How 'bout them Lakers?

[primetime]

I know some of you probably won't reply to this post, but it is okay. I just wanted to take a moment to show some love for the LOS ANGELES LAKERS. Wasn't it not too long ago people were saying the Lakers would never rise to elite status again? Well, looks like WE'RE BACK!!!

The Lakers look very strong. This team is very deep and very talented. I mean, Andrew Bynum is a force in the middle, Pau Gasol is at his natural spot, Jordan Farmar/Derek Fisher at point, Odom off the bench and of course the BEST BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE NBA TODAY, Kobe Bryant. But the key guys that people should watch out for are Sasha Vujacic and Trevor Ariza. You know your team is deep when the Coach tells the media he is having hard time determining minutes for everyone.

The Celtics got away with one last year, but the Lakers are on a mission. The road will be tough, but the Lakers are the team to beat and those green dudes in the East (Celtics) better prepare for a beat down in the NBA Finals. If the Lakers make it to the Finals, they beat the Celtics in 5. 6 max. You heard it here first.....

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

They definately have a chance to make it back in the finals. Kobe had received the '' automatic foul '' calls during the regular season whenever he drove the ball. He didn`t get them in the finals, it drove him nutz, it was the difference of winning and losing the championship.

 

[CrazyTickler]

While I love the balance and the rotation of the Lakers, I'm still not buying into this team yet. I want to see them in long run.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

What have I said about people saying "How 'bout them..." when referencing a team other than the Cowboys?

Anyway, the Lakers are obviously a favorite this year. They'll still have a lot to do to win it all. Phoenix and Utah look to be their toughest competition in the West right now. New Orleans will come around and Portland is young and could suprise some people, but I'm not saying they're one of the teams on the top-tier. Boston is still the team to beat and Cleveland looks like they could finally get over the hump this season.

 

[primetime]

The Lakers are the favorite, but the road will be difficult. But, then one thing to keep in mind is that Jackson knows what he is doing an dyou have a hungry Kobe Bryant who is confident in his team. This Laker squad is deep and trust me, I'm sure they remember that stupid Gatorade bath the Celtics gave Doc Rivers during Game 6 in the Finals last year.

Watch out for the Lakers. The reason for the post is because I remember a few years back, a lot of you Laker, excuse me, Kobe haters, said the Lakers would never be in contention again if Kobe is on the team. Guess what? We are. We are the team to beat in the West. The ONLY team that can beat the Lakers are the Lakers. Man, hopefully I will be going to a parade in downtown Los Angeles...

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

The Lakers are the favorite, but the road will be difficult. But, then one thing to keep in mind is that Jackson knows what he is doing an dyou have a hungry Kobe Bryant who is confident in his team. This Laker squad is deep and trust me, I'm sure they remember that stupid Gatorade bath the Celtics gave Doc Rivers during Game 6 in the Finals last year.

Watch out for the Lakers. The reason for the post is because I remember a few years back, a lot of you Laker, excuse me, Kobe haters, said the Lakers would never be in contention again if Kobe is on the team. Guess what? We are. We are the team to beat in the West. The ONLY team that can beat the Lakers are the Lakers. Man, hopefully I will be going to a parade in downtown Los Angeles...

I agree that the Lakers are the favorites right now. But what are we, 6 or 7 games into the season. The Lakers are one injury away from being mediocre just like everyone else is. and don`t forget the trade deadline, if someone like the New Orleans can pull off a trade like the Lakers did for Gasol, then watch out.

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

What about the Lakers? The Pistons smashed them AGAIN in LA on Friday...

If McDyess returns to the Pistons....they will be a legit contender for the title...if not, Mr. Dumars will have to make another move

 

[zepp3320]

What about the Lakers? The Pistons smashed them AGAIN in LA on Friday...

If McDyess returns to the Pistons....they will be a legit contender for the title...if not, Mr. Dumars will have to make another move

Dumars has pretty much given up on this season. Trading for Iverson was simply a salary dump, he plays the same position as Hamilton. The Pistons are still a very good team but I really can't see them getting by Boston or Cleveland.

 

[jaba]

What about the Lakers? The Pistons smashed them AGAIN in LA on Friday...

If McDyess returns to the Pistons....they will be a legit contender for the title...if not, Mr. Dumars will have to make another move

Games against teams like the Pistons are gonna make the Lakers better defensively. Teams like the pistons exploit the defensive weaknesses that the lakers need to work on.

