How is LA better than last year?

[all_heart]

The one and only thing Walton can do well is pass.

LA doesn't have much of a bench? Considering Artest replaces Ariza in the starting lineup they have the same bench they had last season and that was plenty good enough.

How does it stack up?

- Farmar/Brown is at least on the level of backup PGs of any other contender.
- No team has a player as good as Odom coming off bench - including SA considering Ginobili's health in recent years.
- A couple of nice big men for depth in Powell/Mbenga.
- Walton is a nice glue guy off the bench. When needed on for heavy minutes is when he sucks.
- Only question mark is with Sasha - will he suck next season like last season or will he find his mojo like he did in 07-08.

What's more - all have championship experience. I'd take that bench over a team like SA with Ginobili a health question mark, and a bunch of guys who never have been there before or are near the end of the road (Ratliff). SA's biggest hope is Blair and only the games will prove if he's a steal or earned that red flag for a reason.

Key phrase-last season, they were good enough last season but next season.. I really doubt it.
W/the exception of Odom,.. they are ALL scrubs. Everybody's future health is a question mark.. to include your beloved Lakers.

[2Cleva]

Key phrase-last season, they were good enough last season but next season.. I really doubt it.
W/the exception of Odom,.. they are ALL scrubs. Everybody's future health is a question mark.. to include your beloved Lakers.

Same can be said about SA except for Ginobili - even more so because of Ginobili's injury makes him a major question mark.

When you stack bench to bench, the ace LA has is their bench has championship confidence.

Hill - unproven potential (ie Shannon Brown).
Ratliff/Finley - both play like they should be retired.
Blair - major health red flag.
Matt Bonner - Brian Cook's brother from another mother.
Mahinmi and Haslip haven't made it in the NBA for a reason.

If anything, at least LA is counting on younger players to get through the season.

[nkdlunch]

Same can be said about SA except for Ginobili - even more so because of Ginobili's injury makes him a major question mark.

When you stack bench to bench, the ace LA has is their bench has championship confidence.

Hill - unproven potential (ie Shannon Brown).
Ratliff/Finley - both play like they should be retired.
Blair - major health red flag.
Matt Bonner - Brian Cook's brother from another mother.
Mahinmi and Haslip haven't made it in the NBA for a reason.

If anything, at least LA is counting on younger players to get through the season.

you have a point, but you can't deny Spurs bench potential >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Laker's bench potential.

to put it simply, if Spurs young bench players(Hill, Hairston, Blair, Mahinmi) meet the high expectations or get close(which is likely from what we've been seing..), they can be the difference maker between Lakers/Spurs

[2Cleva]

Im trying to figure out how the Cavs stand a great chance at beating LA 4 times in a 7 game series. You have to be versatile on both ends and you have to be able to limit the Lakers O. Cavs aren't versatile enough and they sure as cant limit the Lakers O. It wont matter how successful the Cavs are on O. You arent going to beat the best offensive team in that type of game.

Agreed.

Gotta respect LeBron and Shaq but as a whole they don't have the team or gameplan to beat LA.

Orlando can nuetralize LA somewhat because of Howard being able to anchor their defense.

Boston plays great defense and control the tempo well. Have to wonder how their zone defense will work when there are offensive threats at each position now for LA instead of relying on Walton or Odom starting.

San Antonio has the same problems as Cleveland. Even though the Spurs have more firepower, they don't want to trade baskets with the Lakers. But they are overmatched inside vs LA and can't slow down Kobe. Fatal combination.

[2Cleva]

you have a point, but you can't deny Spurs bench potential >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Laker's bench potential.

to put it simply, if Spurs young bench players(Hill, Hairston, Blair, Mahinmi) meet the high expectations or get close(which is likely from what we've been seing..), they can be the difference maker between Lakers/Spurs

I'll give you Hill and Blair. The other two - c'mon now.

And banking on that many young guys to meet expectations is SA's only hope.

And when comparing their young guys to LA - LA is only counting/hoping for 2 guys to maximize potential - and they already are locks in the rotation with championship experience.

[2Cleva]

Again, the games have to be played. Nothing is won on paper.

But LA is better shape in comparison with themselevs and the league to win anothe ring to start the season this fall than they were last fall.

Vegas knows of what they speak.

[nkdlunch]

I'll give you Hill and Blair. The other two - c'mon now.

And banking on that many young guys to meet expectations is SA's only hope.

