Which Laker fans are in a greater stage of denial?

[Nathan Explosion]

Odom was a much bigger matchup problem than Laker fans are letting on. At times, the Lakers rolled with Bynum, Gasol and Odom on the frontcourt. You're talking about 2 7 footers and another who's 6'10" with long arms. offensively and defensively that's tough.

Again, what people fail to mention about Artest is that he's not able to guard the quick PGs like Ariza could. That leaves either Kobe or Fisher to guard Parker. And if Gino is healthy, then I wouldn't want Artest trying to guard him either. Artest is a physical defender but Gino is too crafty and quick for Artest to body up. So the only legit option for that is Kobe. But wait, Kobe has to guard Parker.

So the Spurs actually have the advantage over the Lakers on the perimeter as they'd have two legit scoring threats that can create their own shot, initiate the offense, hit outside shots and get to the rim.

Artest and RJ are a wash as are Duncan and Gasol. So that basically leaves Bynum vs McDyess. You know what you're getting with McDyess but Bynum is such a headcase that you don't know what kind of player he's going to be.

[timtonymanurich]

LA will be 3rd in the West with any luck, Ronnie Artest will find someway to sabotage the Lakers and demand the ball in crunchtime and when he doesn't get it he'll run into the stands and attack Jack Nicholson and then go lay on the scores table. I'm going to hereby curse the Lakers with a key injury this year, and watch Kobe the brat's contract expire and get moved to NY or somewhere where all the rapists and stachetories can waive their banners and welcome their king 'Kobe' back home. LA is a joke and Phil J needs to retire. The guy barely has the mental wherewithall to go another season with Kobe at the helm doing Phils job for him.

SA will surprise everyone (though it won't BE a surprise to us Spurs fans) and will represent the West in the Finals in June. #5 for Timmy and Popovich!!!

[EmantheSpursFan]

LA will be 3rd in the West with any luck, Ronnie Artest will find someway to sabotage the Lakers and demand the ball in crunchtime and when he doesn't get it he'll run into the stands and attack Jack Nicholson and then go lay on the scores table. I'm going to hereby curse the Lakers with a key injury this year, and watch Kobe the brat's contract expire and get moved to NY or somewhere where all the rapists and stachetories can waive their banners and welcome their king 'Kobe' back home. LA is a joke and Phil J needs to retire. The guy barely has the mental wherewithall to go another season with Kobe at the helm doing Phils job for him.

SA will surprise everyone (though it won't BE a surprise to us Spurs fans) and will represent the West in the Finals in June. #5 for Timmy and Popovich!!!

even worse Artest is going to attack Jack NIcholson during a clipper game and fans or each team are going to start fighting each other! LA is going to spiral into chaos and with the city divided stern decides to move the lakers to Seattle and Ron is banned from the NBA forever!

[DrHouse]

The only people who are in denial are Spur fans who adamantly believe that Ron Artest is going to make the Lakers a worse team than if they had Ariza.

[DPG21920]

The only people who are in denial are Spur fans who adamantly believe that Ron Artest is going to make the Lakers a worse team than if they had Ariza.

Do you ever STFU? Stop talking. Please. Everyone was right about you; you are an idiot and never stop.

[Spurs_210]

The only people who are in denial are Spur fans who adamantly believe that Ron Artest is going to make the Lakers a worse team than if they had Ariza.

Artest won't make them any worse but losing Odom will. Artest is an upgrade defensively but quit acting like he is some stud offensively. That end of the court he is the same if not worse.

[carrao45]

How is he supposed to stat healthy with nobody to spell him off the bench?

Pau plays center too quite often. And Josh Powell would spell them, of course whether or not Powell is a good bench player remains to be seen

[carrao45]

How do you upgrade with a player already on the roster??

He would be an upgrade over the playoff Lakers where he was playing injured. Idiots. An upgrade over the playoff Lakers that won the le i might add

[cornbread]

I don't forsee the best teams in the league being plagued by injuries two years in a row. There are several teams that have a great shot it at next year.

[Rummpd]

The Lakers are ridiculously stacked, with or without Odom.

Him on the team basically guarantees a ring.

Baloney the reloaded Spurs have nothing to fear from the Spurs if they gell and stay healthy!

[SpurCharger]

Laker fans are a special breed though..they have the amazing talent to contradict previous statements and opinions in record time..they flip-flop on players all the time, depending on what their argument is on that given day..

A lot of them have actually tried to make the argument that the team might be better off without Odom, if you read through some of those pages..it makes sense in their minds though, since they're still on the Wilt Bynum hype..

They truly are s ..I don't really care if I offend anybody, it's just the honest truth..they really annoy me..EASILY the least knowledgeable fans in the NBA, there's no debate IMO..then you mix in the obnoxiousness, the arrogance, and the fact that they actually cheer for alleged rapists and wife/animal-beaters..what a special breed..

the equivalent of Nazi followers..

Classic Post! Couldnt of agreed with you anymore!

[SpurCharger]

Odom was a much bigger matchup problem than Laker fans are letting on. At times, the Lakers rolled with Bynum, Gasol and Odom on the frontcourt. You're talking about 2 7 footers and another who's 6'10" with long arms. offensively and defensively that's tough.

Again, what people fail to mention about Artest is that he's not able to guard the quick PGs like Ariza could. That leaves either Kobe or Fisher to guard Parker. And if Gino is healthy, then I wouldn't want Artest trying to guard him either. Artest is a physical defender but Gino is too crafty and quick for Artest to body up. So the only legit option for that is Kobe. But wait, Kobe has to guard Parker.

