Lakers @ Jazz

[HarlemHeat37]

The Lakers ball movement is just incredible without Kobe..

[HarlemHeat37]

The West really is horrible, the league in general actually..

le is coming down to LA, Cleveland, Orlando and Denver..nobody else has a shot..

Those other teams better hope Kobe heals up..

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Lebron has this MVP thing wrapped up.

[Pelicans78]

Now they ing about "players wanting to play in LA." Clippers, anyone?

bitter about Fisher leaving?

[Sean Cagney]

Is this all the West has to offer. We should rest Kobe and Pau.

Denver is your compe ion this year man, they can give you a run but nobody else can IMO. Spurs are my team but , we are a second round exit at best (To you or Denver).

[Donkeybong]

Now we have to figure out a way to deal with Bynum crowding the paint and the rest of the Lakers ball watching while Kobe is in the game.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

geez, teams really don't get how to beat Gasol do they!?

he is as soft as tissue paper. Get it down low in the paint to a decent big man and he is useless. Nene had his way with both him and Bynum the other day.

[MI21]

Could the Lakers break the Bulls 72 win record without Kobe?

[hitmanyr2k]

Most people would look at it in black and white like you do but it's not that simple. The Lakers seemingly playing balanced is simply a reflection on Phil understanding that his players are standing around watching Kobe and / or expecting him to make miraculous plays. Now that he's not there they have no one to rely on but themselves...sort of like parents kicking the kid out of the house after adulthood to make them self-sufficient. This is a CLASSIC TALE OF FAILURE TO LAUNCH because of being spoon fed.

Nice spin and all, but no

This is just the Lakers and Phil Jackson showing Kobe what they were ing about a week ago...ball movement and playing as a team. They're just setting the example for Kobe to follow when he comes back. No more of the 25+ shots with an injured hand garbage.

[Pelicans78]

Now we have to figure out a way to deal with Bynum crowding the paint and the rest of the Lakers ball watching while Kobe is in the game.

Start Odom and bring Bynum off the bench? I trust Gasol in the paint more than Bynum, but I could be wrong.

[Donkeybong]

Nice spin and all, but no

This is just the Lakers and Phil Jackson showing Kobe what they were ing about a week ago...ball movement and playing as a team. They're just setting the example for Kobe to follow when he comes back. No more of the 25+ shots with an injured hand garbage.

I agree that Kobe has been playing out of the offense at times. However, anyone who watches all the Lakers games would tell you that his teammates are at fault as well for ball watching.

[Donkeybong]

Start Odom and bring Bynum off the bench? I trust Gasol in the paint more than Bynum, but I could be wrong.

That's what I would do. Bynum should only come in for Gasol.

[mystargtr34]

I still rate Cleveland and the Lakers as a level above the Nuggets, Celtics and Magic. Nuggets because they have to prove it in the playoffs and/or come out of the West (even though they do look much improved this season). The Magic arent what they were last season, and even then they werent legit contenders despite coming out of the East. Them beating Cleveland was simply due to horrible matchups all over the floor for the Cavs. Similar to the Mavs/Spurs or Spurs/Suns of old. This season those problems are long gone with the arrival of Shaq. The Celtics are just too old/injured.

[Pelicans78]

That's what I would do. Bynum should only come in for Gasol.

I like that strategy. Gasol and Odom made a good combo two years ago and in last year's finals.

[HarlemHeat37]

I agree that LA and Cleveland are on the 1st tier of the NBA, but I disagree that Orlando isn't a real contender..if Nelson is healthy, they're definitely better than last year..Carter is starting to get it together and he's significantly better than Turkoglu..more important, Howard is significantly better than last year and he completely dominated the Lakers with post moves when they played this year, something he had trouble with last year..

I'd say..

Tier 1: Cleveland, LA
Tier 2: Orlando, Denver
Tier 3: Boston
Tier 4: Atlanta, Dallas, OKC, Portland, Utah

[Pelicans78]

What would you know about winning combinations, please tell us?

