In First Place, Lakers Look Second To None In West

[monosylab1k]

I wasn't trying to on the suns or anything, but its true. They have been an offensive monster, but their defense has never been consistent enough to win what matters most, and that's a le. The Lakers defense is not impressive at all and will be a problem, because they fall in love with the jumpshot WAY too easily. everyone on that team... if you give them a few feet of space, they will ALWAYS kill their dribble and take the jumpshot, and that is a big key to beating them IMO.

I stand by it - if the Mavericks weren't being coached by a moron who puts them in the worst possible position defensively, the Mavs would beat the Lakers in 5.

[JamStone]

I wasn't trying to on the suns or anything, but its true. They have been an offensive monster, but their defense has never been consistent enough to win what matters most, and that's a le. The Lakers defense is not impressive at all and will be a problem, because they fall in love with the jumpshot WAY too easily. everyone on that team... if you give them a few feet of space, they will ALWAYS kill their dribble and take the jumpshot, and that is a big key to beating them IMO.

Unless their jumpers are falling. And, Fisher, Farmar, Vujacic, and Radmanovic are collectively shooting over 40% from three point range.

Defensively, the Lakers do have some holes especially without Bynum there to clean up some of the mistakes. But, they do have decent perimeter defenders, just not the enforcer in the paint. That's why the Lakers push the ball up a little more to pick up the pace of the game, to make it a little more of a transition game. Against patient and solid defensive teams, the Lakers are vulnerable. But, that alone doesn't mean they will fail in the playoffs.

While allowing the Lakers to shoot a lot of jumpers might help a team beat them if their jumpers are not falling, if they are falling, it can also possibly initiate a blowout in the Lakers favor.

[Allanon]

I disagree. Although perhaps I should have said they have a weak minded team (except for Kobe).

If I'm not mistaken, the Mavs brought in JKidd specifically because they wanted to bring some mental toughness to a mentally weak team.

The Mavs are a talented bunch but they've always lacked the mental toughness to close out games. Just look at the last couple of Mav games, they were right there and self-combusted at the end (ala JHo throwing his headband). Or maybe doubling on Kobe and leaving Pau open in the paint might work better?

The Mavs have lost 3 straight to the Lakers now, I don't see that changing. Avery is no match for Phil. Mavs still have no answer or defender for Kobe.

62-61 should be enough to tell you how a Laker/Mav series will go.

[Tradition]

why do you keep bringing up the Mavericks? they have absolutely nothing to do with the conversation. you are a downright ty debater.

Becuase you bring up how we have all these "low-iq" players yet the Mavs are full of them. I found that comment quite hysterical. You are a downright jealous hater.

[Tradition]

I stand by it - if the Mavericks weren't being coached by a moron who puts them in the worst possible position defensively, the Mavs would beat the Lakers in 5.

Avery is only part of your teams problems. Josh Howard is a 3 quarter player then goes MIA in the 4th. The best contributing he does in the 4th is throw his headband around and loses his composure. Mavs have no inside game and defensivley they have pure on the perimeter. I dont care who coaches that team, they dont have 1 defender who can stay with the likes Kobe meaning they will have to throw doubles at him and pray guys like Fisher,Sasha miss uncontested WIDE paris hilton vagina open 3 pointers. You will either let Kobe beat you with his scoring at will with no problems getting layups/dunks/freethrows (which he has proven several times) or you let him beat you with getting everyone else involved. Basically it is pick your poison.

[Cry Havoc]

I'm pretty sure that even the Nuggets would be able to play excellent defense if they were allowed to goaltend whenever they feel like it.

[stretch]

@ lakers fans getting defensive and bringing up the mavs shortcomings to defend their team when the Mavericks were not a part of the discussion to begin with...

If I'm not mistaken, the Mavs brought in JKidd specifically because they wanted to bring some mental toughness to a mentally weak team.

The Mavs are a talented bunch but they've always lacked the mental toughness to close out games. Just look at the last couple of Mav games, they were right there and self-combusted at the end (ala JHo throwing his headband). Or maybe doubling on Kobe and leaving Pau open in the paint might work better?

The Mavs have lost 3 straight to the Lakers now, I don't see that changing. Avery is no match for Phil. Mavs still have no answer or defender for Kobe.

62-61 should be enough to tell you how a Laker/Mav series will go.

and then...

Becuase you bring up how we have all these "low-iq" players yet the Mavs are full of them. I found that comment quite hysterical. You are a downright jealous hater.

[TheMACHINE]

Speaking of LOW IQ's, you think Josh Howard will ever call timeout again in his NBA career?

[stretch]

Speaking of LOW IQ's, you think Josh Howard will ever call timeout again in his NBA career?

Speaking of LOW IQ's, you think Kobe should ever allow Sasha Vujacic (The MACHINE) to ever try to make a play on his own again as every time he does he looks about as incompetent as Mark Madsen?

[Killakobe81]

LOL MAVS talking trash ..when did you guys win a le exactly?

