Love 'em or hate 'em, the Los Angeles Lakers make things interesting.

This summer the defending champions were involved with two very public marriages that many feel won't last very long — but they should make for some interesting story lines.

First, the team picked up volatile — yet undeniably talented — swingman Ron Artest. How long Artest's honeymoon with Kobe Bryant and marriage with the Lakers will last is anybody's guess.

Off the court, forward Lamar Odom wed, after a hasty courtship, reality TV star Khloe Kardashian of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" fame.

While L.A. may have more than its share of tabloid distractions this season, the rest of the Pacific Division will be trying (and failing) at keeping up with the Lakers. Artest is a better player than Trevor Ariza, the player he replaces, and the Lakers are still easily the class of the division.

In fact, it could be that the Lakers are, for the second year in a row, the only team to make the playoffs out of the Pacific.

Here is a team-by-team look in predicted order of finish:

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Last season: 65-17, won NBA championship

Top player: G Kobe Bryant (26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg)

Supporting cast: F/C Pau Gasol (18.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.5 apg), F Ron Artest (17.1 ppg, 3.3 apg), C Andrew Bynum (14.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Derek Fisher (9.9 ppg, 3.2 apg), F Lamar Odom (11.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg)

Bottom line: Artest is usually on his best behavior immediately after joining a new team. Plus, Lakers coach Phil Jackson has done well in getting the most out of troubled but talented players before — remember Dennis Rodman in Chicago? But it was shown last season that the Lakers had enough talent to win the whole thing without Artest. Why mess with the team's chemistry with a player who could potentially blow things up? In any event, Los Angeles will cruise to the division title since the Pacific is weaker than it's been in years.

PHOENIX SUNS

Last season: 46-36, missed playoffs

Top player: F/C Amare Stoudemire (21.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg)

Supporting cast: PG Steve Nash (15.7 ppg, 9.7 apg), G Jason Richardson (16.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), F Grant Hill (F 12.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg), C Channing Frye (4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg)