Lakers still haven't reached their potential

What can I say, but the same thing I always say at this time of year. . . .

Thank heavens that's over.

I used to wait until it actually ended, but, barring even more bizarre outcomes than usual in the final days, it effectively has with the Cavaliers two games ahead of the Lakers in the loss column and the Celtics 2 1/2 up on the Magic, with the tiebreaker in hand.

Unfortunately, with the Lakers doing another impressive belly flop on the Oregon Trail, I was obliged to rewrite my original column, describing the decline of the Western Conference, which started:

As to the best draw for the Lakers in the Once Wild West . . .

What's the difference?

It's true, the Nuggets are no longer a mob, the Spurs still worthy of respect, and the Lakers would rather paddle a canoe through the Bermuda Triangle in a typhoon than play in Portland.

Nevertheless, since the Lakers have to play someone, one of these teams is about as good as the others, and none is as good as they are.

I figured out the difference afterward, watching the Lakers unravel in the fourth quarter in Portland.

The Lakers are still the biggest, most talented team in the West, and the league for that matter, with experience going deep into the playoffs and the game's greatest closer.

Unfortunately for them, potential only counts when it's realized, and they have never put it all together.

Or, put another way, anyone for doing it on the fly in the playoffs?

In their 21-3 start, when people talked about perfect seasons and 70 wins, Andrew Bynum was tentative, Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton vied for the job neither would win, and the Bench Mob often bailed out the starters.

They peaked in their 11-1 run after losing Bynum, stunning the Celtics in Boston and the Cavaliers in Cleveland, as Lamar Odom played out of his mind.

From then until Bynum's return, they went 14-6, as Trevor Ariza became a starter, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic struggled, and assistant coach Frank Hamblen noted, "The Bench Mob hasn't been much of a mob recently."

Now Bynum is getting his legs back, as opposed to being a weapon on offense and an eraser on defense, and Shannon Brown is auditioning for Farmar's job.

So if the West isn't all it was, it's lucky for the Lakers, who have things of their own to work on.

Of course, who doesn't?

Denver -- Not that things have changed, but the zoo the Lakers swept in the first round is now No. 2 in the West.