LA Times: No One Is Rising In West To Challenge Lakers

[IronMexican]

[Chieflion]

Um, what? Do they give out championships for most arrogant articles. LA times take the cake. If they give out championships for most delusional articles, New York times will get the championship as soon as the two words "LeBron James" pop out.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Yea David Stern has a Secret Spy working on every 'contending' teams Front Office, nixing deals that could put teams over LA, Boston or LeBron James.

omg you cracked the conspiracy!!

If you really believe your own bull then why watch the NBA?

[djohn2oo8]

I think the Suns could challenge LA as of right now. Somebody needs to tell this fool who wrote the article that injuries are apart of the game.

[SpursDynasty]

No one is rising in West to challenge Lakers
Hornets were tough last year, but they have made questionable moves this season.
Mark Heisler

There's one thing you can count on, some Western Conference team arising to challenge the Lakers before it's over.

Before the decade is over, I mean. Or the decade after that, for sure.

As for this season, it's looking pretty good for the Lakers, who edged another fading West power, the New Orleans Hornets, 115-111, in overtime Friday night at Staples Center.

These days, most of the powers in the West are fading. Last season, five teams finished within three games of the No. 1 Lakers. Now the Lakers lead San Antonio and Denver by eight as the rest of the West tries to pick up the pieces.

The once-stalwart Spurs, who need more players, not fewer, just lost one of their big three, Manu Ginobili -- again.

Portland is still waiting for Greg Oden to break out. Instead, he mostly just breaks, returning from the All-Star break with a bone chip in one knee the Trail Blazers didn't know about.

Then there are the Hornets, who won 56 games to the Lakers' 57 last season.

They started the night tied for fifth in the conference, 11 games back.

For reasons best known to owner George Shinn -- maybe the prospect of paying $10 million in luxury taxes -- they just traded their 26-year-old 7-foot center, Tyson Chandler, to Oklahoma City -- only to have him sent back for failing his physical.

Two summers ago, Chandler played on the U.S. team with Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Last season, Chandler posted career highs at 12 points and 12 rebounds a game.

This season, slowed by nagging injuries, he's a ping-pong ball.

The Hornets said they traded him to get more big bodies, a strange explanation for trading their biggest body.

"If that's what we have to do, then we should get bigger or stronger, not take away pieces that we already have," Chandler said before the game.

"If we don't feel like we've got enough, then let's get enough, add on to what we've got. Let's not take pieces away that are huge pieces to the puzzle."

Coach Byron Scott reportedly was aghast when told about the deal, which would have brought two slender 6-10 forwards, Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox -- both upcoming free agents.

"It was still a basketball decision," Scott said before the game, "but obviously, money is always going to play a little bit of a part of it, as far as next year, the year after, whatever the case may be."

So much for the Hornets, who were already underdogs when they went all-out.

The Lakers, who just lost Andrew Bynum, have gone 8-1 without him, with some guy coming off their bench to average 16 points and 13.6 rebounds.

No one else in the West is as good, as big, or as deep. As for financial constraints, even if they're unloading salary, owner Jerry Buss can afford anyone he wants to afford, such as Pau Gasol, who represented a potential $90 million in additional salary and taxes over three seasons when the Lakers acquired him.

"It makes it a little difficult when you have an owner that's willing to spend whatever it takes and money is not an object," said Scott, the former Laker.

"We're in a smaller market and obviously money's a lot tighter. But that's the money side of it. I can't think of that stuff. . . . I care about playing and winning and I'm going to coach the guys that I have here and try and do the best job that I can."

Scott's teams always fight and this one did too. Imagine what he could do with more help, rather than less.

Chandler, asked if he might take less money next season to help Shinn out, didn't think so.

"You've got to feel loyalty before you can do something like that," Chandler said, "and, obviously, in this situation, you don't feel that right now."

Oh, and guess who's a free agent in 2011?

Chris Paul.

Another way of saying everything in this article: The Hornets' Chris Paul got fouled out after Kobe pushed him and no foul was called on Kobe. Instead, Chris Paul got called for his sixth foul after Kobe tripped after pushing Paul. The Lakers escape with another bull win to appear elite.

[lefty]

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Just give the le to the Lakers then

[DeadlyDynasty]

Another way of saying everything in this article: The Hornets' Chris Paul got fouled out after Kobe pushed him and no foul was called on Kobe. Instead, Chris Paul got called for his sixth foul after Kobe tripped after pushing Paul. The Lakers escape with another bull win to appear elite.

Or Chris Paul could've iced the game in regulation during the 4 on 1 fast break but decided to be a dumbass and keep it...but no, let's blame the officiating every time something doesn't go your way because it's so much more convenient.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Just give the le to the Lakers then

Why thank you

[lurker]

Spurs/Cavs NBA Finals. It's gonna happen.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Spurs/Cavs NBA Finals. It's gonna happen.

it already did, wont happen again

[tlongII]

The Blazers can beat the Lakers and they know it.

