Laker fans should be concerned: Cleveland has the Lakers number

[My Fault]

The mismatch the Magic created for the Cavs is no longer there so I don't expect the same outcome if they meet in the playoffs. Dwight had problems with Shaq and I thought it would be the other way around. Needless to say Lebron is gonna be a tall task for Boston but they are the Cavs only compe ion out east.

[namlook]

Doubt the Magic can beat Cleveland again this year.

Boston is still the best team in the East if they're healthy IMO... but that's a really, REALLY big if... and not having home court against Cleveland which appears like it'll be the case really hurts them too.

The Celtics seem to play almost as well on the road as at home. They also seem to play the best defense against Lebron. They match up well with the Cavs. I don't see the Cavs beating a healthy Celtics team.

The Cavs had home court last year against the Magic and got beat pretty badly even though they won a lot more games in the regular season. It's all about matchups. The Cavs don't have players who can effectively guard Dwight Howard or the Magic's shooters. Shaq will be worn down at the end of the year and will have his usual nagging injuries. He's 37 years old, not in shape, and still carrying too much weight. They will still have problems matching up. If the Cavs have to play both the Celtics and the Magic in consecutive series to get out of the East they won't make it.

[bostonguy]

Just imagine what it is going to be like when the Cavs acquire Jamison and get Z back in 30 days. They are a damn good team as it is. Landing Jamison will put them over the top. Lebron as a #1 guy. Jamison as the #2 guy. Shaq as the #3 and Mo Williams as the #4 option. The #5 option will switch among the rest of their role players. That is a scary ass team.

[bostonguy]

The Celts are done. They won't be healthy. They will be a nice playoff contending team but that is about it. Being old and having injuries to those old players will be why this team stays injured

[DazedAndConfused]

The Celts are done. They won't be healthy. They will be a nice playoff contending team but that is about it. Being old and having injuries to those old players will be why this team stays injured

I see what you're doing here.

That's some mighty fine reverse anti-jinx there.

[TheManFromAcme]

I see what you're doing here.

That's some mighty fine reverse anti-jinx there.

No kidding

[ChrisRichards]

Swore if you go by the premise of the this thread--you'd blame Kobe for the loss.

Swore if you read the original topic of this thread, the premise was about the mental and overall make up of the Los Angeles Lakers team not just Kobe Bryant. I mean seriously, there were enough cases made how Cleveland's role players made the Lakers look pedestrian.

[The Gemini Method]

Swore if you read the original topic of this thread, the premise was about the mental and overall make up of the Los Angeles Lakers team not just Kobe Bryant. I mean seriously, there were enough cases made how Cleveland's role players made the Lakers look pedestrian.

It never stays that way when you or MiamiHeat create a thread. It always veers off into lol @ Kobe this or lol @ Kobe that. You don't speak with an objective voice. That's the gist of it all...Look at the meat of the thread, that's all it is. Don't act like you're not guilty of such a thing--it is inherent in almost every anti-Laker thread there is. The root ALWAYS comes back to #24...

The Role Players did make the remainder of the Lakers look foolish...especially the foul on Varejao at the end that just annoyed the out of me.

[ChrisRichards]

It never stays that way when you or MiamiHeat create a thread. It always veers off into lol @ Kobe this or lol @ Kobe that. You don't speak with an objective voice. That's the gist of it all...Look at the meat of the thread, that's all it is. Don't act like you're not guilty of such a thing--it is inherent in almost every anti-Laker thread there is. The root ALWAYS comes back to #24...

Many threads were created to bash Kobe. This is not one of those. I just commended Kobe's early season success and even went further and agreed that his injuries have also slowed him down. I stated that despite the fact that Lebron has a less talented team, the Cavs roleplayers also consists a better intangible than the Lakers. What more objectivity do you want? Give Kobe props because he shot 31 times to score 31 points? That the Lakers lost was on everyone but Kobe? Kobe is the Lakers right now. He gets the glory when they win and equally he should also get the blame when his team fails. Thats the order.


You can't even call it as it is. Objectivity? Pot calling kettle black? Please...

[Forrest Gump]

cavs swepted spurs in regular season in finals they got swepted

ducks at his finest

[BLACKMAMBA24]

Maybe it does seem so long ago,but i think the magic beat the lakers more decisively twice in the regular season last year.Anyone refute that claim?

[The Gemini Method]

Many threads were created to bash Kobe. This is not one of those. I just commended Kobe's early season success and even went further and agreed that his injuries have also slowed him down. I stated that despite the fact that Lebron has a less talented team, the Cavs roleplayers also consists a better intangible than the Lakers. What more objectivity do you want? Give Kobe props because he shot 31 times to score 31 points? That the Lakers lost was on everyone but Kobe? Kobe is the Lakers right now. He gets the glory when they win and equally he should also get the blame when his team fails. Thats the order.


You can't even call it as it is. Objectivity? Pot calling kettle black? Please...

Okay, your objectivity in this thread befalls your normal stance. Perhaps the line has been blurred by all the times before. If you do one thing over and over again and decide to switch it up, then you don't get the benefit of the doubt. You cannot sit here and say that you haven't focused most of your rhetoric at Kobe. While I agree with you that as the superstar on the team; he should get the lion's share of the blame. HOWEVER, it shouldn't be constantly focused on him when he is trying to single-handedly (no pun intended) to carry this team to a 3rd straight Finals Appearance. Again, I'll take responsibility for jumping the gun. It just gets quite annoying when its a constant attack on one of the Lakers and not the whole squad.

