Tyreke Evans (photo. Pineda)Today’s your day off before we dive full into every NBA fan’s favorite time of year: the postseason. Here at DimeMag.com we ranked the 16 playoff teams in our latest NBA Hit List, as well as wrapping up the season for the Lottery teams. A lot of people had an issue with us not putting the Celtics #1, but in our view, the Lakers are not only coming out of the West more battle-tested than any team we’ve seen in recent memory, but they also happen to have the best player in the world in Kobe Bryant and two bigs playing at a high level in Gasol and Odom … Saturday is the day everything gets started, with Cavs/Wizards (ESPN, 12:30 p.m. Eastern), Spurs/Suns (ABC, 3 p.m.), Hornets/Mavs (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Rockets/Jazz (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.) … Everyone was leaving yesterday, be it college guys bolting for the League or NBA coaches being shown the door so teams can recycle — um, we mean hire — someone to take their place. The most high-profile of the bunch, Isiah Thomas, wasn’t officially out of a job as of late Thursday night, but every report coming from every media outlet says it’s basically a done deal; this one even said Isiah was told by Donnie Walsh last week that he wouldn’t be kept on as head coach. That’s a logical explanation for why Isiah seemed to be falling asleep in New York’s last game game against Boston the other day … And all of the Isiah news came to light around the same time we heard Mark Jackson won’t be returning to the YES Network to do color commentary for Nets games. Easy to connect the dots there … The Bucks did officially fire head coach Larry Krystkowiak. His replacement’s first task? Convincing Mo Williams to get a little more Ramon Sessions in his game, and finding a way to get Charlie Villanueva some decent PT that won’t agitate the Chinese government. The Bulls also dumped coach Jim Boylan, which opens the door for someone else (Scottie Pippen? Nah, but that would be hilarious) to come in and look like a genius for simply having an average season … Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook both announced they’re leaving UCLA to go pro, while Darrell Arthur and Brandon Rush will be leaving Kansas for the NBA Draft. Westbrook should be the highest pick of that group — he’s projected to go Top-10 — while Love is obviously going to be the most argument-causing prospect. Rush is a wild card who could go Lottery or 2nd round, and Arthur may ultimately be the best pro out of all of them. He’s got grown-man post moves, a reliable jumper, can pass in the post, and as you saw in the national championship game, he’s clutch … So even though Love and Westbrook (and possibly Darren Collison) are gonna be gone, don’t worry about UCLA. Ben Howland is reloading with the best high school recruiting class of 2008, and the Dime crew got a look at three of his incoming frosh — SG/PG Jrue Holiday, PG Malcolm Lee and PF Drew Gordon — at last night’s Boost Mobile Celebrity Jamfest at the LIU-Brooklyn campus, part of the Jordan Brand Classic weekend … Gordon finished second in the dunk contest: he got it going early with a reverse jackknife (like the one Kobe pulled off against the Hornets last week) that he threw down while rocking a backpack and a New Era fitted, came back later and got one where he took off just inside the free throw line, then jumped over a kid on his last dunk … Playing the Dwight Howard role, 7-foot B.J. Mullens (Ohio State) hit a between-the-legs dunk for his highlight of the night; PG Brandon Jennings (having shaved down the Kid ‘N Play flattop) had a Kenny Smith-style bounce between the legs off-the-glass flush that he spiked with his left hand; SF Devin Ebanks (Indiana) was good, but like Rudy Gay, made it all look too easy. And the winner, PG/SG Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech), brought everyone out of their seats with a Vince Carter 360 windmill while spinning the opposite way … There was supposed to be a celebrity game, but we heard that a driver accidentally took some of the celebs to the Long Island U main campus instead of the one in Brooklyn. So since DJ Clue, Jadakiss, Styles P, and J Records singers Emily King and Tiffany Evans were the only ones available, they participated in a Shooting Stars-type contest (the always hype-competitive Clue was visibly disappointed that he wouldn’t get to play) and judged the dunk contest … Question: If you were a famous artist and one of the songs that helped make you famous was being played in an arena or on the radio, don’t you think you’d have some kind of reaction? Not necessarily screaming and dancing and acting a fool like in The Five Heartbeats, but at least nodding your head or cracking a smile or a reminiscent look on your face? Last night the DJ at the Jamfest played The LOX’s “Money, Power, Respect” and Jada and Styles didn’t react at all. Totally blank slates … After the dunk contest there was some interview time, where we got a few minutes with recent Memphis commit Tyreke Evans. ‘Reke said the main factors going into his decision were the Tigers’ style of play and that he was impressed with John Calipari. Memphis just stockpiles the All-American lead guards year after year now, from Darius Washington to Derrick Rose to Tyreke. If Cal can get someone to stay longer than a year, he’ll hoist that national championship trophy before long … We’re out like Milwaukee’s Coach K …
April 18th, 2008 at 2:53 am
K Dizzle says:
21st inning. U kiddin me? I can’t crashed til this shit ends. See how bad it is? Basketball withdrawals so I’m watching Rockies-Padres. Damn
April 18th, 2008 at 3:08 am
bill says:
close
April 18th, 2008 at 3:14 am
bill says:
lakers over-rated ESPECIALLY without bynum. That is all
April 18th, 2008 at 3:51 am
Austin Burton says:
How are they overrated? The Lakers posted the best record in the West, while Bynum only played 35 games total. They went 33-14 without him (.702) and 24-11 with him (.685)
April 18th, 2008 at 5:18 am
YOUNGFED says:
Lakers are far from Overated but it don’t matter cause it’s a rap for anybody not playing for DETROIT.
