Smith correctly assumes the Heat are this season's team to beat, but it's not because they have three of the top five players at their respective positions.
Especially when you consider that the Los Angeles Lakers have four of the top five players at their positions, as well.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are the favorites for next season because they ended their 2012 campaign as part of the best team in the NBA, a title the Heat will retain until another team knocks them off their perch.
Are the Lakers that team?
I'm not sure if I have ever seen a lineup on paper that includes talent the likes of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, but as everyone knows, talent alone doesn't win championships.
There are numerous ingredients in the formula for a championship team, and while talent is key, other factors like injuries, reserve play, coaching and chemistry complete the recipe.
Chemistry was the most glaring concern facing Miami when their superteam formed in South Beach, and it is arguably the single biggest issue facing the Lakers heading into next season.
Miami ultimately lived up to the preseason hype, and its trial run didn't end until a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.
The Lakers can certainly duplicate Miami's feat, and the task could be a little easier due to the unique makeup of their superstar nucleus.
Nash, Gasol and Howard are all capable of scoring points in bunches, but Bryant is the only member of the quartet whose career has been defined by his ability to score.
Howard was the focal point of the offense in Orlando, but his greatest impact...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
