Barkley has the Magic beating the Cavs

[Tacker]

You would think Laker fans would be a little less confident after getting pushed by a Yao-less and McGrady-less Rockets team. The Cavs actually have better shooters than the Magic overall. Of course they rely heavily on LeBron, but this year especially, they are not a one trick pony at all. And, at least that horse can completely take over a game. The Magic's "horse" is a center who can't consistently score in the low post and shoots 60% from the free throw line. Their go-to play at the end of close games is Hedo Turkoglu dribbling until aimlessly and shooting 28 foot fade-away three pointers. Even beyond that, the Cavs are playing the best basketball of any team left in the playoffs, regardless of compe ion. That's not a valid criticism when the Lakers lost twice to a Rockets team without Yao and McGrady.

If the Lakers are fortunate to get to the NBA Finals, you surely would rather not see LeBron James and the Cavs.

Denver Nuggets?

[DeadlyDynasty]

Why didn't the Lakers sweep the Rockets? Based on the regular season, that's what should have happened.

Please explain how a team comprised of LBJ and a gaggle of jumpshooters matches up well with the Lakers...i'm dying to read it

[Allanon]

Why didn't the Lakers sweep the Rockets? Based on the regular season, that's what should have happened.

The other microcosm of the Lakers during the regular season...playing down to the compe ion.

Nothing's changed.

[cobbler]

The old "look at what happened in a regular season game" argument.

People still think that's legitimate?

So I guess if Orlando really does make it to the NBA Finals against the Lakers, the Lakers have no chance since Orlando swept them in the regular season. Now I see why you Laker fans are so scared of the Magic.

Regular season games...

Not saying no chance... come on. But based on the games played the Lakers match up better with the Cavs than the Magic. It's not rocket science.

[Tacker]

anytime you beat a team by 40 in the regular season you know they have matchup problems.

Cleveland has been impressive so far, but now its going to get really dificult for them. Detroit shouldnt've even been in the postseason while Atlanta had starters injured and never had a chance anyway. The Magic will drag this series out to six or seven but ultimately the Cavs will come out on top. Any team who's go to play is Hedo Turkoglu fadeaway three pointers, has no business making it to the Finals. I'm sorry

Fadeaway or not he makes them.......

[resistanze]

Please explain how a team comprised of LBJ and a gaggle of jumpshooters matches up well with the Lakers...i'm dying to read it

Well I wouldn't have thought that a Yao-less, Mutumbo-less, McGrady-less Rockets team would match up well against the Lakers, but the Lakers somehow proved me wrong...

[BandWagon Cavs Fan]

Why didn't the Lakers sweep the Rockets? Based on the regular season, that's what should have happened.

because they "werent prepared" to play against a Yao-less Rockets team, and without Yao their the Rockets are better hahahah GTFO here SON...Peace

[JamStone]

Of course they won't be able to do that all series...but in the same token if you think the Cavs actually matchup well with the Lakers then you seriously need to put down the kool-aid

The Cavs don't match up perfectly. I'm not even saying the Cavs would win. But, to dismiss them in the way some of you Laker fans are doing is ridiculous. Talk of sweeping them or beating them in 5 is pretty arrogant for a team that hasn't shown the ability to play at that level so far in the playoffs.

Cavs will have some match-up problems against the Lakers if the two teams should meet in the Finals. But, it's not the huge match-up problem for them you make it out to be. This is also a different Cavs team. Chemistry and confidence go a long way into changing how well a team is able to play. They make three pointers and they run and they play defense. A few of the individual match-ups will be issues for them, but same goes for the Lakers. Zydrunas and Joe Smith will take one of the Laker bigs out and Mo Williams has the quickness to bother Fisher and even Farmar. The Cavs also have a lot of big bodies to throw out there. And, no, the Lakers will not stop LeBron or deny him the ball or even contain him. To think it would be an easy series for the Lakers is pretty laughable at this point based on what we've seen from the Lakers. As KG says, anything is possible, I guess. But, to think that right now is pretty silly imo.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Well I wouldn't have thought that a Yao-less, Mutumbo-less, McGrady-less Rockets team would match up well against the Lakers, but the Lakers somehow proved me wrong...

that's a plus, as evidenced by their first playoff run in 12 years

[mytespurs]

Interesting discussion about matchups for a finals that has already been set in the proverbial stone.....so this question is addressed to the lakers fans here:

Say the Lakers & the Magic make it to the final show and if the Magic present match up problems, the lakers, besides having HCA, will win because...........................

(this should be interesting )

[iggypop123]

The Cavs don't match up perfectly. I'm not even saying the Cavs would win. But, to dismiss them in the way some of you Laker fans are doing is ridiculous. Talk of sweeping them or beating them in 5 is pretty arrogant for a team that hasn't shown the ability to play at that level so far in the playoffs.

Cavs will have some match-up problems against the Lakers if the two teams should meet in the Finals. But, it's not the huge match-up problem for them you make it out to be. This is also a different Cavs team. Chemistry and confidence go a long way into changing how well a team is able to play. They make three pointers and they run and they play defense. A few of the individual match-ups will be issues for them, but same goes for the Lakers. Zydrunas and Joe Smith will take one of the Laker bigs out and Mo Williams has the quickness to bother Fisher and even Farmar. The Cavs also have a lot of big bodies to throw out there. And, no, the Lakers will not stop LeBron or deny him the ball or even contain him. To think it would be an easy series for the Lakers is pretty laughable at this point based on what we've seen from the Lakers. As KG says, anything is possible, I guess. But, to think that right now is pretty silly imo.

i like the matchups , by that i mean that they are relatively equal. love the fact that leborn and kobe guard each other, atleast eventually. im sure we will see west and ariza try to buy the stars some rest but it comes down to the good matchup. im suprised how much kobe can body up lebron when lebron has like .4 % body fat and all muscle.

[JamStone]

Please explain how a team comprised of LBJ and a gaggle of jumpshooters matches up well with the Lakers...i'm dying to read it

No one on the Lakers stop LeBron. Period.

The Cavs are just as explosive offensively, and they play defense.

You want to look at individual match-ups, fine. The Cavs have a few match-up problems against the Lakers, particularly Lamar Odom and Gasol (if he actually doesn't play like a pussy). Fisher and Farmar can't guard Mo Williams. The Cavs have a lot of bodies to keep throwing out at the Lakers. It's still a team game. It's nice to talk about individual match-ups. The Celtics won three of the five individual match-ups against the Magic, and even the PF position Glen Davis offset Rashard Lewis for much of the series. But, the Magic still won the series. Individual match-ups don't always go as what is scripted on paper.

And, I'm sorry, but Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry, no matter how hard they play should not be a match-up problem for Gasol, Bynum, and Odom. But, it was. It's fun to talk about match-ups. I remember fondly how NBA analysts talked about the 2004 NBA Finals "match-ups." And, how the Lakers won every position, with the possible exception of Billups/Payton.

[cobbler]

The Cavs don't match up perfectly. I'm not even saying the Cavs would win. But, to dismiss them in the way some of you Laker fans are doing is ridiculous. Talk of sweeping them or beating them in 5 is pretty arrogant for a team that hasn't shown the ability to play at that level so far in the playoffs.

Cavs will have some match-up problems against the Lakers if the two teams should meet in the Finals. But, it's not the huge match-up problem for them you make it out to be. This is also a different Cavs team. Chemistry and confidence go a long way into changing how well a team is able to play. They make three pointers and they run and they play defense. A few of the individual match-ups will be issues for them, but same goes for the Lakers. Zydrunas and Joe Smith will take one of the Laker bigs out and Mo Williams has the quickness to bother Fisher and even Farmar. The Cavs also have a lot of big bodies to throw out there. And, no, the Lakers will not stop LeBron or deny him the ball or even contain him. To think it would be an easy series for the Lakers is pretty laughable at this point based on what we've seen from the Lakers. As KG says, anything is possible, I guess. But, to think that right now is pretty silly imo.