[ChrisRichards]

Okay, your objectivity in this thread befalls your normal stance. Perhaps the line has been blurred by all the times before. If you do one thing over and over again and decide to switch it up, then you don't get the benefit of the doubt. You cannot sit here and say that you haven't focused most of your rhetoric at Kobe. While I agree with you that as the superstar on the team; he should get the lion's share of the blame. HOWEVER, it shouldn't be constantly focused on him when he is trying to single-handedly (no pun intended) to carry this team to a 3rd straight Finals Appearance. Again, I'll take responsibility for jumping the gun. It just gets quite annoying when its a constant attack on one of the Lakers and not the whole squad.

Now we're talking bud. So about Pau Gasol and Ron Artest...

[The Gemini Method]

Don't get me started at the Gasol pulled last night...While I think he's been out too much to really get his mojo going, I think winning the le last year made him even more complacent. That's what is kinda scary. Especially seeing how weak he played at the end of the game last night. While I know he is our 2nd option, he needs to get that swagger back that he showed last year. I don't know if he's exhausted or not, but it is concerning.

Artest--He hit some key shots last night. I don't think anyone can guard LeBron, so that's unfair to think Artest could. He's still a work-in-progress with an upside that could be a huge factor down the line. Trevor Ariza was that key player last year and the hope is that Ron will be what he was.

Like I have said a thousand times before, Cleveland's success is not what LeBron is going to do--he's going to get his. It's the Varejaos, Parkers, Wests, and Williams of the team that will win the championship for Cleveland. If they come through in the playoffs, well, then they deserve the adulation. Us Laker fans will admit defeat then and respect whomever is champion.

[hater]

Lakers are pretty on par with the Spurs at beating winning teams.

as it stands right now:
1. Cavs
2. Celtics
3. Spurs/Lakers

[j.dizzle]

BREAKING NEWS- Lebron has signed a deal with Interscope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKss...layer_embedded

[ChrisRichards]

Don't get me started at the Gasol pulled last night...While I think he's been out too much to really get his mojo going, I think winning the le last year made him even more complacent. That's what is kinda scary. Especially seeing how weak he played at the end of the game last night. While I know he is our 2nd option, he needs to get that swagger back that he showed last year. I don't know if he's exhausted or not, but it is concerning.

Artest--He hit some key shots last night. I don't think anyone can guard LeBron, so that's unfair to think Artest could. He's still a work-in-progress with an upside that could be a huge factor down the line. Trevor Ariza was that key player last year and the hope is that Ron will be what he was.

Like I have said a thousand times before, Cleveland's success is not what LeBron is going to do--he's going to get his. It's the Varejaos, Parkers, Wests, and Williams of the team that will win the championship for Cleveland. If they come through in the playoffs, well, then they deserve the adulation. Us Laker fans will admit defeat then and respect whomever is champion.

Great observation there. And what you said about the Cavs roleplayers is some real talk. If those guys keeps the same intensity in the playoffs then I would be scred facing this team.


BTW, Laker fans, dont you think Gasol is not in the full swing og things yet? he did miss almost 50% of the games this season, maybe that's the reason why he's not in rhythm yet?

[The Gemini Method]

He's not in rhythm right now...

You can tell by the way he hesitates and doesn't hit from the perimeter like he was last year. The little stretch he had where he was averaging 13+ rebs would be a nice feat, but I would sacrifice that if he were capable of hitting that 10-12 ft jumper. If he does that, it forces the likes of J.J. Hickson/Varejao to have to come out further and not clog the lane--which was apparent last night.

[ChrisRichards]

Could be it, like Kobe said after the loss, "Well, we'll see in June". Gasol was a tease earlier this season though. He had a couple of 20 board nights IIRC. Dude was straight up cleaning the glass like a champ and was challenging Dwight for the rebounding le.

[The Gemini Method]

He has been a solid rebounder for the majority of his career. I'm not sure if he'd sustain Rodman-like numbers, but he isn't a slouch like other big men on our team. I think the latter part of the season will go a long way to determine just what mindset the Lakers are going to have in the playoffs. I mean, even if we had beat Cleveland--there's still a tough road to traverse. After all, we're expecting a team to make it to its 3rd straight Finals. It is never easy to even just win one ring let alone to sustain a level this high.

[TheMACHINE]

And if they get Jamison for Varejao and a healthy Mo Williams and Jamario Moon? Wow! Its just unfair for the Lakers. Lakers are still a top 6 heavy team but Clevleand just pounds that LA roster from 1-10.

Man...You're right! Jamison is crazy...so unfair for the Lakers!

[TheMACHINE]

just imagine what it is going to be like when the cavs acquire jamison and get z back in 30 days. They are a damn good team as it is. Landing jamison will put them over the top. Lebron as a #1 guy. Jamison as the #2 guy. Shaq as the #3 and mo williams as the #4 option. The #5 option will switch among the rest of their role players. That is a scary ass team.

scarrryyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

It's not looking good for that bostonguy's wallet!

[Ghazi]

lol ChrisRichards what a flip floppin got

Cavs get Jamison: over for the league

Cavs down 2-3: Lebron doesnt have a real #2 option

Pick a lane, boy

[TheMACHINE]

lol ChrisRichards what a flip floppin got

Cavs get Jamison: over for the league

Cavs down 2-3: Lebron doesnt have a real #2 option

Pick a lane, boy