@K-Dizzle
dude it can’t be that bad that baseball is your next option. You better get up, get out, and do something player.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Suciniac says:
The Lakers are overrated because they did nothing to separate themselves from the other Wester conference teams.It took NO loosing to Sacto to clinch the 1 seed.Besides, Is it so clear that they will own every other team in the west in a 7 game series????Not even close.Yeah, Lakers have their Big 2&1/2 in Kobe, Gasol and Odom but every other team are loaded and deep.
Despite Spurs uncharacteristic play down the stretch they are still the champs.Oh, and they still have their roster from last year and added Thomas,Udoka and Stoudamire.That is depth and experience right there.
Even if Bynum makes it back 100%.How he and Gasol are going to stop Shaq & STAT.Plus the Suns have Nash and a deadly bench.
I don’t feel like typing every other team but it is clear that the West is loaded this year and it is any body’s crown to lose.No one is a clear cut favorite to win.Lastly I will paste this post I posted in another thread that nobody probably read because I was late in posting.
I think this year the Championship is going to the East.Whoever comes out of the West is going to be EXHAUSTED (to say the least).Every series has the potential to go 7 games.Boston only has to worry about Detroit and are going to have a lot easier time to finish series quickly and just wait to see who they have to face from the West.Yeah and LA over Boston is just WRONG.Just because they finished the season 8-1??That doesn’t come nowhere near going 3-0 against the big 3 of Texas ON A ROAD TRIP.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:29 am
sans says:
Nice Outkast advice there, Fed.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:55 am
doc says:
Nobody in the West is a favorite.If AI and Melo beat Kobe you can act suprised if you want but it wouldnt be on no Dikembe Kemp shit.Out East everybody saying Boston and Detroit, but even though Lebron and them look like they stink until somebody beat him 4 times I wont disrespect.Same for Timmy.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:18 am
kobeef says:
Will Tyreke be better than Rose? He’s got some big shoes to fill. Rose lost the ‘chip and was still clearly the best player on the floor.
Rush will be the highest drafted player of the Love/Westbrook/Arthur bunch. He is a prototype for an NBA Shooting guard who plays D, can hit the three and in coming back after the injury answered some personality concerns. And he is a champion.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:02 am
YOUNGFED says:
You know what it is Sans. Thats Whats Sup!!
Alright since this article kinda boring let get out the list.
Top 5 Worst hairdoes:
1.) Sheed Ballspot and scruffy beard
2.)Verejo (What the fuk is that style)
3.)Goodens Beard (aka Young Moses) lol
4.)Boozer (Lord Meathead)(dude head looks like a pack of hotdogs)
5.)Manu (hair line sreamin’ let it go)
let me know if I missed someone
YOUNGFED Says: Keep it One Hunnid Baby!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Kobeef says:
@ youngfed
I agree - smack is boring when there are no games to talk about - let’s officially start the Rose vs Beasley debate. Here’s your background info: http://www.nbadraft.net/draftbuzz073.asp
Also, youngfed, how could your forget Jokaim Noah - the FRONY-TAIL has got to go.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:50 am
control says:
My comment yesterday about having Walker on my team over Manu was obviously sarcastic…I wouldn’t want Walker on my Gus Macker team, and probably wouldn’t play if he was. I still wouldn’t want Manu on the Raps though, of course I’d take him over Walker.
Ian, hating on Manu has nothing to do with him not being American…I’m not even American so I’m not even sure how that plays into things. Not once have I heard people say “Manu sucks because he’s from Argentina”. Everytime it’s “Manu is a pussy because he flops like a fish”. Don’t even try to play the euro prejudice shit.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:59 am
ERIC says:
HOW ABOUT SHANE BATTIER’S DEMENTED SKULL
April 18th, 2008 at 8:11 am
YOUNGFED says:
4sho Kobeef but I kinda like Noah’s hair it reminds my of the late great Big Ben. Dude just trying to make a statement plus Kobeef you know that hairstyle gonna look sweet as hell on the 2k8 and live this year.