Who has said it would be a sweep? WHo as said it would be easy. Nobody is going to stop Lebron or Kobe a whole series...but facts are facts and the Lakers contain him better than most teams. The Lakers match up better against the Cavs than they do the the Magic. I think any of the 4 teams left could win it and i believe the the Cav's to be the easiest matchup of the 3 for the Lakers.

[Allanon]

Interesting discussion about matchups for a finals that has already been set in the proverbial stone.....so this question is addressed to the lakers fans here:

Say the Lakers & the Magic make it to the final show and if the Magic present match up problems, the lakers, besides having HCA, will win because...........................

(this should be interesting )

There is no because...the only chance the Lakers have against the Magic will be HCA and the loss of Jameer Nelson

I talk alot of smack versus the Jazz/Rockets/Nuggets/Cavs but if the Lakers get the Magic, you won't hear any talking from me

[DeadlyDynasty]

The Cavs don't match up perfectly. I'm not even saying the Cavs would win. But, to dismiss them in the way some of you Laker fans are doing is ridiculous. Talk of sweeping them or beating them in 5 is pretty arrogant for a team that hasn't shown the ability to play at that level so far in the playoffs.

Cavs will have some match-up problems against the Lakers if the two teams should meet in the Finals. But, it's not the huge match-up problem for them you make it out to be. This is also a different Cavs team. Chemistry and confidence go a long way into changing how well a team is able to play. They make three pointers and they run and they play defense. A few of the individual match-ups will be issues for them, but same goes for the Lakers. Zydrunas and Joe Smith will take one of the Laker bigs out and Mo Williams has the quickness to bother Fisher and even Farmar. The Cavs also have a lot of big bodies to throw out there. And, no, the Lakers will not stop LeBron or deny him the ball or even contain him. To think it would be an easy series for the Lakers is pretty laughable at this point based on what we've seen from the Lakers. As KG says, anything is possible, I guess. But, to think that right now is pretty silly imo.

Look, the Cavs are a good team and they've had a great season...but man, it'd be all fun and games for any decent team who had the luxury of playing the pistons and hawks (the pistons gave up 3 months ago). This is a Cavs team that has struggled mightily against what very well could be the two teams they must go through to win a championship. They have a lot of big bodies that are good for 6 fouls and not much else...
Let's see what the Cavs are made of this series when they'll actually be tested...then, if both them and the Lakers advance, we will pick up our conversation there, cool?

[DeadlyDynasty]

No one on the Lakers stop LeBron. Period.

The Cavs are just as explosive offensively, and they play defense.

You want to look at individual match-ups, fine. The Cavs have a few match-up problems against the Lakers, particularly Lamar Odom and Gasol (if he actually doesn't play like a pussy). Fisher and Farmar can't guard Mo Williams. The Cavs have a lot of bodies to keep throwing out at the Lakers. It's still a team game. It's nice to talk about individual match-ups. The Celtics won three of the five individual match-ups against the Magic, and even the PF position Glen Davis offset Rashard Lewis for much of the series. But, the Magic still won the series. Individual match-ups don't always go as what is scripted on paper.

And, I'm sorry, but Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry, no matter how hard they play should not be a match-up problem for Gasol, Bynum, and Odom. But, it was. It's fun to talk about match-ups. I remember fondly how NBA analysts talked about the 2004 NBA Finals "match-ups." And, how the Lakers won every position, with the possible exception of Billups/Payton.

come on man...you're better than that.

[cobbler]

Interesting discussion about matchups for a finals that has already been set in the proverbial stone.....so this question is addressed to the lakers fans here:

Say the Lakers & the Magic make it to the final show and if the Magic present match up problems, the lakers, besides having HCA, will win because...........................

