chant:
"This-is-stupid"
dum dum dum dum dum
I still say there is no team in the West that can beat the Lakers this year and definitely not next year with there young center back in the line up. The Spurs need some young wheels to keep up, the Suns need better defense, Dallas needs a new franchise, Houston needs to rebuild, the only team that I see competing is New Orleans.
chant:
"This-is-stupid"
dum dum dum dum dum
All of this means jack if the Fakers let the EC Finalist knock their s into the dirt again.
Lakers played above their abilities this year. They lucked out in not facing Phoenix or NO and getting a depleted Spurs team. They could have easily been knocked out in the first round had the cards fallen differently.
I don't think Bynum is going to be the savior, I think Kobe will always try to do too much and whine about it later, I think Phil Jackson doesn't really know much about coaching defense (he knows a lot about coaching offense, though), I think Odom and Radmanovic are making more money than they're worth or than the Lakers will get out of them.
I am guessing it will come down to the Lakers vs the Spurs in the West again next year like it seems to usually do.
Phoenix? Sorry, that window has slammed shut.
New Orleans? Please.
Utah? Maybe, could be the team that screws up the Lakers-Spurs matchup.
Dallas? Nice trade! You just ruined your team for an overrated PG who can't shoot!
Houston? What are the odds of TMac/McGrady being healthy at the same time and would it matter if they were. TMac is a 2nd round virgin.
Denver? Probably the worst chemistry in the league, allergic to defense.
Maybe a team like Portland or Golden St makes some noise.
It will be Lakers vs Spurs again in the WCFs barring major injuries.
Some of you guys are forgetting about Portland.
I guarantee that they will both remain healthy at coinciding times and they will be injured at the exact same time and for the same duration.![]()
Projected 2009 WCF Starting Lineups:
Lakers vs. Spurs
C- Bynum C- Mahinmi
PF- Gasol PF- Duncan
SF- Odom SF- Bowen
SG- Bryant SG- Ginobili
PG- Fisher PG- Parker
Bruce is going to turn 38 next season. Expecting him to be the starting 3 and the defensive stopper at that age is asking a lot.
Bowen retires after next season, book it.
well in that case you better pray that either Batum or Rush will be around at pick 26 OR that maybe Sanikidze will not only make the team next season but also become a reliable stopper
Also probably need to hope that Udoka works his way into consistent minutes from the get-go.
that's the thing about newcomers whether it's somebody like Udoka who has been with the team for only a year or draft picks, you always gotta have a backup plan to a backup plan
The Lakers ? That team will have to undergo more significant changes before they challenge again.
What op?
original poster
the offseason is not over
will la sign their restricted fa's?
Memphis wins the West next season
Jerry West knows what he's doing![]()
I don't think Odom is staying. And some of the bench will be gone as well.
Rush will be picked by the suns in case he enters the draft. But I read somewhere that he withdrew from the draft and will be staying in Kansas for his junior.
Monday was the deadline to pull out of the draft and Rush did not even consider pulling his name out.
Perhaps you were reading an article from last year, because he did pull his name out of the draft last year because of his injury - and this past season was his junior year so if he were to return, it would be his senior year.
If the Lakers made it this far with the team they had, one could logically assume they will be locks to win the West again when they add their starting C back into the lineup. They will have another year of chemistry together, the young players will have developed a little more, and if they are smart they will have traded Odom for a legit starting SF that is capable of helping Kobe lock down the perimeter. With the right off-season tweaks I see them as the team to beat in the WC again.
...Nah. They played two easy teams this past year in the playoffs, and came through an unhealthy Spurs team. Bynum isn't going to be the "magic player" you've been looking for.
Oh well, it's wishful thinking for now, hm?
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