Also Beasley all day.
@Eric
Ya he’s another meathead. But who is worst Battier or Boozer. Now that as DEBATE.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:18 am
James says:
cant wait till playoffs baby- spurs all the way
April 18th, 2008 at 8:47 am
PALakerFan says:
I hate to break it to all the Lebron lovers out there, but the Wiz are going to win that series. Lebron is basically playing 3 on 1 against Gil, Caron, and Antawn. Deshawn Stevenson is a punk and needs to shut his mouth, but Lebron’s supporting cast blows.
Z - solid player but will need to have a great series for the Cavs to have any chance, not likely
Wallace - completely done, collecting a check
Wally - no defense, overated 3 pt shooter
Delonte - efficient but should really be a backup
Varejeo - why does every goofy looking, no skill “energy” guy like this get so much pub?
Devin Brown - a former Spurs 3rd stringer is your starter?
The Cavs definitely tried to get better with the trades, but it didn’t work. Actually, Joe Smith is a better player than Wallace at this point and should get more PT. Wiz in 6.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Styles says:
Reason Jada and Styles P didn’t nod they heads is cuz Puffy screwed them with their deal with BadBoy.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Brown says:
Joe Smith was the best player in that deal. Delonte should be the first guard off the bench on any team, not a starter. One-trick Wally’s one trick isn’t as good as advertised.
I’m pulling for the Wiz to win this series. One-man teams don’t deserve to go anywhere in the playoffs, especially not the finals, which were basically a joke last year and SA barely even broke a sweat winning the chip. That won’t happen this year.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:32 am
K Dizzle says:
@ post 6
First of all, it’s not overrated if you’re missing 2 major pieces and trade for another major piece in Feb and clinch 1st place in the west with your starting backcourt both playin with torn ligaments. Lakers won out and beat the spurs and the hornets when they needed to.
2nd of all, most of the teams are loaded but nobody out west is as deep as the Lakers, not the spurs and definitely not the suns anymore. I can’t even tell you who Amare and Nash’s backups are.
3rd, we not worried about the spurs AND the suns because one of em is done after the 1st round anyways. We owned Denver all season and it’s not gonna change now, denver ain’t played defense all year now all of a sudden, they got the answer for the triangle after “holdin” kobe to 58% shooting this season and that theory about the west beatin each other up is overrated, cuz the spurs won it last year after warring with the suns. Boston-Detroit is just as rough a series as anything out west.
As for Rose vs. Beasley, we just saw on dime a couple weeks back that GMs kill themselves by watchin a dude all season, then fall in love with a dude cuz he had a great tournament. That being said, if I’m Miami, I take Beasley if I think Marion will opt out and I can get Baron or Gil with the money, otherwise I take Rose if he don’t because there’s only like 2-3 good point guards out east so Rose can step right in and make an impact
April 18th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Suciniac says:
It’s amazing how I haven’t seen any Suns fans here predicting a championship this year.STAT is DESTROYING everyone from his natural position and Shaq is playing well too.I personally would like to see the Celtics win it all and KG get his MVP trophy,though,I will be laughing my ass off if Kerr’s experiment worked and Shaq manages to pull off another championship.
On second thoughts, I will be laughing even harder if I see another Spurs/Pistons finals and the Spurs proving everybody wrong once again by winning it all.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
GEE...Ghost ride the whip! says:
Houston up!
Styles and Jada were probably caught up in wondering how they can get back to that level when they were on people’s minds and lips. Nobody really talkin; bout the Lox or Sheek, Jada and Styles seperately even.
I always favored Sheek, dude ain’t the best with the words but he is straight gutter.
Anyway
Beasley all day vs anyone else in the draft.
I feel like I got every playoff out come except 3.
Honestly I have no idea who is going to win in Spurs vs. Suns.
Can’t really call Dallas vs. N.O. either cause honestly Dallas has the parts and they know what it’s like.
Finally many will think this is set in stone, but to me Denver and A.I. have a better chance now of upsetting the Lakers, more than when A.I. was in Philly going against the Lakers in the playoffs. That is just Gee though.
In the East everyone knows it’s Boston and Detroit, and I give the edge to Boston cause they are real hungry.
If any team has the best chance of pullin the upset in the East you got to roll with Agent Zero, Caron “Tough Juice” (horrible nickname), and Jamison.
