Even though I think last night was just growing pains, Dallas did expose some potential problems for the Lakers.
1.They can't handle speedy point guards. Darren Collison torched Nash. Can't imagine what Rondo, Westbrook, or Paul are going to do to them.
2.The Mavericks had some inside muscle. Wright and Brand did a nice job covering Gasol and Howard even if they put up decent numbers. They got up in their face and weren't afraid of making contact.
The most telling aspect of last night's game was that the Lakers didn't lose to someone that was contender-good, they lost to a heavily undermanned, DIRK-less Mavericks. Not only that, but it was a Mavericks team that was also trying to incorporate all of its new players.
The Lakers are going to get better, but I would hold on the whole, "Obvious Western Conference Champs" talk. Especially with Metta World Peace at the 3 and the bench being pretty weak.