NBA Preview - All Eyes On The Lakers

[The_Game]

You think artest will want to fall into the role of third or fourth option?

he wouldn't of signed for L.A if he didn't.

[lefty]

I disagree that if Kobe goes down the Lakers are done. Ron Artest gives them a guy who is not on Kobe's level, but has the ability to step in and lead a team in the playoffs. The Lakers have a ton of talent and losing Kobe would be a crushing blow, but they would still be a team that is a serious threat.

That swine flu virus is really powerful

[widowmaker]

Kobe is due a season ending injury.

[nuclearfm]

At the forward spots are Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson. Jefferson can take over a game offensively if need be or shut down the teams best scorer.

What the ? The only thing Jefferson can stop is a wedding..and even that is shaky at best.

[#2!]

The Lakers would not be able to win a le, but they could still win the West if some things went their way imo.

This is the Ron Artest that helped beat the #5 seed Blazers with his next best players being Yao and Battier and Aaron Brooks. Gasol/Odom/Bynum/Fisher are an uprade in talent.

This is the Ron Artest that took the eventual champions Lakers to 7 games minus Yao (for the most part) and T-Mac. He does take some bad shots, but he still does many good things and he would have significant talent around him. 7 games was further than any other team pushed the Lakers.

If Houston last year could take out a 5th seed and push the #1 seed with Artest, then I fail to see how with more talent they would barely beat an 8th seed.

I really hope you don't think that Ron is better than Yao. and also it wasn't "the ron artest" that took the lakers to seven it was the rockets, and if any one player actually dominated for the rockets it would be Aaron Brooks, which probably had as much to do with Derek Fisher's quickness as it did Brooks's blossoming game.

[DPG21920]

I really hope you don't think that Ron is better than Yao. and also it wasn't "the ron artest" that took the lakers to seven it was the rockets, and if any one player actually dominated for the rockets it would be Aaron Brooks, which probably had as much to do with Derek Fisher's quickness as it did Brooks's blossoming game.

Ron is not better than Yao, but he was clearly the 2nd best player on the Rockets and when Yao got hurt, he was the first. They had not gotten out of the 1st round in a looooooong time and they had many of the same players. Yes, some of the role players played well, but they are no where near as talented as Pau/Bynum/Fisher/Odom and that was my point.

If Kobe goes down, the Lakers can still beat most teams.

[K-State Spur]

Ok. He got to the second round with a lot of "help" last year with a depleted Rockets.

You don't think he would get more help from the Lakers than he did from the Rockets minus Kobe?

they were depleted from big names, but they got career playoffs out half their roster.

just because artest was the only name left doesn't mean that he was doing all (or even most) of the heavy lifting.

he won't get more help from the lakers...HE IS THE HELP.

[DPG21920]

So, Pau/Bynum/Fisher/Odom are not help? Way to give Artest absolutely no credit for getting Houston out of the second round.

Artest was the help last year for the Rockets with Yao when T-Mac went down. Same scenario, more talent.

[Bukefal]

The Lakers wont get the le again, for sure. I think it will be all about us Spurs and the Cavs. But, Spurs will be the champions of course, bring it on !!!

[crc21209]

you mean when the Spurs got their asses handed to them by dallas? lakers have a far better chance of doing better if Kobe went down compared to the Spurs. If Manu goes down the spurs are done...Lakers could get 50 wins and maybe get to the 2nd round...gasol, Artest, Odom, Bynum is still a nice core.

The Spurs still made the Playoffs didnt they? And even made it as a 3 seed. Without Kobe...the Lakers would be a 6-8 seed and suffer GREATLY.

[mytespurs]

I cant believe that people think Cleveland has a better chance than San Antonio.

It's the LeBron factor and now they have what they hope is a motivated ShaQUILLE! And the Cavs play in the "meek" east. Their path to the finals would be much easier than the Spurs in the depth that is the West.

Also, Manu is coming off injuries as is Duncan. Plus the recons uted Spurs team will need to gell so I can certainly understand why Cleveland is given a better chance to win than the Spurs at this time.

[mytespurs]

So now the argument is now which team would fare better losing its superstar?
Does it matter? It's a negative either way.

Spurs had no Manu, a less than healthy Duncan and could do no better than the first round. I'd like to think had these guys been healthy, the Spurs would've gone deeper in the playoffs...not necessarily when a championship but at least get to the conference finals.

Lakers losing Kobe would be very significant; they have a lot of talent but that wouldn't make up for his loss. Perhaps they would make the playoffs and may make it to the first or second round.

[mytespurs]

he wouldn't of signed for L.A if he didn't.

and the fact he has a chance to win a ring.