The Rockets are going to beat the Jazz in this series. You heard it here first! They just need to watch the movie 300 and go whip some ^&$. SPARTANS!!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
QQ says:
You know why Suciniac? People are tired of the suns torching teams in the regular season only to be torched where it really matters, the postseason. Isn’t it just 3 years ago when STAT was ‘destroying’ other teams and Nash was being anointed the best pg of all time? Deja vu. It ain’t worth anything if you don’t bring it in the playoffs.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:12 am
girlybballluver says:
Youngfed: 5)Manu (hair line sreamin’ let it go)
That line nearly made me spit out the orange juice I was drinking when I read it. Waaaaay funnny!!
I’m sitting here wondering if they’ll be more celtic fans than hawks fans in the arena when they’re ballin’ in Atl.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Suciniac says:
Ok I will do it your way.
First of all You are missing 2 players.Yeah it’s called injuries(Shit happens).D-Wade played with a DISLOCATED shoulder last year and got swept in the first round.You got handed Gasol(again, shit happens…like once a decade).Yeah, they beat out NO and Spurs…by the wide margin of ONE game.So what,we should give them the championship because they came out as the 1 seed from the west.Give me a break.
2nd of all Lakers are deep but don’t kid yourself.We don’t know when and if Bynum is coming back.Your starting SF is Radmanovic and Fisher is slipping.He’s been consistently outplayed by Farmar all season.Gasol is too weak to play Center for long.Only impact bench players are Turiaf,Farmar and Walton.Spurs bench is Ginobili,Thomas,Udoka,Vaughn and Stoudamire even their bench plays both ends of the court exceptionally well.STAT and Nash’s backups are Diaw/Skinner and Barbosa.Now, if you don’t watch only Lakers games you will know who those guys are.
3rd.Sure one of them is going out in the 1st round but the playoffs doesn’t finish there you still have to face either the Spurs or Suns and maybe Dallas or Utah.GOOD LUCK!!!It’s no secret Denver can’t guard anyone but who’s guarding AI,Melo and JR Smith.Kobe can’t guard all three of them.While LA will surely win the series it’s not going to be a pushover of a series.Every game will be close no matter who wins.Last year Spurs won against Denver(whom they have always owned),won in six against Phoenix(before the suspension and Shaq’s arrival) and took out a talented but young team in Utah(last years NO)and THEN swept Cleveland which is even worse this year and certainly not Boston or a deeper and better rested Detroit this year.That Boston/Detroit series is the ONLY one in the conference that can go either way.That’s a far cry from the West where every series from the first round on can go either way.Don’t be blind and look at the matchups Lakers vs Nuggets and Hornets vs Mavericks and Celtics vs Hawks and Pistons vs Sixers.Two potential sweep in the East vs two series at least going six if not seven games in the West.You can guess who will be more tired.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Suciniac says:
@QQ.
I know man. but it’s not like they ran away with the best regular season record this year.They also did reach the conf finals the last few years and with addition of Shaq that’s a BIG matchup problem against opposing bigs.I really do feel they have a legitimate shot this year than their previous years.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
marcus the great says:
nice outkast reference, but fuq that hair list
i think this years playoffs is gonna be great, i love the nba to def but i’ve never been this excited for the post season. the west is gonna be an all out war with LA, Phx, SA, even the rockets and jazz and maybe NO can make noise forreal. they might not go all the way but could take out a top contender and change the whole picture…
and i kno the Cleveland Lebrons haven’t been playin well lately but you’re foolish if you just write them off. he’s like a grown man playin wit boys out there
April 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am
QQ says:
I’m actually rooting for them to beat the Spurs (Why do I hate San Antonio? Because they’re so freaking good), but until they ACTUALLY beat the Spurs, I’ll always have those doubts.
On an unrelated note, GO MAGIC!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:06 am
chris says:
no sure things in the west playoffs this year, cept lakers over enver. all the rest could go either way, from the 1st round on. whoever wins the west, if injury free, can likely take the celtics or the pistons, but that is a big if (what are the odds detroit and boston will have crippled vets by the time one of them gets to the finals?)….too bad we have to wait for all those meaningless east playoff games…
April 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Girlybballluver:
Thats Whats Up
@Marcus:
Wouldn’t ish else to talk about and you gotta admit the idea was DAMN creative. Respect originality
April 18th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Phileus says:
I’ve put a lot of money on the Lakers. Most confident bet I’ve ever made.