(this should be interesting )

I think it would be a toss up. If the Magic hit their 3's they take it. If they dont the lakers take it.

[Jacko]

Jamstone proving again how worthless a Detroit education is.

Regular season games DO mean something. It's not as if both teams come out and have no intention of beating each other in the regular season. I would say the only times it doesn't matter is with a veteran team like the Spurs who purposefully keep their foot off the gas until the final push before the playoffs. Last I checked Lebron ain't won and he was fighting for HCA the whole way through so he certainly wasn't taking games off.

You keep bringing up the Rockets getting swept in the regular season by the Lakers but fail to bring up the most important point. They got swept in all 4 games WITH YAO MING PLAYING. They are a much more difficult team for LAL to defend when he's not playing and I think we can all agree the one game they won with him playing was more a fluke than a trend.

When a team face s you by 40pts on their home floor and stays compe ive in both games against you on the road it means something. It means that team matches up relatively well with you. The playoffs ratchet up the intensity but they don't magically transform matchup issues that existed in the regular season.

[mytespurs]

I think it would be a toss up. If the Magic hit their 3's they take it. If they dont the lakers take it.

so Orando lives and die by the 3 point shot?

[Ghazi]

Anyone who would prefer playing the 2nd greatest player of all time without homecourt to a 3-PT shooting team w/ homecourt is an idiot.

[mytespurs]

There is no because...the only chance the Lakers have against the Magic will be HCA and the loss of Jameer Nelson

I talk alot of smack versus the Jazz/Rockets/Nuggets/Cavs but if the Lakers get the Magic, you won't hear any talking from me

Well, I guess the Lakers take it because Jameer Nelson is out for the year and Lakers will have HCA.

[BUMP]

I'll say this much. If the Cavs make the Finals they better pray its against Denver because they have NO chance at all vs LA

[Allanon]

Cavs Play D almost every minute of the game. No other team left in the Playoffs Plays D like them. I can't believe so many "learned" NBA guys just totally discount that MAJOR aspect of the game. Of a Match up. Of a series. Including Charles Barkley. In fact, since 1999 the winner of the NBA crown has been the team with the most conistant D-Fense.

The Magic being taken by a depleted Celtics Team to a seventh game shows a fundamental failure of their system just as it shows the Lakers having a fundamental flaw in the mixture. Yada Yada, Detroit, Blah Blah, Atlanta.... ing guys and your "big brains"

It's not that the Cavs are not good defensively, it's that they are bad defensively where it matters most. Lakers and Magic are very much alike. Both teams have a huge frontcourt and back court.

Meanwhile, the Cavs are small outside of Big Z who is 35 years old. And to add to that failure, they have a midget back court.

How would the Cavs counter this linenup?

DHo/Batie/Turkoglu/Lewis/Alston or Bynum/Pau/Ariza/Kobe/Fisher? Both the Magic and Lakers have too much size and talent for the Cavs at their weakest areas.

Having a starting back court of 6' Mo Williams and 6'2 Delonte West will be the downfall of the Cavs this year because both are way too small to guard Rashard Lewis and Kobe Bryant.

It's not about how great the Cavs defense is, it's about the matchups and the Lakers & Magic are the worst the Cavs could get in the entire NBA.

[Jeremy]

The Magic have no chance.

[Cry Havoc]

Lakers are officially the worst fans to ever set foot in a Spurstalk forum.

"Cleveland has no chance against us. They just don't matchup well."

- not 12 hours after being taken to the limit by a lottery team with a 6'6" center.

You guys make Phoenix fans look like a relatively even-keeled, realistic fanbase. I have never read such collective idiocy from any group of fans on ST to date.

Wow. If your players feel the way you do about how badly you're going to beat the Cavs, the Denver Nuggets are going to thrash the out of you.