Its over for the NBA

[WeNeedLength]

You're feeling yourself because you beat a ty Hornets team at home?

You're feeling yourself because you beat a ty Raptors team without their best player?

[hitmanyr2k]

LkrFan's random thoughts and stats for your viewing pleasure:

• Your starting center is 6'4" - I wouldn't be laughing just yet lefty. If y'all put TD on him, Pau will go off for 35 or more. Don't forget about LO who is beasting as well. Pau/LO/Bynum >>>> TD/Bonny/Blair
• You guys like to score (106.3ppg), we like to score (105.9 ppg)
• You guys give up 97.2 ppg - we give up 97.4 ppg
• You guys give up 45.7% - Pop must be thrilled . We give up 43.3% - good for 3rd behind only Miami and Indiana.
• We give up 33% in 3pt % to our opponents (7th in the league) - Sp*rs give up a league worst 41%. The Sp*rs shoot a league best 41% from 3. I expect us to run Bonny and Beak off that 3pt line into the land of the giants where we protect the paint really well.

The biggest difference for me is points in the paint. The Lakers are a +9.6 Diff eff - good for 3rd behind only Orlando and Boston. The Sp*rs are only +3.4 - good for 9th in the league - despite their gaudy 22-3* record. The Lakers stand to improved now that we have our starting center back. If we win the paint against the Sp*rs and protect the 3pt stripe we win. Probably big too. As I pointed out above we only give up 33% from 3pt land - a big weapon for you guys. Something has to give. Don't expect Bonny to be as wide open as he normally is because either Pau or LO can check TD without a double team.

*Cheated the last two games. Should be 20-5.

One random thought you're leaving out while spouting all of these stats...the quality of teams the Spurs and Lakers have faced thus far. The Lakers have barely played any good teams whatsoever. And on that rare occassion when they've actually played a good team they've lost more often than not. They've simply gotten fat on a cupcake schedule. Even this latest road trip they only played only one quality team (the Bulls) and surprise, surprise...they lost.

[LkrFan]

One random thought you're leaving out while spouting all of these stats...the quality of teams the Spurs and Lakers have faced thus far. The Lakers have barely played any good teams whatsoever. And on that rare occassion when they've actually played a good team they've lost more often than not. They've simply gotten fat on a cupcake schedule. Even this latest road trip they only played only one quality team (the Bulls) and surprise, surprise...they lost.

Hitman - y'all beat us by 4 points in your building. I can't explain that one because we were handling the Bulls at will by over 15 points in the beginning. Maybe PJ was throwing you guys a bone? Anyway, your point is well taken. My question is, do you think barring any major injuries to either Kobe, Pau, LO, or Bynum that the Lakers are NOT coming out of the WC? I believe we will come out with or without Bynum, tbh. Minus the 3 games that Bynum has been back, the stats I put out there was with the Lakers at <100% (no Bynum). Impressive if you ask me - no matter the compe ion - considering our PF was forced to play center. Take away anybodies starting center and tell me they can put up the stats we did and I'll be impressed. For example, take away TD and the Sp*rs are a lottery team. Take away Bynum, we still come out of the WC.

[LkrFan]

You're feeling yourself because you beat a ty Raptors team without their best player?

You can't be serious.

[hitmanyr2k]

Hitman - y'all beat us by 4 points in your building. I can't explain that one because we were handling the Bulls at will by over 15 points in the beginning. Maybe PJ was throwing you guys a bone?

Nah, it seems every team handles the Bulls in the first quarter for some reason. Then the Bulls come back and either win or at least make a good game of it. It's been a reoccuring theme all season long.

Anyway, your point is well taken. My question is, do you think barring any major injuries to either Kobe, Pau, LO, or Bynum that the Lakers are NOT coming out of the WC? I believe we will come out with or without Bynum, tbh. Minus the 3 games that Bynum has been back, the stats I put out there was with the Lakers at <100% (no Bynum). Impressive if you ask me - no matter the compe ion - considering our PF was forced to play center. Take away anybodies starting center and tell me they can put up the stats we did and I'll be impressed. For example, take away TD and the Sp*rs are a lottery team. Take away Bynum, we still come out of the WC.

The West are full of pretenders....similar to last year. The only team that can stop LA from coming out of the West are the Spurs and that's a stretch considering the lack of development Splitter is getting. The Spurs desperately need that kid's length in the paint but you wouldn't know it the way he's being played. Bonner and Blair aren't gonna get it done in the paint. We all know Bonner isn't gonna show up for the playoffs. McDyess would have to play the series of his life and Duncan is suddenly going to be asked to play 35-40 minutes a game in the playoffs after playing 30 minutes a night in the regular season. Spurs fans think his legs are being saved for the playoffs but in reality his conditioning is gonna be crap. It's like being conditioned to run a 3 mile race all year long and then suddenly being asked to run 2 extra miles and keep the same pace. Not gonna happen...not at Duncan's age. He's not gonna be ready for the extra minutes and by the time the WCF roll around (if they're still playing) he's gonna be gassed and having to deal with Bynum and Gasol by himself basically (if Bonner and Blair are still getting big minutes).

The rest of the teams in the west are pretenders. They all have the same problem as last year...midget frontlines with no one to match up with LA's length. If Bynum goes down or isn't 100% LA is vulnerable to the Spurs and possibly the Mavs. If he's around and healthy LA will most likely come out of the West.

[LkrFan]

Hitman - Solid take - agreed 100%. I actually got respect for the Sp*rs, Mavs and believe it or not the Jazz (the rest of the WC teams are just cashing paychecks). Their fan bases on ST just like to come out to talk (rightfully so). And of course I am a Laker fan that believes in our squad. The Lakers have paid their dues throughout the years and are in a win-now 3-4 year championship window. Even when Kobe plays ty we still have a chance to win because his supporting cast's collective sacks have descended.

For the Bulls, I hope that Noah is aight and returns soon. I got y'all at least making the ECF. Boozer will be key. His lowpost game, rebounding, passing out of the post ability will take you guys to another level. The only team I could see beating you guys are the Celtics because Boozer is too short to deal with KG - which causes all kinds of havoc for the rest of the Bulls. You guys are on the right track though. If Thibbs could reign him in, JR Smith would be a huge addition - if the rumored trade goes through.

[Crickets]

spurts are posers

[Leetonidas]

Bynum already got his injury out the way. Spurs are ed from here on out.

Yep, he got the beginning of the season injury out of the way. Now we're just waiting on the season ending injury after the ASG per usual.

[Leetonidas]

spurts are posers

Riveting good basketball discussion chap!