duncan228
02-25-2009, 07:53 PM
The article is told with pictures, the text is here. I put the link for the slideshow at the end of the article.
9 obstacles to a Lakers championship (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lakers-won-nba-2318029-point-finals)
Each of these teams offers a unique set of problems for the Lakers.
By Janis Carr
The Orange County Register
The Lakers have lost just 10 times this season. Two of those losses were to Orlando, which could spell trouble if they should happen to meet in the NBA Finals. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Well, before the Lakers can begin dreaming of their NBA Finals opponent, they must first win the Western Conference and that won’t necessarily be easy. Plenty of obstacles, long arms and deft scorers lurk beneath them in the standings.
For starters, there’s Tim Duncan and San Antonio, which beat the Lakers by one point this season. The Lakers avenged that loss with a four-point victory.
Other challenges in the postseason could come from New Orleans, which the Lakers seem to struggle against, and Phoenix, that is if Shaquille O’Neal can stay interested down the stretch.
Then it certainly won’t be nicey-nice between Kobe and Shaq.
And that’s just in the West.
9. Houston: The Rockets seem to have found a groove, winning their past five games to move ahead of Portland for fourth in the West. It seems as long as Tracy McGrady (knee) is sidelined, they have a better chance at advancing in playoffs, having gone 16-6 with him on the bench this season.
8. New Orleans: The Hornets always seem to be a stinger in the Lakers’ side and even more so with the addition of James Posey (who remember was a key role player for the Celtics last season). The Hornets already own one victory against the Lakers this season and barely lost the second, 115-111.
7. Phoenix: The Suns are not currently among the top eight teams in the West, one game behind No. 8 Dallas. But with a rejuvenated Shaquille O’Neal, a new coach and a return to their running game, the Suns could challenge the Lakers if they meet in the early rounds. The Suns knocked out the Lakers in the first round in 2006 and ’07.
6. Utah: Carlos Boozer back which means the Jazz is at full strength heading into the stretch run. They currently are 7-1 in February with victories against the NBA’s top tier teams – Lakers, Celtics, Hornets and Mavericks – which means they could be troublesome for the Lakers should they meet again in the playoffs. The Lakers won a second-round series last season, 4-2.
5. San Antonio: The Spurs have health issues at the moment, but that shouldn’t be a problem come playoffs because Tim Duncan (knee) and Manu Ginobili (ankle) should be healthy by April. A healthy Spurs team and a rejuvenated defense is not what the Lakers need, considering Duncan and Co. have given them fits during, not just this regular season, but previous regular and post seasons.
4. Miami: It’s doubtful the Heat has enough weapons to get past Cleveland and Boston, but they do have Dwyane Wade, who dropped 35 points on the Lakers in a December victory. The Heat might not beat the Lakers in a best-of-seven Finals series, but Wade, Michael Beasley and recently acquired Jermaine O’Neal would make it interesting.
3. Cleveland: So far the Cavs haven’t given the Lakers anything to worry about in the regular season. The Lakers have handled LeBron James with ease in the two regular-season games, but James is determined to prove himself in the playoffs, get the Cavs a ring and himself the MVP trophy. Watch out.
2. Orlando: There’s something about Orlando that gives the Lakers fits. Could it be …no, not magic, but All-Star Dwight Howard, who scored a total 43 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in Orlando’s two victories against the Lakers this season . They added Rafer Alston, who gives the Magic additional offensive fire power in Jameer Nelson’s absence.
1. Boston: Can you say Game 6 of the 2008 Finals? The Celtics, who have failed twice against the Lakers in the regular season, will be hanging onto that blowout for momentum should they meet again for the NBA title. The Lakers need Lamar Odom to stay focused this time.
For more teams that pose a challenge to the Lakers’ title hopes, click on photo to the right. (http://www.ocregister.com/photos/lakers-won-nba-2318029-point-finals)
9 obstacles to a Lakers championship (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lakers-won-nba-2318029-point-finals)
Each of these teams offers a unique set of problems for the Lakers.
By Janis Carr
The Orange County Register
The Lakers have lost just 10 times this season. Two of those losses were to Orlando, which could spell trouble if they should happen to meet in the NBA Finals. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Well, before the Lakers can begin dreaming of their NBA Finals opponent, they must first win the Western Conference and that won’t necessarily be easy. Plenty of obstacles, long arms and deft scorers lurk beneath them in the standings.
For starters, there’s Tim Duncan and San Antonio, which beat the Lakers by one point this season. The Lakers avenged that loss with a four-point victory.
Other challenges in the postseason could come from New Orleans, which the Lakers seem to struggle against, and Phoenix, that is if Shaquille O’Neal can stay interested down the stretch.
Then it certainly won’t be nicey-nice between Kobe and Shaq.
And that’s just in the West.
9. Houston: The Rockets seem to have found a groove, winning their past five games to move ahead of Portland for fourth in the West. It seems as long as Tracy McGrady (knee) is sidelined, they have a better chance at advancing in playoffs, having gone 16-6 with him on the bench this season.
8. New Orleans: The Hornets always seem to be a stinger in the Lakers’ side and even more so with the addition of James Posey (who remember was a key role player for the Celtics last season). The Hornets already own one victory against the Lakers this season and barely lost the second, 115-111.
7. Phoenix: The Suns are not currently among the top eight teams in the West, one game behind No. 8 Dallas. But with a rejuvenated Shaquille O’Neal, a new coach and a return to their running game, the Suns could challenge the Lakers if they meet in the early rounds. The Suns knocked out the Lakers in the first round in 2006 and ’07.
6. Utah: Carlos Boozer back which means the Jazz is at full strength heading into the stretch run. They currently are 7-1 in February with victories against the NBA’s top tier teams – Lakers, Celtics, Hornets and Mavericks – which means they could be troublesome for the Lakers should they meet again in the playoffs. The Lakers won a second-round series last season, 4-2.
5. San Antonio: The Spurs have health issues at the moment, but that shouldn’t be a problem come playoffs because Tim Duncan (knee) and Manu Ginobili (ankle) should be healthy by April. A healthy Spurs team and a rejuvenated defense is not what the Lakers need, considering Duncan and Co. have given them fits during, not just this regular season, but previous regular and post seasons.
4. Miami: It’s doubtful the Heat has enough weapons to get past Cleveland and Boston, but they do have Dwyane Wade, who dropped 35 points on the Lakers in a December victory. The Heat might not beat the Lakers in a best-of-seven Finals series, but Wade, Michael Beasley and recently acquired Jermaine O’Neal would make it interesting.
3. Cleveland: So far the Cavs haven’t given the Lakers anything to worry about in the regular season. The Lakers have handled LeBron James with ease in the two regular-season games, but James is determined to prove himself in the playoffs, get the Cavs a ring and himself the MVP trophy. Watch out.
2. Orlando: There’s something about Orlando that gives the Lakers fits. Could it be …no, not magic, but All-Star Dwight Howard, who scored a total 43 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in Orlando’s two victories against the Lakers this season . They added Rafer Alston, who gives the Magic additional offensive fire power in Jameer Nelson’s absence.
1. Boston: Can you say Game 6 of the 2008 Finals? The Celtics, who have failed twice against the Lakers in the regular season, will be hanging onto that blowout for momentum should they meet again for the NBA title. The Lakers need Lamar Odom to stay focused this time.
For more teams that pose a challenge to the Lakers’ title hopes, click on photo to the right. (http://www.ocregister.com/photos/lakers-won-nba-2318029-point-finals)