I love Kobe, but I think a healthy Bynum will be the key this year. If this kid doesnt get hurt, hes only gonna get better as he gains experience, and in 5 years (when Bynums only 25 ) he's gong to make jaws drop with his play, because hes getting the NBA attitude that he did not have in his rookie season. You now have to pick your poison with the Lakers, because the playmakers seem to finally be able to shoot the ball, they are no longer shooting 3 point bricks and dishing out to Kobe on every possession. Lamar Odom seems to be accepting his role coming off the bench, and he's much more active and productive with perhaps the most talented second unit in the NBA. Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza appears ready for a breakout season.

If Kobe remains the Kobe of last year, and he doesnt feel the after effects of the Bejing Olympic games, Phil Jackson will have all of chess pieces to match any team in the league.

 

[primetime]

The Lakers lose one game to a contending team and tckleguy tries to make a joke. Please, the Lakers are going to lose games. They will probably lose about 20 of them. The point is, the Lakers are once again the Lakers and we are a team to contend with. I remember all the jokes people were saying a few years vback about how the Lakers will never contend again if Kobe is on the team. How do you like us now?

The Lakers are going to have to "man up" when they play the Pistons or Celtics. That is the stigma on them right now. They are not "tough enough". Funny thing is, the Western Conference is the tougher conference, but because the Pistons and Celtics play "bully ball", people consider the Lakers soft. Believe me, the Lakers will be fine and I can't wait for Christmas Day when we play the Celtics. Both teams want to send a message on that day to each other.

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

How can you say the Western Conference is tougher when San Antonio is the only Western Conference team to win a championship the last 6 years? The reason why they've won is because they play defense which no other western conference team does. The Pistons, Heat and Celtics all played great defense when they won their championships.

Detroit has beaten the Lakers 8 out of their last 10 games. Before Sunday Detroit has beaten Phoenix 3 straight years in Phoenix. I can go on and on about the West...they play ball that gets ratings and makes tons of dough for the NBA, but that's about it...all show.

You can call it bully ball, but the truth is defense is part of the game and must be played if you want to win a championship. Last Friday the Pistons got into the heads of the Lakers. They showed extreme frustration for it being only the 8th game of the season. The Lakers have enormous potential, and you're right..games like last Friday could help the Lakers later in the year because no one else will play them like Detroit or Boston does but a couple times a year.

I apologize for the rant, but i'm just tired of people saying the West is better when numbers and the play just doesn't back it up

 

[jaba]

How can you say the Western Conference is tougher when San Antonio is the only Western Conference team to win a championship the last 6 years? The reason why they've won is because they play defense which no other western conference team does. The Pistons, Heat and Celtics all played great defense when they won their championships.

Detroit has beaten the Lakers 8 out of their last 10 games. Before Sunday Detroit has beaten Phoenix 3 straight years in Phoenix. I can go on and on about the West...they play ball that gets ratings and makes tons of dough for the NBA, but that's about it...all show.

You can call it bully ball, but the truth is defense is part of the game and must be played if you want to win a championship. Last Friday the Pistons got into the heads of the Lakers. They showed extreme frustration for it being only the 8th game of the season. The Lakers have enormous potential, and you're right..games like last Friday could help the Lakers later in the year because no one else will play them like Detroit or Boston does but a couple times a year.

I apologize for the rant, but i'm just tired of people saying the West is better when numbers and the play just doesn't back it up

Where are you getting your stats?

western conference denver nuggets had to win 50 games just to qualify for the post season in the west. The eastern conference atlanta hawks made the eastern conference playoffs with a lousy 37-45 losing record. Phili clinched an eastern conference playoff spot with a 488 winning percentage, and toronto got in with a 41-41, a 500 record. The teams projected to finish one through nine in the west would finish as high as number two in the east, and would likely gain home court advantage. Match the top 10 teams in the east versus the west. Its not even close.

The top 2 to 3 teams in each conference may compete with each other, but the rest of the east would get beat down in the west, and at least half of the east playoff teams would be watching the playoffs at home if they played in the west.

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

The last 6 champions were who....teams that played defense...teams who were tough physically and mentally, only 1 team from the west plays defense..San Antonio..and they've won 3.

