Write this down and hold me to it: the Los Angeles Lakers will win the NBA championship.

Barring a horrifying injury (knock on wood), the Lakers have the most complete team in the league. Their starting lineup features the reigning MVP Kobe Bryant, veteran Derek Fisher, sharp-shooter Vlad Radmanovic and 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. They brought the versatile Lamar Odom off the bench. Both Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic have turned into key players for the Lakers and they join Odom in a second unit that rivals many other teams’ starters.

Houston Rockets guard Brent Barry said it best following Sunday’s game:

“When you can bring Lamar Odom off the bench,” he said, “that says something.”

The Lakers have started their 2008-09 campaign with five wins in five games. Their average margin of victory has been 22.4 points. They are not just picking up wins, they are simply routing their opponents. The Rockets paid a visit to L.A. on Sunday in a game dubbed a good test for the Lakers; the Rockets have been considered contenders in the West this season. Following a moderately close first half, the Lakers exploded for 61 points on 65.8 percent shooting in the second half and blew out the Rockets, 111-82.

Seven Lakers players are averaging at least nine points per game or better to start this season. Bryant leads the way with 24.4 points per game, nearly four points per game less than last season. We can expect this trend to stay. Kobe has the support he needs. He’s got scorers on the floor at all times. Kobe seems to wait for moments when his team appears to be struggling before he asserts himself in the game; he doesn’t need to force the issue and take 30 shots a night. And this makes the Lakers that much more dangerous.

The return of Bynum this season seems to be a factor in their growth.

He adds muscle and length in the paint. Before his injury last season, he was blossoming into a legitimate force and he is back on that track. Ronny Turiaf did a great job filling in for Bynum last year, but he wasn’t able to match up well with the Celtics in last year’s finals. Bynum completes the Lakers front court, adding more blocked shots (just look at Sunday’s blowout of Houston, with 11 Lakers blocks), and makes them a defensive juggernaut.

It is possible to see everyone pointing and laughing at me if Kobe were to suffer a catastrophic injury in a month.

Then the Lakers would go from would-be champs to contenders for the bottom spot in the playoffs. But the situation right now makes it hard for me to accept anything from them except a title. And predictions like this hope for the best. They have played so well to start, but the season is young and there will be hiccups from time to time. This team has the potential to be better than any of the Lakers teams that won three straight titles from 2000-02.

So enjoy the Lakers this season. Relish every one of their games on television, because their style of play is a sight to watch. Even the Lakers’ haters have to admit this team is the one to beat.