Drew Breees and Sean Payton. Sounds like a winner to me!

[picc84]

Denver is at LEAST on the level of LA. We're the third best team in the league right now. If this Denver team played last year they would have been in the finals.

[Pelicans78]

[Pelicans78]

Denver is at LEAST on the level of LA. We're the third best team in the league right now. If this Denver team played last year they would have been in the finals.

I don't believe that. They're a really good team, but I still like the Lakers because Lakers have better big men, Kobe > Anthony. Still Billups is a key factor, but he's getting older too.

[picc84]

I don't believe that. They're a really good team, but I still like the Lakers because Lakers have better big men, Kobe > Anthony. Still Billups is a key factor, but he's getting older too.

What part of "Derek Fisher" don't you understand?

[mystargtr34]

I agree that LA and Cleveland are on the 1st tier of the NBA, but I disagree that Orlando isn't a real contender..if Nelson is healthy, they're definitely better than last year..Carter is starting to get it together and he's significantly better than Turkoglu..more important, Howard is significantly better than last year and he completely dominated the Lakers with post moves when they played this year, something he had trouble with last year..

I'd say..

Tier 1: Cleveland, LA
Tier 2: Orlando, Denver
Tier 3: Boston
Tier 4: Atlanta, Dallas, OKC, Portland, Utah

Well, for Orlando to be true contenders (in my eyes anyway) i'd look for three things, two of which you touched upon.

1. Vince Carter needs to prove to be an upgrade over Turkoglu, so far he hasn't done that (in fact he's been a downgrade). The 48 point game is a nice start, and a good sign, but until he starts to be a consistent 20-5-5 guy i dont think they can hang with the elite of the elite so to speak. Also, 39% is disgusting, that needs to get up to about 44-45%. Whether he can do it or not is a different story, he's always been the ultimate enigma.

2. Nelson needs to get back to his All-Star level.

3. Defense. Last season they were ranked first in the league in defensive efficiency. Throughout this seaso they have hovered around the 8-10 mark - but in the last month or so they have locked down and are ranked 4th in the league now.

If these three things happen, then i would consider them contenders, but still a tier below Cleveland and the Lakers. Probably equal with Denver (and Boston if they can stay healthy for a stretch heading into the playoffs)

[bostonguy]

Denver is at LEAST on the level of LA. We're the third best team in the league right now. If this Denver team played last year they would have been in the finals.

In terms of competing, I won't argue with that. In terms of beating them 4 times, no way. Not with George Karl and that team of hot heads. That combination WILL NOT beat the Lakers 4 times in a 7 game series. LA if healthy, will win the west with hardly that much drama.

[Pelicans78]

Vince Carter's 48 was a fluke. An absolute fluke. He was throwing up bombs in the 4th and they all went it. He won't do that again if ever. Asshole.

[hhml]

I now proclaim this team the greatest and championship worthy. Impressive win yet again and paying back the Jazz by stopping their win streak in their building.

Vive l'Empereur! Vive l'Empereur! Vive l'Empereur!

Our superstar bigs had monster games. Pau nearly with a 20/20+5 blks and Odom with 25 pts on 9 shots and almost perfect from the line. The all-star guards contributed and picked up the rest. Sasha has been solid in the wins and now adding another guy (Ronnie Price) to his fan club.

Vive l'Empereur! Vive l'Empereur! Vive l'Empereur!

That's 3 straight wins now. What makes these wins impressive is they have dominated the enemies with defense and controlled the game. Way to go into the All-Star break guys. Looks like Kobe read this forum and listened to me and decided to sit out this game.

Another solid team win with everyone contributing from top to bottom.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

@ people still calling Denver a team of 'hot heads' . That's just as bad as me continuing to call Kobe a rapist.

The Nuggets are a different team and the only person who is still erratic on the team is JR.

The playoffs last season came down to poor coaching and the playing of Anthony Carter.

The actual team itself is not going to implode. They are hungrier than the Lakers.