Cavs v Lakers

[IronMexican]

Funny how the Celtics game in December is a statement game, but the loses to the Spurs and Orlando in January are just another game...have to love that logic.

Brah, you know I am one of the more logical thinking Laker fans. This game, like the one on Friday, means a lot more to the other team than the Lakers. Just like Wedesday meant more to SA than LA, and the Navidad game meant more to LA than Boston. It's just a measuring stick for the other teams right now. It means infinite times more to Cleveland right now.

[DPG21920]

Brah, you know I am one of the more logical thinking Laker fans. This game, like the one on Friday, means a lot more to the other team than the Lakers. Just like Wedesday meant more to SA than LA, and the Navidad game meant more to LA than Boston. It's just a measuring stick for the other teams right now. It means infinite times more to Cleveland right now.

I see what you are saying, but I do not agree with some of the Laker fans that are acting like the Lakers can do no wrong and nothing matters because of the one Celtics win.

If you guys had lost that game, but still played the same exact way since then and had the same record, you would still be the same team and just as good.

Also, I do not agree that the Spurs game meant "way" more to the Spurs. Hear me out. The Lakers are supposed to have that killer instinct, get up against good compe ion. They know that the Spurs are widely regarded as their biggest obstacle in the West. Those are the games where the Lakers usually come out and dominate. Look at how Kobe was acting. He wanted that one bad and he did not get it.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Brah, you know I am one of the more logical thinking Laker fans. This game, like the one on Friday, means a lot more to the other team than the Lakers. Just like Wedesday meant more to SA than LA, and the Navidad game meant more to LA than Boston. It's just a measuring stick for the other teams right now. It means infinite times more to Cleveland right now.

huh?!

The cavs pushed boston to the limit in their series together, something which la couldn't do.

If anything, this is a measuring stick for la.

[IronMexican]

No. Because I wouldn't believe this team was good enough to compete with them. All these things play into my head a lot. I can understand why it wouldn't mean as much to Boston, though.

[MarHill]

If Lakers lose to the cavs tonight they'll be 1-3 against the top elite teams.

I'd say that's cause for concern. regardless of it been a regular season game.

Naw...I dont think so. Because two of those three games were decided in the last minute of the game. The Lakers could have won both the SA and ORL games.

The playoffs are about matchups more so than the regular season. When the Spurs won the le in 2007, the Cavs beat them twice in the regular season. And last year...Phoenix won the regular season series against the Spurs 3-1 and SA beat them in the 1st round playoff series 4-1. Also, The Spurs won last year regular season series against the Lakers 2-1 and lost in the WCF.

(I can't believe I'm defending the Lakers!! LOL!!)

The bigger concern I would have as Lakers fans...is their inconsistent defensive effort for 4 quarters and the team giving up 100 points or more in almost half of their games so far.

[DrHouse]

It's not like the Lakers have been blown out by any elite team thus far. They've basically been in every game right to the bloody end. If they were getting crushed by elite teams then I think there would be pause for concern, but losing extremely close games when you're down important role players is not going to make the team question itself.

I shouldn't have to explain why the Celtic game was important to the Lakers.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

No. Because I wouldn't believe this team was good enough to compete with them. All these things play into my head a lot. I can understand why it wouldn't mean as much to Boston, though.

I don't know who you are referring to with "this team," and "them."

[IronMexican]

huh?!

The cavs pushed boston to the limit in their series together, something which la couldn't do.

If anything, this is a measuring stick for la.

Whatever you say, brah.

[DrHouse]

Naw...I dont think so. Because two of those three games were decided in the last minute of the game. The Lakers could have won both the SA and ORL games.

The playoffs are about matchups more so than the regular season. When the Spurs won the le in 2007, the Cavs beat them twice in the regular season. And last year...Phoenix won the regular season series against the Spurs 3-1 and SA beat them in the 1st round playoff series 4-1. Also, The Spurs won last year regular season series against the Lakers 2-1 and lost in the WCF.

(I can't believe I'm defending the Lakers!! LOL!!)

The bigger concern I would have as Lakers fans...is their inconsistent defensive effort for 4 quarters and the team giving up 100 points or more in almost half of their games so far.

Couldn't agree more .

The lack of defensive intensity is alarming. The Laker should be able to play better defense than they are with the players they have. There is no excuse.

[IronMexican]

I don't know who you are referring to with "this team," and "them."

I try not to refer to the team I root for as "us" or "we". It's tough sometimes though.

[DPG21920]

So if the Celtics blow the Lakers out the next time you play, will you change your mind?

[ducks]

will this be like the suns vs boston game

[Thunder Dan]

The Lakers are by far the best team in the NBA, and Kobe is by far the best player to ever touch a basketball....no loss will ever change that

[MarHill]

Couldn't agree more .

The lack of defensive intensity is alarming. The Laker should be able to play better defense than they are with the players they have. There is no excuse.

DrHouse,

There are some Spurs fans who can be objective!!

I just think "statement games" in the regular season are so overrated!!

[Ronaldo McDonald]

I try not to refer to the team I root for as "us" or "we". It's tough sometimes though.

i realize that, but it'd help if you called the team by their name that way it's clarified.

no big deal, though.

[DrHouse]

So if the Celtics blow the Lakers out the next time you play, will you change your mind?

Listen to Marhill.

[IronMexican]

Nope. They already beat them. Would I be a bit more worried? Of course, but not change my mind. LA ended their 19 game winning streak, so that win spoke volumes to me.

[DrHouse]

DrHouse,

There are some Spurs fans who can be objective!!

I just think "statement games" in the regular season are so overrated!!

The Celtic game wasn't even a statement game IMHO. The Lakers didn't make any kind of statement to the Celtics or the rest of the league. The statement they made was to themselves.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

la has the players to be able to play great defense. their length is amazing. if pop were coaching that team, they've have no losses, probably, because he'd make them into an unbelievable defensive team.

[DPG21920]

Listen to Marhill.

Use sound logic.

[Thunder Dan]

There is no need to make statements when you are that much better than every other team. If anything it was a statement for the Celtics, I mean they came within 10 points of the Lakers..that's a feat in itself

[JoeTait75]

If Lakers lose to the cavs tonight they'll be 1-3 against the top elite teams.

I'd say that's cause for concern. regardless of it been a regular season game.

31-8 would tend to ease the mind.

The only thing that matters is playoff positioning. Every game is equally important for that reason. The wins over Oklahoma City and Minnesota count just as much as the wins over Boston and L.A., as nice as it is to get the latter.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

there are certain guys i cannot picture winning a 'chip and odom is one of them. it's just this feeling i have. i think they're out of luck until they get rid of him/he leaves.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

there are certain guys i cannot picture winning a 'chip and odom is one of them. it's just this feeling i have. i think they're out of luck until they get rid of him/he leaves.

I used to say the same thing about Antoine Walker........and well

[MarHill]

Use sound logic.

Hey DPG21920,

I usually don't agree with DrHouse about the Lakers.

But I do believe has a point about this game tonight. I believe the fans and media make too much of a fuss about the so-called "statement game" in the regular season.

Obviously, there are some important games in the regular season and yes the Lakers-Celts Christmas Day game was important because it was the first time since last year's finals they played each other and the way the Lakers lost was embrassing. But..to call it a "statement game" is a bit much in my opinion.

Just as much as last week's SA-LAL game was a "statement game" for the Spurs. I maybe in the minority with that opinion....but a mid-Jan regular season game isn't a statement game.