that Kupchak has made. He's drafted smartly from the late first round and second round, bringing in Vujacic, Turiaf, Farmar, and Walton. His one move that didn't stick (Brian Cook) was turned into Trevor Ariza, an athletic defender/slasher that we've been craving off the bench.

And the best move of all was not submitting to his superstar, or the majority of fans, or a knee-jerk reaction, and keeping Andrew Bynum, who is the future of the franchise and the franchise center for the next 15 years.

The city of Los Angeles cried when Shaq was traded for spare parts, but those parts have become Lamar Odom, Gasol (Caron Butler became Kwame Brown who became Pau), Farmar (draft pick from the trade) and Bynum (the Laker's lottery pick from their stinky post-Shaq season).

Dr. Buss made the correct decision. Yes, Shaq won a championship for Miami, but now we have a deep, solid, young team instead of a cap killing 36 year old $20 million role player.

Kobe will most likely be the league MVP this season. His team is on the inside track to the Finals where he'll be the Finals MVP. And he can do it several times over the next five years.

Yes Kobe, there is a wise, all-seeing man, taking care over you. His name is Mitch Kupchak, and he deserves your thanks for saving the Lakers season and giving you the opportunity of your career.