And when comparing their young guys to LA - LA is only counting/hoping for 2 guys to maximize potential - and they already are locks in the rotation with championship experience.

wait, which of your bench guys is a lock in the rotation???

this is ridiculous

[2Cleva]

wait, which of your bench guys is a lock in the rotation???

this is ridiculous

I didn't mean bench young guys - just young guys in general. Those two being Bynum and Shannon Brown.

[My Fault]

San Antonio has the same problems as Cleveland. Even though the Spurs have more firepower, they don't want to trade baskets with the Lakers. But they are overmatched inside vs LA and can't slow down Kobe. Fatal combination.

Dice and TD can hold their own vs LA's frontline. I would hardly call that overmatched. Kobe will cause problems no doubt but on the other hand Parker will cause problems too as LA has no answer for him. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Parker > Kobe but he is not a problem that can be ignored. Parker has proved he can turn it up come PO time.

[nkdlunch]

I didn't mean bench young guys - just young guys in general. Those two being Bynum and Shannon Brown.

Bynum makes 1. And he is a health question mark himself. I doubt Shannon Brown is a lock in Lakers rotation for next year. Especially playoffs. he might, but right now, he aint

[2Cleva]

Dice and TD can hold their own vs LA's frontline. I would hardly call that overmatched. Kobe will cause problems no doubt but on the other hand Parker will cause problems too as LA has no answer for him. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Parker > Kobe but he is not a problem that can be ignored. Parker has proved he can turn it up come PO time.

Last time LA's 3 big men and Duncan was on the same floor, Duncan was outscored by Pau (16-15), outplayed by Bynum (15/11/4 to 15/8) and outboarded by LO (10-8).

McDyess has a lot of ground to make up.

That's why LA likely repeats. Name a team that can match their frontline and slow down Kobe? Boston is the only hope, Orlando a puncher's chance.

SA only gets there if Duncan finds the fountain of youth before the playoff series. He's a great, great player but McDyess alone ain't enough help.

[2Cleva]

Bynum makes 1. And he is a health question mark himself. I doubt Shannon Brown is a lock in Lakers rotation for next year. Especially playoffs. he might, but right now, he aint

Bynum's injuries were both contact related. Fluke injuries - not chronic things you see from guys like Yao or Oden.

If his bad luck continues - sure he's a question mark. But it wasn't stress related injuries.

[all_heart]

Again, the games have to be played. Nothing is won on paper.

But LA is better shape in comparison with themselevs and the league to win anothe ring to start the season this fall than they were last fall.

Vegas knows of what they speak.

You are beginning to sound like a dam info commercial.. Lakers haven't improved this off season. The Lakers used their speed and length to win a le this year.. This team just got slower and lost length. Ariza > Artest. Artest won't make other players tougher, it doesn't work like that, especially influence from that guy. The Lakers bench are mostly scrubs just along for the ride, I wouldn't count on them being consistent next year. Lakers have a serious PG situation, Fisher is major liability on D, and Farmar can't be trusted in a grind it out half court set. Blair's major health issues?! Dude has no ACLs to injure, he didn't have any last year when he tore it up in the NCAA. His knees are not a concern whatsoever..

[all_heart]

Potential??? Three of those player have never even played an NBA game. The other had a very disappointing rookie season. The Lakers have guys that are proven players on their bench. They just had a bad season collectively. Shannon will be a huge upgrade over Farmar. I'd like to see Josh get more minutes at the PF by allowing Odom to take Waltons minutes away. Overall, our bench was a top 3 bench in the league in 07/08, and I expect them to return to that form. The good thing is we have proven that we don't even need a bench to win a le. How many teams can say that?

What a joke. One guy is saying the LA bench is good with a bunch of proven players, then lakaluva says you don't need a bench to win a le. With the exception of Pau, the Lakers front line is way over rated, that's why Boston literally destroyed you guys 2 years ago. What's changed? Bynum is not the answer. The Lakers better watch out!

[My Fault]

Last time LA's 3 big men and Duncan was on the same floor, Duncan was outscored by Pau (16-15), outplayed by Bynum (15/11/4 to 15/8) and outboarded by LO (10-8).

McDyess has a lot of ground to make up.

That's why LA likely repeats. Name a team that can match their frontline and slow down Kobe? Boston is the only hope, Orlando a puncher's chance.

SA only gets there if Duncan finds the fountain of youth before the playoff series. He's a great, great player but McDyess alone ain't enough help.

