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I have always felt like we play the lakers well. I'm never afraid of them. Last year I did fear the suns team because of the matchup problems... and they finally beat us, but now that is long gone... Its always about matchups, and we have always had a team that can matchup and be competative with the Lakers.. same this year. Hope we get the chance to see it play out on the court this year.
Caracter may have a bigger role than Ebanks - ala Dajuan Blair - etc. He'll get the minutes Powell should have. Ratliff is done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain
But the hate on Barnes? He started for Orlando last year and was their best perimeter defender. All LA needs him to do is move without the ball on offense and play great defense. That's what he does and thats what LA expects - how can he not be "quite as good as the Lakers are expecting"?
Does it even matter who comes out the west? The heat have this shit wrapped up even before the season starts.
Miami's biggest weakness is inside, no one scores in the post nor will they defend the paint well. The interior is LA's biggest strength.Quote:
Originally Posted by weebo
Miami's biggest strength is perimeter play. LA has the best group of perimeter defenders in the game.
Miami also has a coaching question mark. LA has the best coach in NBA history making his final mark.
Miami's second biggest weakness is its bench. LA has the strongest bench that any of their championship teams have had under Phil.
Miami is going to be a chemistry experiment and questions over roles while LA is a well-oiled machine with upgrades across the board.
Yeah - I don't get why the Lakers think they have a chance.
I don't think they will do it this season. It's a brand new team. I don't think they will be able to put it all together in the first year. Am I alone on this one?Quote:
Originally Posted by weebo
The Lakers are the team to beat. It will take a healthy, disciplined, peaking, well-oiled machine to knock them off their throne.
I agree. They likely win 2 rings or so but not this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by ohmwrecker
Why does everyone put the Lakers first? Maybe because they've won the West 3 years in a row, despite injuries?
How is what I'm saying any different than what you're saying? You have already made the assumption that no team in the west has a shot at the Lakers. I'm doing the same thing by saying no team in the NBA has a shot at the Heat.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Cleva
Every year is different and with the new year the Lakers will still have questions to answer themselves. How are the new guys going to fit in with the team? Is PJ really that committed to keep coaching or is he going to be taking time off during the season? How will Kobe respond to another year of wear and tear on his body? There are still many questions to be answered for every team in the NBA. So, to think the Lakers will come out of the west is a bit presumptuous IMO.
Do they deserve respect? Of course. Should they be feared? Of course not. I think appropriate fear is another way of saying healthy respect. The Lakers are an assmebly of men who play basketball, just like all the other teams.
While they are great they can be beaten. That old Boston squad almost did just that. And though they didn't, the fact that they almost did it shows that it is worth it for the other temas to show up and do their damndest to go for it.
LA has proven over the last 3 years that they are ready for anything that comes out of the West. Its not even a question.Quote:
Originally Posted by weebo
As for Miami. Ric Flair said it best - to be the man you gotta beat the man, Miami on paper alone will have more problems with LA than LA would have with Miami.
LA's questions are trivial.
How new guys fit? Coaching and leadership has consistently taken care of that. If they can get Artest in line, Barnes and Blake are walks in the park.
Questioning Phil? C'mon now. 11 titles and 13 Finals in 20 years speak for itself.
Same goes for Kobe. Mind over matter for him come playoff time.
I've heard the rumblings on Barnes as well. Agreed he's not a starter. Fortunately, LA has no plans of him every being the starter. In the 8th man role (behind LO and Blake) he's ideal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Cleva
...and coach Pop has said it many times (even after winning a championship) that every year is a new year and every team is different.
Ya and Kobe's body breaking down is trivial. Keep thinking that. Ron Artest is a mental case but as far as I've known he has never been disliked as a person by his coaches or teammates. Barnes, on the other, .....well, there's a reason that over the last few years he's been on several teams.
Miami has three of arguably the top 15 best players in the NBA. And Miami's best three players are better than LA's best three.
Lakers front office >> Spurs front office
Quote:
Originally Posted by rascal
Rascal's hard-on for Barnes >> Kobe's
Damn, you're stupid.Quote:
Originally Posted by rascal
You can have Theo Ratliff, he's old and we didn't care about him anyways. You can have Steve Blake, he's slow and is a decent backup point guard but I don't see him having a year any better than Jordan Farmar, if he's considered an upgrade, it's a small one. Barnes is a liability, maybe would've been a decent role player on the Spurs, I would've been more than willing to take a chance on him. But there's still a lot of issues with him, he's a crazier and less talented version of Ron Artest, similar style, but not half the defender. I honestly don't see the two styles complimenting each other very well at all. Derek Fisher is gonna become more and more of a liability on the defense, he's only getting slower and Tony Parker can kill him. Biggest mismatch between the two teams is Fisher/Parker. I respect their team this year, I have less fear for the Lakers than I did taking a math test last semester.
you would have to give the edge to LA, but in no way am i scared. i like this teams' chances. I was scared in '01 and '02 when i knew we didn't have the team to beat LA. i know we have the team do it this year. it's not even a question to me. people who say otherwise are either stupid or full of shit.
Maybe it has something to do with THEY are the 2-time defending NBA Champions. Not to mention that they've been the Western Conference champions for 3 straight years!Quote:
Originally Posted by lilsupa
Are you kidding? Methinks you're dissing the champs a bit too much. Hey, I hate the Fakers as much, if not more, than anyone here. However, you cannot discount or disrespect their accomplishments and the fact that, like it or not, THEY are the top dogs in the NBA. Not the Heat. Not the Thunder. And unfortunately, not the Spurs. It's great to be a fan - but let's be real.Quote:
Originally Posted by lilsupa
The Fakers just beat a very tough, physical, Celtics team. A Celtics team that bulldozed its way to the 7th game of the Finals and "gassed out" before crossing the finish line. A Celtics team that is, overall, a much better defensive team than the Spurs. The Fakers are STILL a matchup nightmare for most every team in the NBA, including the Spurs. You cannot beat them with finesse-playing, stretch 4's or by trying to outscore them. To be successful, you must make them work by playing tough, physical defense, rebound and scoring the ball consistently.
With the exception of resigning Bonner (who's been a playoff choker for two straight years), the personnel moves the Spurs made were solid. However at this point, I just do not think those moves are enough to dethrone the champs.
That said, the Spurs have no reason to toss out the entire season. They will face a rather "steep", uphill climb in trying to knock off the Fakers. I hope I'm wrong. Either way, I'll be there to watch and support my team.
i personally don't give a shit what happned last year. what happened last year has no bearing on next year. who's the best next year is up for grabs. each team equally has to prove how good they are, even LA.
Yes, the 2nd game the lakers already had home court advantage wrapped up and were just coasting out the regular season and the first game they were missing players.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain
The Spurs had no shot of beating the lakers with the roster the Spurs had(weak frontline) last year in the playoffs.
Not if both teams are at full strenght with no injuries.Quote:
Originally Posted by mingus
Lakers front office >> Spurs front office
i disagree. everything starts anew and people have to prove once again how good they are. i don't give a shit about who won the championship last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by rascal