Laker fans, who do you see as your biggest threat in the West?

[Killakobe81]

I think spurs and Mavs are both legit and pose a threat.
The winner of OKC and Portland (if form holds) is dangerous as well.

Only teams I truly fear though is Boston (with Perkins now not as sure) and Miami IF (BIG IF) Lebron hits that last level ...though right now Wade is on it so it may not matter if Lebron is just his usually great ...but not "last level" great ...yet.

But as things stand Boston is the only team that scares me as currently cons uted, but less so after trading Perk.

[Muser]

Hmmm, 5 months later huh?

I never said the Spurs would beat LA.

[Kobe_5_Duncan_4]

I never said the Spurs would beat LA.

Not that the Spurs would beat LA, just acknowledging the fact that SA can't beat LA.

[tlongII]

We would get swept by you clowns.

fify

[tlongII]

I also for some reason see the blazers throwing a wrench in the lakers plan.

Smart girl!

[Killakobe81]

fify

Blazers aint spoiling ...they were the Mavs BEFORE the Mavs.
Classic regular season tiger and post season kitten.
They can win a few games put a scare in a team but they aint beatingthe Lakers ...Lakers MAY not 3peat but we sure as aint losing to the Blazers.

[Nick Manning]

Blazers would be a pain in the ass but they can't beat LA 4 times. OKC is the only team I can possibly see knocking off LA out West

[KillerMamba]

Lakers are quite possibly the luckiest team in the league. The very few teams capable of beating them suffered some key injuries. Portland lost Roy and Oden. Houston lost Tmac and Yao in 2008. Boston missed Perkins' presence in Game 7 and Jameer Nelson who historically owns the Lakers in 2008 dislocated his shoulder.

If that is not luck I dont know what is.

This says the person who's team was gifted the NBA championship in 2006.

[KillerMamba]

Injuries aside, the current threats are San Antonio, Dallas and OKC. Even though we've beaten OKC every time this year, never was it easy. Durant and Westbrook are problems.

I make fun of San Antonio, but they have a great team, and I'm slightly jealous that they find late 1st round/2nd round gems seemingly under their couch.

I don't think Portland is a threat. We got "over" that Rose Garden thing last year, and they can't seem to win in L.A.

[hitmanyr2k]

Don't know if the Bulls have that veteran knowledge that the Pistons had in '04. They're still a young and inexperienced team that would probably give the Lakers fits, but still not have the ability when it got tight in a playoff atmosphere. Also, the lack of stellar SG play and Rose not necessarily a consistent deep threat (yet) would put them at a slight disadvantage. Would be, though, a great series--I'm just not ready to say that the Bulls are 'all the way there.'

The Bulls lack Finals experience but not playoff experience. Most players on the team have been in tough playoff series and even Game 7's. They just lack the big stage experience and all the glitz and media attention that comes with being in the Finals. However, if the Bulls were to get to the big stage I think they're the kind of team that wouldn't be happy just getting there.

Rose in particular strikes me as the kind of guy who wouldn't be happy just getting there. If they did make it that far he would make the most of the opportunity. For the mostpart he's quiet but he's a killer. He gets up for big games. This is a guy that said in the offseason "Why can't I be the MVP?" and people said what the and it off (including myself). Now he's the leading candidate. Earlier in the season he asked "Why can't we be 1st seed in the East?" as if 3rd or 4th seed was beneath them. And now they're battling for #1 in the East. Last week he said "Who's to say that we can't win it this year?" I love the kid's confidence and I think he's the kind of player who would shine when the lights are brightest.

[Sean Cagney]

Blazers would be a pain in the ass but they can't beat LA 4 times. OKC is the only team I can possibly see knocking off LA out West

OKC is not better than the Spurs.

[ezau]

Not sure why many people are scared of this old and gassed up Lakers team. Sure, they've won a couple of good games last time out, but there's nothing impressive about the Lakers this season.

The Spurs had to tank a game against the Lakers and these bozos here think that they're already the best in the West?

These maggots have been playing catch-up all season long and it's natural that they win games here and there. Overall, all they have is a slow and unathletic pair of bigs who will surely wither come playoff time.

Oh, did I mention that the Lakers have the thinnest bench of all the contenders?

Spurs in six

[21_Blessings]

I doubt it. Lakers would probably be favored and go down in flames 2004-style with Kobe throwing up his annual 40% chucking on the big stage. The Lakers always survive Kobe's low percentage bricklaying by dominating teams on the offensive boards and getting 2nd shots. The Bulls are the best defensive team in the league for a reason. They know how to take care of the boards so teams are "one and done" against them. No second shots.

[TheManFromAcme]

Not sure why many people are scared of this old and gassed up Lakers team. Sure, they've won a couple of good games last time out, but there's nothing impressive about the Lakers this season.

The Spurs had to tank a game against the Lakers and these bozos here think that they're already the best in the West?

These maggots have been playing catch-up all season long and it's natural that they win games here and there. Overall, all they have is a slow and unathletic pair of bigs who will surely wither come playoff time.

Oh, did I mention that the Lakers have the thinnest bench of all the contenders?

Spurs in six

reference 3/6/2011

[HarlemHeat37]

Andrew Bynum's Knee

Room service at whatever hotel the Lakers are staying at.

Lakers

San Antonio and Dallas are obviously the only teams in the west that are potential answers. But I don't think either really stands out as far as threat level. They're both pretty equal in that regard.

Honestly, I don't see a legit threat in the West to beat LA 4 out of 7 times.

To beat LA (or come close as Hou did) you have to have a few things.

- physical play inside to deter Pau and LO.
- Great rebounders to beat LA on the boards.
- Physical defender against Kobe to force him into bad looks.
- Able to dictate a game into more of a grind than what LA wants.
- Have a PG who can break LA down but creates for others more than just a scorer.


SA falls far too short in not having the D, rebounding, or physical play.

Dallas doesn't have the physical play inside, Kidd can't break down LA's D, and no one can guard Kobe.

OKC doesn't have the PG play that hurts LA the most. Westbrook can create fine for himself but not for others when he penetrates. OKC can't control tempo and win a grind either.



LA isn't unbeatable but their is a clear way of attacking them in the playoffs. No one in the West can do that 4 times in 2 weeks.

Just pencil us in the finals already.

Only Laker obsticle is themselves.

Bynum's knee / Kobe's knee.

Nothing else.

[TheMACHINE]

hey harlem..why dont you quote my answer?

[HarlemHeat37]

Because your prediction was good, obviously..

[mystargtr34]

[DMC]

Some of those are correct. The Lakers are playing ty. They are beating themselves.

[TheMACHINE]

Because your prediction was good, obviously..

cuz i know my basketball dawg