A rested Duncan who doesn't have to carry the team all year will not have that kinda performance. Do you really think Pau and Bynum can outplay Duncan in a 7 game series? Dice may not be an all star but is much more help than Bonner. I can only see Pau having a performance close to Duncan's but wouldn't say that he will outplay him in a 7 game series. Bynum and Odom still have to prove themselves before you can say they are legit. Odom will not be in a contract year and Bynum to have more than just a few good games.

[IronMexican]

Champions don't have to prove themselves to no one. What planet are you from?

That's why I gave Boston all the respect from a basketball point during the regular season last year. The Lakers are the champs until proven otherwise.

[daslicer]

Outside of Odom LA's bench is filled with scrubs.

Manu>Odom in impact of the game when he's healthy.

Hill>Brown,Farmar I will say this becaue whenever he plays Hill has shown can produce on both ends of the court which is something those 2 guys can't. If their offense isn't working then their defense is crap.

Bonner = Luke Walton: These players play different type of positions but are pretty much same type of player in impact which is they can't create shots but they have to be wide open to score buckets.

Finley>Sasha: even at old age Mike is still better then this scrub. Again they are pretty much the same type of players which is stand still shooters who need to be open to shoot except Mike can still drop 20 points every now and then something Sasha can't do.

Mahinimi,Blair,Haislip>Powell,Mbenga : I willing to bet one of the spurs young 3 bigmen will turn out to better then the trash known as Powell-Mbenga. Those guys are straight up garbage I know I'm being biased but I will be shocked if not one of the spurs young bigman prospects turn out to be better then that trash.

[La Peace]

That's why I gave Boston all the respect from a basketball point during the regular season last year. The Lakers are the champs until proven otherwise.

Exactly,

just STFU and know that the world champions are better than you until you prove otherwise. Seriously.

[BadOdor]

Outside of Odom LA's bench is filled with scrubs.

Manu>Odom in impact of the game when he's healthy.

Hill>Brown,Farmar I will say this becaue whenever he plays Hill has shown can produce on both ends of the court which is something those 2 guys can't. If their offense isn't working then their defense is crap.

Bonner = Luke Walton: These players play different type of positions but are pretty much same type of player in impact which is they can't create shots but they have to be wide open to score buckets.

Finley>Sasha: even at old age Mike is still better then this scrub. Again they are pretty much the same type of players which is stand still shooters who need to be open to shoot except Mike can still drop 20 points every now and then something Sasha can't do.

Mahinimi,Blair,Haislip>Powell,Mbenga : I willing to bet one of the spurs young 3 bigmen will turn out to better then the trash known as Powell-Mbenga. Those guys are straight up garbage I know I'm being biased but I will be shocked if not one of the spurs young bigman prospects turn out to be better then that trash.

lol.

[kwamay_brown54]

I agree with Bonner = Luke Walton, Finley is definitely better than Sasha no doubt, Hill = Brown/Farmar so thats a wash, and Mahinimi, Blair, Haislip are not better than Powell/Benga you cant say that since they haven't even played 1 game in a Spurs uniform yet. So overall I'd say spurs bench and laker bench is a flatout wash. Now starting 5 is a better debate.

[My Fault]

Champions don't have to prove themselves to no one. What planet are you from?

so Waton is legit now cause he happen to be on a championship team? Your taking my point wrong. Lakers are the team to beat and are the champs I'm in no way saying otherwise. Please go back and read what I posted. Try to comprehend it this time

[kwamay_brown54]

How is Matt Bonner any more overrated than Luke Walton? Both are clearly defined role players with notable flaws, but accepted flaws if put into the right system.

[BadOdor]

How is Matt Bonner any more overrated than Luke Walton? Both are clearly defined role players with notable flaws, but accepted flaws if put into the right system.

didn't matt bonner shoot something like 20% in the playoffs? that makes him a chocker.

Walton may suck, but at least he sucks equally in the playoffs as he does in the regular season.

[kwamay_brown54]

didn't matt bonner shoot something like 20% in the playoffs? that makes him a chocker.

Walton may suck, but at least he sucks equally in the playoffs as he does in the regular season.

As much as Walton Jr. gets ragged on by opposing teams and their fans, he has one of the highest +/- ratings on the Lakers.

[My Fault]

What the are you talking about? I didn't even ing read that second grade gibberish you posted. My post was directed to someone else. Try and keep up.

Oh my bad I should've known it was directed to someone else even tho you quoted my post. Having problems using the internet?