I need to limit the reasons to feel positive about the Lakers to just five? Well now I’m simply going to feel as if I’m short-changing them. Anyways, all narcissistic, ego-fueling Lakers comments aside, there are many reasons to look at the upcoming NBA season as one that could end with a parade running through downtown Los Angeles.
But if there’s anything we’ve learned from professional sports, it’s that things rarely turn out the way you expect. There are plenty of reasons why the Lakers might not be successful in reaching their ultimate goal this season.
For now, we will dwell on the top five reasons why Lakers fans should feel optimistic after consecutive years of postseason disappointment.
1. Eddie Jordan’s Princeton offense
Last season, the Lakers struggled immensely on the offensive end. They routinely looked like a team without an identity, which translated to looking like a chicken without a head.
Heading into this season, coach Mike Brown decided to hire a little help in the form of assistant Eddie Jordan, who has helped Brown and the staff implement the Princeton offense.
Jordan and his system will utilize Los Angeles’ greatest strengths to improve their offensive capabilities. Some of those include their high basketball intelligence, experience and overall versatility. A more collected and organized group of Lakers on offense could spell doom for 28 other North American cities. And the Clippers.
2. Metta World Peace should bounce back
After coming into the 2011-12 season out of shape and out of touch with reality (bizarre name changes often 
have that effect), the erstwhile Ron Artest struggled to put together anything close to resembling his former All-Star set of skills. A late-season suspension didn’t help matters much, either.
But during an offseason where he faced myriad amnesty rumors and trade speculation, World Peace worked himself back into the best shape of his career.
Now on a roster that leaves him virtually forgotten, MWP is free to leave his big, broad shoeprint on the upcoming season in an impressive way. He will most likely be overlooked by many teams, leaving him the opportunity to fly under the radar while being the team’s best perimeter defensive player and an occasional scoring threat from outside, two things an aging roster filled with superstars will need.