8. Lakers

* 2006-07 record: 42-40, No. 7.

* Key newcomer: Derek Fisher.

* Outlook: In the good news for the Lakers, even assuming the top seven spots are spoken for, it’s hard to imagine anyone else beating them out. In the bad news, there’s everything else. Events have been tumbling out of control since Jerry Buss said he would trade Bryant, who skulked around so noticeably, his lone ally, Phil Jackson, zinged him. Of course, last fall Kobe and Phil missed the entire preseason and they started 26-13. On the other hand, this makes last October look like the good old days.