[stretch]

LOL MAVS talking trash ..when did you guys win a le exactly?

lol, ring smack talk

[Killakobe81]

Just saying ..wasnt bring up past rings
MY point is only Spurs (since Heat arent in it) have won this decade besides us ...no one else has proven they can win when the pressure is on ESPECIALLY YOUR MAVS ....And since Spurs are defending champs they can talk MAVS should win something first ...WC banners don't count at least not after winning the le.

[JamStone]

Just saying ..wasnt bring up past rings
MY point is only Spurs (since Heat arent in it) have won this decade besides us ...no one else has proven they can win when the pressure is on ESPECIALLY YOUR MAVS ....And since Spurs are defending champs they can talk MAVS should win something first ...WC banners don't count at least not after winning the le.

Forgetting someone?

[TheMACHINE]

Speaking of LOW IQ's, you think Kobe should ever allow Sasha Vujacic (The MACHINE) to ever try to make a play on his own again as every time he does he looks about as incompetent as Mark Madsen?

umm ok..you fail.

[TheMACHINE]

Forgetting someone?

us Lakers fans already erased that year from our memory.

[LakeShow]

us Lakers fans already erased that year from our memory.

[Tradition]

@ lakers fans getting defensive and bringing up the mavs shortcomings to defend their team when the Mavericks were not a part of the discussion to begin with...



and then...

Looks like I totally misread you. I thought you were just hating so I felt the need to defend my team. I have nothing against you or you being a Mavs fan. My bad.

[ElNono]

I'm still not sold on these Lakers... The excellence as always comes from Kobe and Phil, but the rest have yet to have a solid postseason, including Gasol.
Are they a better team than last year? Sure. But there are still a lot of questions marks out there, like interior defense.
At least if they have an early exit, they'll use the same excuse they've been using pretty much all year: Bynum and Ariza injuries...

We have one too: it's an even year...

I wonder what Suns's fans excuse would be?

[DazedAndConfused]

No team is a clear favorite in the WC.

Lakers have just as good a shot as anyone and if they can lock up HCA throughout the playoffs it only increases their chances of going deep. I don't buy this whole Odom/Gasol are chokers argument, if that were true then the Celtics shouldn't even bother playing in the postseason since none of their big 3 have had meaningful playoff success.

[ElNono]

No team is a clear favorite in the WC.

Lakers have just as good a shot as anyone and if they can lock up HCA throughout the playoffs it only increases their chances of going deep. I don't buy this whole Odom/Gasol are chokers argument, if that were true then the Celtics shouldn't even bother playing in the postseason since none of their big 3 have had meaningful playoff success.

Don't get defensive... I didn't call them chokers... I actually think Pau can have an impact now that he has a great coach and a superstar perimeter guy (unlike Mike Miller), so he is possibly the guy with the better chances of having a great post-season, at least on offense...
Odom just baffles me. He plays great for stretches. It's like sometimes he's not in the game at all. You can't do that in the playoffs.

[DazedAndConfused]

This has been discussed ad-nauseum but Odom as a #2 option = FAILURE. Odom as the #3 or #4 option seems to work much better. The Lakers so far are playing .800 ball with Kobe, Gasol, Odom and have beaten every single elite team they've faced with their big 3.

[Purple & Gold]

@ all the Laker hate. Classic. Keep bringing it guys, just shows how insecure you are about your own team. Face it, all you clowns live in a Laker world and you guys are just second class citizens. Lakers on the verge of winning another Team of the Decade le!!!

[Purple & Gold]

I disagree. Although perhaps I should have said they have a weak minded team (except for Kobe). I think that fits them more. Kobe still has a problem with bad shot selection when things get tough for the team. Fisher has been playing like a ing re . Sasha plays hard but is re ed. Walton isn't dumb, but chooses to play like a re . Get physical with Pau and he wilts. Odom is a load of talent that completely lacks consistency and heart. Can't shoot freethrows for either. Once Farmar hits a 3, he gets ing 3-point crazy and just jacks them any time he sees the slightest amount of daylight. And no one plays good defense except Kobe. Their defense was extremely reliant on Bynum, and I personally doubt he's coming back, despite all the Laker hopefulls who keep saying "oh trainers said he will be back in 2 games! WATCH OUT!!!" and then he never ing comes. Even if he does, he won't have much effect at all because if there have been this many delays, then chances are, he is much more ed up than reports were saying.

I don't think I've ever read a bigger pile of .

[Purple & Gold]

JA Adande is the biggest Laker homer on ESPN. Every other article he writes is about them. The Lakers are a great team now, but without Bynum they won't go very far in the playoffs. Their interior D is weak right now, so guys like Duncan and Amare should have a field day against the likes of Pau Gasol.

Besides, I'm not too impressed with a win over the Spurs sans Ginobili.

Now this I can actually agree with.


Lakers won't win it all without Bynum. Defense suspect.

[ElNono]

This has been discussed ad-nauseum but Odom as a #2 option = FAILURE. Odom as the #3 or #4 option seems to work much better. The Lakers so far are playing .800 ball with Kobe, Gasol, Odom and have beaten every single elite team they've faced with their big 3.

You haven't beaten us with our big 3 on the floor yet.