Reply With Quote
The Spurs are always a legitimate threat. They just need to make a few small roster moves. The Thunders are a couple of seasons away from being contenders..
I honestly don't think LA will win another. Kobe is not as he once was and to many times they relied on him.
A good trade in okc and I say they are IN.
The Spurs are always a legitimate threat. They just need to make a few small roster moves. The Thunders are a couple of seasons away from being contenders..
Depends on if Phil comes back
I think the Lakers will have a lot of age and miles to overcome next year. Kobe looked like he lost 3 inches (at least) on his lift during the course of this season. Derek Fisher isn't getting any younger, and through the season, it was clear the Lakers need an upgrade at that position. They have the MLE to do something about it, but Andrew Bynum may need a back-up in case he goes down next year. He's not healthy. They have a lot of questions to answer internally before we talk about their third le. I had a feeling during this whole series we were seeing the last hurrah of this group. Kobe will need a guard like Derrick Rose at the point to keep this group together.
I think Dallas is no longer a threat. I think Phoenix is done. I think the Spurs are done. This is a strange time in the league because the best players are getting old and the young ones are too young. The last time the league saw this balance was back in the late-1990s. It makes for some bad basketball.
I think the Thunder, if the add a piece in the draft and in free agency, could be a legitimate threat next year. I think Portland, if they can stay healthy, could be a threat. But let's remember that it was Shaq moving to Los Angeles, Dikembe Mutombo to Atlanta in the 1996 offseason that changed the Western Conference for the next five years. We are about to see a lot of movement. Chris Bosh and Lebron James may move teams. Chicago and Miami look to be the big winners this offseason. And if one of those teams lands a big-name star, and keeps what they have, the Lakers may not stand a chance, even if they survive the Western Conference.
The league is in position right now that a free-agent splash this summer could mean a le next year. Like I said, too old and too talented to take off the court, too young and too talented on the other end. In other words--mental strength and experience versus talent is about to take effect again. Inconsistent play is back. The Spurs, Suns, Mavericks, Celtics, Lakers versus the Magic, Hawks, Bulls, Heat, Thunder, and Blazers.
They have a chance, but they shouldn't. They don't look like Champions with another year of wear-and-tear. They will have to find the fountain-of-youth and a new mindset.
Last edited by Darrin; 06-18-2010 at 08:23 PM.
The spurs will be there once again. it'll be 03 all over again. what's interesting is that before 03 our last championship was in 99 - a 4 year perod. next year will provede the same opportunity. 4 years later after 07, same adversary, same result. Jus watch!
In the West? The Mavericks. Already had a roster well equipped to combat with LA this year and will get better next year with the development of the best french PG in the NBA, and hopefully a piece added from the DUST chip.
In the league? That depends on where D-Whistle and LeBron wind up and with who.
It'll be interesting to see what the Lakers do... they can still get better, they need more shooting and more dribble penetration. Their offense is still flawed, even if it was good enough to win a le.
Except the teams and compe ion aren't totally different or anything...
It'd kick ass though. Maybe it'll happen not out of the question.
Rockets if we can get Amare Stoudamire to play alongside Yao. That would be way too cool. Twin Towers indeed. Also with Amare, he can start and Yao could take off a lot of games or play reduced minutes.
Guys, I don't seriously believe that. Calm down. lmao. it'd be a cool mathematical pattern though.
As long as the Lakers have Gasol and Bynum manning the middle no one from the West is going to challenge them. They're simply too big of a team and the other West teams are playing with midgets in the paint. The Thunder have nobody in the middle. The Suns and Jazz don't either. The Spurs are done because Duncan is too old. I don't expect Yao to be himself after the injury. He's a question mark. Portland is really the only team with any length and athleticism to give the Lakers any trouble but good luck to that team staying healthy
As long as the Lakers have Gasol and Bynum manning the middle no one from the West is going to challenge them. They're simply too big of a team and the other West teams are playing with midgets in the paint. The Thunder have nobody in the middle. The Suns and Jazz don't either. The Spurs are done because Duncan is too old. I don't expect Yao to be himself after the injury. He's a question mark. Portland is really the only team with any length and athleticism to give the Lakers any trouble but good luck to that team staying healthy
Don't say that the Thunder have no one. It is about who dictates the action. If the Lakers are seeing Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden flying all over the place for rebounds, coming from 20 feet out and grabbing it off the rim, they can be beat.As long as the Lakers have Gasol and Bynum manning the middle no one from the West is going to challenge them. They're simply too big of a team and the other West teams are playing with midgets in the paint. The Thunder have nobody in the middle. The Suns and Jazz don't either. The Spurs are done because Duncan is too old. I don't expect Yao to be himself after the injury. He's a question mark. Portland is really the only team with any length and athleticism to give the Lakers any trouble but good luck to that team staying healthy
The Celtics were just too slow to the ball and it wasn't for lack of trying. It was because the Lakers' legs were longer and younger. Plus, they have a draft pick and an MLE in some deep free agent waters.
The Celtics couldn't beat LA at their game. That is why they looked so dominant. There's more than one way to rebound the basketball.
healthy isn't a word in the blazers' dictionary. sorry.
Not possible.
it is in their thesaurus though, under antonyms
Just keep praying people. It's your only hope.
Another cakewalk to the Finals.
...with The Machine then taking from the Celtics everything.
the ONLY threat to the lakers will be if there is a serious investigation of the refs---
and get rid of all the crooked ones---clean house---and make it a game of the real best team winning
then---the lakers will be done
otherwise
SOS---lakers will be gifted les until they pass the celtics---oooh what a great storyline---lakers pass celtics---oooh
^^^Yep 16-17 is manageable.....15-18 not so much.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