Oh, and last time I checked Oden had played more games this season than Bynum...

[hater]

Lakers - prime example of a team cheating your way to a championship

[hater]

oh, and last time i checked oden had played more games this season than bynum...

lol

[Ghazi]

The Blazers can beat the Lakers and they know it.

Oh, and last time I checked Oden had played more games this season than Bynum...

No the they don't

[TheMACHINE]

Once stalwart? Keep counting those chickens before they hatch in LA (arrogance run amuck). Boston may have just had a significant injury.

LA is one mistep from being beatable. Ginobili is not out for the season. SA is very capable of beating Los Angeles in the playoffs (with everyone available). I think the Spurs can be much better than last years team WITH a healthy Ginobili.

SA blew two twenty point leads in the playoff series last year. They were not at their best.

The Lakers are the favorites of course, but stuff happens. That's why they play the games.

I prefer being one mistep away from beaing beatble then just being beatable.

[TheMACHINE]

Or Chris Paul could've iced the game in regulation during the 4 on 1 fast break but decided to be a dumbass and keep it...but no, let's blame the officiating every time something doesn't go your way because it's so much more convenient.

lol had had to do was stop at the half court line and wait for the lakers to foul him.

[Allanon]

I'm really surprised there were no big trades before the deadline. I don't know WTF some teams were thinking.

I think it was a mistake for the Spurs to hang onto Mason and Pornstar at all costs. But I'm thinking tt probably wasn't a mistake, it was probably due to them already looking towards next year.

Suns might have had a chance but with Amare out indefinitely, who knows how he'll be if/when he comes back.

Rockets, at least they tried. Hornets tried, OKC screwed them over a big toe. Portland still too young, they should have gotten a vet. Nuggets were better against the Lakers with Iverson. Jazz won't have Boozer. Mavs love their team.

As it is, if Bynum rejoins the Lakers in any kind of decent form, nobody's stopping the Lakers from getting to the Finals.

Really disappointing season so far, not much excitement.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Spurs aren't beating the Lakers this season.

Without an additional big, they're screwed. I don't care how healthy Ginobili will be come playoff time, the Spurs defense is the worst its been int he last 10 years.

[lefty]

Spurs aren't beating the Lakers this season.

Without an additional big, they're screwed. I don't care how healthy Ginobili will be come playoff time, the Spurs defense is the worst its been int he last 10 years.

Spurs are beating the Lakers

We are the 2009 NBA champs

OR...or........ Suns will beat them for us

[djohn2oo8]

Lakers - prime example of a team cheating your way to a championship

Or LeBron with the crab dribble ..........Whenever the Cavs play at home the refs are all over bron bron's . Can't wait til thursday, true test for rockets.

[tlongII]

I'm really surprised there were no big trades before the deadline. I don't know WTF some teams were thinking.

I think it was a mistake for the Spurs to hang onto Mason and Pornstar at all costs. But I'm thinking tt probably wasn't a mistake, it was probably due to them already looking towards next year.

Suns might have had a chance but with Amare out indefinitely, who knows how he'll be if/when he comes back.

Rockets, at least they tried. Hornets tried, OKC screwed them over a big toe. Portland still too young, they should have gotten a vet. Nuggets were better against the Lakers with Iverson. Jazz won't have Boozer. Mavs love their team.

As it is, if Bynum rejoins the Lakers in any kind of decent form, nobody's stopping the Lakers from getting to the Finals.

Really disappointing season so far, not much excitement.

WTF is the vet you think we should have got? We got all we need to take you down RIGHT NOW!

[Chieflion]

I'm really surprised there were no big trades before the deadline. I don't know WTF some teams were thinking.

I think it was a mistake for the Spurs to hang onto Mason and Pornstar at all costs. But I'm thinking tt probably wasn't a mistake, it was probably due to them already looking towards next year.

Suns might have had a chance but with Amare out indefinitely, who knows how he'll be if/when he comes back.

Rockets, at least they tried. Hornets tried, OKC screwed them over a big toe. Portland still too young, they should have gotten a vet. Nuggets were better against the Lakers with Iverson. Jazz won't have Boozer. Mavs love their team.

As it is, if Bynum rejoins the Lakers in any kind of decent form, nobody's stopping the Lakers from getting to the Finals.

Really disappointing season so far, not much excitement.

Well, no trade for any of those teams will push them over the top anyway. Especially Portland, they kept their core to improve for the next season. They also need the money to extend both Roy and Aldridge next season.

[ambchang]

2007 Mavs/Suns
2006 Spurs
2004 Lakers
2003 Lakers

All teams that were supposed to have won it all, but didn't. All these teams looked pretty good in the regular season as well.

[SenorSpur]

"If you wanna crown 'em, then crown their asses. But they ARE who we thought they were."

[manufor3]

im tired of all the laker hype.