There's your stat.

The west plays ball that gets ratings, not championships...

 

[jaba]

The last 6 champions were who....teams that played defense...teams who were tough physically and mentally, only 1 team from the west plays defense..San Antonio..and they've won 3.

There's your stat.

Here's some more stats....

The last 6 NBA championships were split between eastern and western conference teams. The west has won 7 of the last NBA championships of the decade, versus 3 in the last decade for the east, and the last repeat champions of the NBA hails from the west, the Lakers, at 3 in a row.

Last season, the three bottom basement western conference teams, all with measly low 20 game seasons, won half of their game total against eastern conference teams. Sacramento was 11th place out of 15 western conference teams, with a lowly 38-44 record. Sacramento would have grabbed the 8th playoff spot in the eastern conference if they were over there. Golden state, which also did not make the playoffs last season in the west, would have had the number 7 playoff spot in the east.

Your argument that the east is either the tougher conference or the better one, by any measure, is a losing one.

The west plays ball that gets ratings, not championships...

7 of the last 10 NBA championships were won in the west…that’s what gets the ratings….

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

I never said the eastern conference was better, I just said I was tired of hearing about how much better the West is but the fact remains that when it counts, it's split the last 6 years and the only West team that has won is one that is tough and plays defense..every other team is irrelevant. Heck, Detroit had a 9 point lead with 9 minutes to go in game 7 in San Antonio in 2005...but the SA defense kicked it up and won the title.

You can bring up the Lakers 3 in a row, but then can I bring up Chicago's 6 out 7...they're in the eastern conference. Go back 20 years and the east has an 11-9 advantage in the finals.

When it counts...there's no advantage...you can talk about the meaningless regular season all you want. Who's lost the most regular season games the last 20 years....the Clippers...

You can even argue that SA plays Eastern Conference basketball. Why do you think the world beats Team USA all the time now...tough, hard play. It took the NBA's best to win it this year, and it there was some doubt we would even win the gold.

Portland is the team of the NBA future as long as McMillan doesn't screw it up.

 

[daddy]

All I can say is I am glad to be a BLAZERS fan! This year is our turn-around year and we will be in the playoffs again. As I type this the BLAZERS are enjoying a near 40 point lead over the Bulls and it feels damn good 🙂

Rip City Baby

peace out,
daddy

 

[jaba]

I never said the eastern conference was better, I just said I was tired of hearing about how much better the West is but the fact remains that when it counts, it's split the last 6 years and the only West team that has won is one that is tough and plays defense..every other team is irrelevant. Heck, Detroit had a 9 point lead with 9 minutes to go in game 7 in San Antonio in 2005...but the SA defense kicked it up and won the title.

You can bring up the Lakers 3 in a row, but then can I bring up Chicago's 6 out 7...they're in the eastern conference. Go back 20 years and the east has an 11-9 advantage in the finals.

oh...sorry... when you said....

QUOTE=tckleguy
I apologize for the rant, but i'm just tired of people saying the West is better when numbers and the play just doesn't back it up

I actually thought you meant what you said. I disagree with you, and I stand by my stats in my last two posts.

When it counts...there's no advantage...you can talk about the meaningless regular season all you want. Who's lost the most regular season games the last 20 years....the Clippers...

right....and which teams did my lowly clippers have the majority of their wins against? the east.....even my clippers feasted on eastern conference teams.

You can even argue that SA plays Eastern Conference basketball. Why do you think the world beats Team USA all the time now...tough, hard play. It took the NBA's best to win it this year, and it there was some doubt we would even win the gold.

Portland is the team of the NBA future as long as McMillan doesn't screw it up.

I agree about Portland. And if the Hornets get some players around Chris Paul, they are gonna be another team to watch for. That kid is the real deal....

 

[jaba]

All I can say is I am glad to be a BLAZERS fan! This year is our turn-around year and we will be in the playoffs again. As I type this the BLAZERS are enjoying a near 40 point lead over the Bulls and it feels damn good 🙂

Rip City Baby

peace out,
daddy

I agree....it's good to see Portland back in the western rivalry mix....

Chicago rookie Derrick Rose is another kid to watch for. He's a baller....

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

lol, we can go around and round with our points. i just wanted to bring up that when it counts in the playoffs that it's been proven the west isn't better in any way, shape or form than the East...