So the Spurs actually have the advantage over the Lakers on the perimeter as they'd have two legit scoring threats that can create their own shot, initiate the offense, hit outside shots and get to the rim.

Artest and RJ are a wash (AS ARE DUNCAN AND GASOL). So that basically leaves Bynum vs McDyess. You know what you're getting with McDyess but Bynum is such a headcase that you don't know what kind of player he's going to be.

Are You Kidding me???? Gasol Has Game, but come on...... Im taking duncan over anyone in any matchup of the bigs......

[thOOdee]

I agree, Kobe is arguably the best second option ever. Arguably.

sweet back hand

[DrHouse]

Kobe can't win without Shaq.

Lakers haven't done since '02.

Oh wait...

[Spurs_210]

Kobe can't win without Shaq.

Lakers haven't done since '02.

Oh wait...

Still no point...

[Zee Laker]

- Who gives a who is the fav b4 the season starts?

- This coming season, there is no clear fav anyway. The spurs retooled, The C's are stacked. Orlando retooled. Denver is still dangerous

- Each fan base have homers in it. Lakers, Spurs, Magic ect ect

[slayermin]

Kobe can't win without Shaq.

Lakers haven't done since '02.

Oh wait...

Christ. We get it. We have no chance. STFU already.

Man, I miss LakerGod. At least he made me laugh.

[whottt]

Eh, the Lakers were probably the legit champion last year, I don't care who was healthy or not. They got long and tall after the rest of the league had gone small..and Phil Jackson developed the young Laker players into a formidable team unit.

I don't believe the Lakers would have beaten us in 2008 if Manu had been healthy. Even if they had, it would have said as much about the physical asskicking the Hornets gave us as it did about LA.


Last year they would have beaten us, we had no size, rebounding, shotblocking or atheleticism.


But a big part of what started giving the Lakers the upperhand against us was Ariza, he was a factor in us losing to LA. I am glad to see him go.

Going into next season...

Phil getting his hands on a guy like Artest is never a good thing. Phil can get the most of out of a player like Artest, he's proven it many times. Artest will be a machine living up to his potential after a year under Phil...


But Laker fan is in a serious case of denial if he thinks the Spurs didn't add some major firepower...


LakerFan also doesn't realize that age is creeping up on his team like a thief in the night.

He points out injury potential of Duncan and Manu, yet ignores that of Bynum, Artest and Gasol. I'll be real suprised if Manu is injured at playoff time 3 years in a row.

And how long can Phil keep it going? I have no doubt that if he left you guys would not win a championship, but even he has to have hunger limits...and he's met all the ultimate goals of a coach.


And make no mistake about it LakerFan, you guys are gonna learn to hate Dejuan Blair and George Hill as this season goes along.


We aren't starting Matt Bonner and Michael Finley(I hope) this year...we are going to be a long way from that. Realize it LakerFan, and then shut the up.

[J.T.]

Last year they would have beaten us, we had no size, rebounding, shotblocking or atheleticism.

I gotta say brah, you did call it pretty straight when you said we'd lose to Dallas while we were watching Game 1 of that series. Healthy Manu would've been nice but that team outside Tim and Tony got ing clowned by the Mavs. Clowned.

[whottt]

I gotta say brah, you did call it pretty straight when you said we'd lose to Dallas while we were watching Game 1 of that series. Healthy Manu would've been nice but that team outside Tim and Tony got ing clowned by the Mavs. Clowned.

Anytime Brandon Bass is better than all 3 of the guys you are playing alongside Duncan, combined, but most especially the 6'6 36 year old shooting guard you are playing at the PF down the stretch, you are in for an ass kicking. Probably even with a healthy Manu.

Also doesn't help when the head coach rests Duncan at the beginning of every 4th regardless of momentum or stakes, like it's a pre-season game or he's still got David Robinson to pick up the slack or something.


And how ya doin' JT? Long time no see

[slayermin]

Ehh. I just had to call out House on his tired act.

Being a fan of the Spurs, we hear the subtle remarks they make that mainstream media do not hear. Like Manu's guarantee for a fourth le after '05. And something Tim Duncan said to Bill Russell last year about his desire to get a fifth ring. That interview with Russell really stood out to me about how TD viewed his legacy. It is important him.

Laker fan can underestimate Tim Duncan, but I never will.

[lennyalderette]

new guy here, been a spurs fan for along time, and i think its ridiculous to argue with the lakers fans, theyre the only fans that come in here and look at our blogs, and that makes me feel good, because they wouldnt be here if they werent afraid lol house if we sucked so bad last year how in the did we beat u guys in the regular season and if we were so far away from you guys, then we wouldnt of beat u, second ariza was the only one to guard parker as he drove now your old ass fisher will be left in the dust, brown has nothin on hill you guys know it.if your saying we have no length look at ian mahinmi hes 7 ft and one of the most sought after euro player haislip go ahead you tube them .and will be in the rotation along with dejuan blair who will def be able to hang with artest,not to mention ginobili will be back this year i just cant wait until we play u and you stop coming here after you know you have nothing to say about the spurs.

[DrHouse]

Realize that the Lakers just won the NBA Championship and your team lost to a pathetic Mavericks team 4-1.

[buujness]

Realize that the Lakers just won the NBA Championship and your team lost to a pathetic Mavericks team 4-1.

Wow, you really don't understand about the prospect of offseason movements/improvements do you?

[Lakers999]

why are we even having this conversation?