Editor's Note: Bynum Changes Playoff Complexion

Now that the regular season is over, the Lakers can really get ready for serious competition, starting with a tough Utah offense. Utah gave the Lakers their toughest competition out of the Western Conference, pushing the semi-final series to six games. But the outlook is completely different this time, not just against Utah, but against every team. And there are two players who contribute to that: Andrew Bynum (right) and Trevor Ariza (left). Bynum was out for the entire season last year after a knee injury, and suffered an eerily similar injury this season as well. The difference is he's back though, and appears to be very healthy. Bynum is a strong defensive presence, and can rebound, block, and create havoc along with Pau Gasol. The other difference-maker is the oft-forgotten Trevor Ariza. Ariza fractured his ankle last season, keeping him off the court until the Western Conference finals against San Antonio. Ariza came back, and after spending most of the season on the bench he's now in the starting five. Ariza's defense is bar none for Lakers as he led the team in steals. He's quick, agile, and has the length to be a power-forward in addition to being a small-forward. Both Ariza and Bynum bring more to the table than their substitutes last season, and that can easily translate into a lot of hardware.