This is the Lakers’ to lose.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:21 am
QQ says:
@chris
Haha.. meaningless?? Have no one watched the playoffs last year? Last time I checked 67 win top seed Dallas lost to 8th seed Golden State. My point? No expert, pundits, or whatever those media types would like to call themselves can PREDICT the NBA playoffs. No one. On paper, Dallas OWNS GS big time, but that isn’t the way it works. There are tons of intangibles that you have to consider. That’s why the playoffs is fun to watch.
And to all so called ‘experts’ out there ‘analyzing’ the playoffs, I’ll just laugh my ass off when Atlanta sweeps Boston, with Joe Johnson averaging 60. Touche.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
K Dizzle says:
@ post 24
you obviously not doin it my way and you completely missed the point. When you come out and say the Lakers are overrated cuz they barely won the west, I wonder if you caught any games this year. This was the tightest race in 20 years with 3 teams having a chance to win the conference in the last week. That being said, my team went out and beat the hornets and spurs decisively and did sac-town how you supposed to. What’s that have to do with being overrated?
Obviously, you’re a spurs fan cuz only spurs fan throw out udoka, thomas and stoudamire as a strong bench. That’s gonna be a joke. Udoka’s had one good game this season and mentionin damon and thomas is comedy.
Sayin Fisher is slippin verifies you haven’t watched a laker game this year. There’s a reason utah struggled on the road this year and fish brings way more than numbers, and Farmar outplayin Fisher, who do you think that benefits?
The Lakers have the deepest bench out west and I don’t even know how that’s disputed and that’s without bynum, ariza and mihm. After Ginobili, the spurs bench is old and injured. Where’s Horry? Where’s Barry? What’s damon’s fg%? How old is Bowen? This series might be the beginning of the end for the spurs “dynasty”. We know the spurs never repeat so at least when they go out first round, they can rest and get manu, tp, and oberto ready for the olympics
Nash’s backup is not barbosa cuz as u know, barbosa’s not a point, he’s a 2-guard, 2.6 apg in that system proves that. They tried DJ but he ain’t gonna see minutes and Hill’s more of a back-up point than barbosa and if u were watchin games, you’d know that diaw had been startin cuz hill’s been hurt so he hasn’t been amare’s back-up either. Trust me, I watch games, so I don’t come across as ignorant like in post #3 who throws out a statement like “Lakers are overrated” with no reasoning then dissappears
Maybe you meant Lakers are lucky that they won despite all the injuries and how rough the west is, but that term overrated is overused. Good luck with Phoenix though
April 18th, 2008 at 11:39 am
marcus the great says:
yea Kdizzle, tell ‘em why you mad son! lol
April 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am
control says:
YOUNGFED, The hair list was actually pretty funny, and pretty accurate…but you missed Pau Gasol and Dirk “Goatboy from SNL” Nowinski. Dirk is a fucking goat and Pau looks like he went to the supercuts $5 sale, and didn’t let them finish…7 months ago.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am
hahns says:
hold up guys….
worst hairstyle award has GOT TO be taken by
MARQUIS DANIELS
worst lookin dude in the L
April 18th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Austin Burton says:
“Udoka’s had one good game this season and mentionin damon and thomas is comedy.”
Gotta stop you right there, KDizzle. Thomas isn’t a numbers guy, but in his time with the Sonics I watched him literally serve as Kevin Durant’s fullback the way he set picks and screens. His pick-and-pop game is NICE and he plays defense in the post. Stoudamire I can’t really say much about other than he’d probably be a better backup PG than Jacque Vaughn’s no-shooting self.
And Udoka? He’s a beast defensively. You’re crazy to say he only had one good game. You must mean one good scoring game, because when Udoka is locked onto a scorer, he makes life miserable (and he does it cleanly). He’s right in that Bowen/Battier wheelhouse as a defender.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:59 am
hahns says:
gona nominate another and throw troy hudson in the mix. and pre shaved head deshawn stevenson.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
YOUNGFED says:
@Control
Gasol hair ain’t that bad but you are right on with Dirk
@hahns come on now Marquis hair aint that bad
@Marcus the Great
Good Mad Rapper quote: “Yo Dawg I’m just saying son” - Lox Album M.P.R.
@KDizzle
“Get’em Dawg, ARrf’ ARrf’” - DMX
PS.
Yall gotta stop with the storybook post Damn fellas.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Austin Burton says:
Marquis’ hair IS that bad.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Austin Burton says:
You know what, I take that back. I don’t wanna have someone mad at me who has a tattoo on his arm of a man eating a gun.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
YOUNGFED says:
lol Austin
@hahns
I feel you on Troy Hud however don’t think I recall pre-shaved stevenson though.
@Austin
“Don’t be Skuuuurrred” - Jamie Fox
lmao
April 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
4real says:
Here my take on Manu or any player that flops:
If your whole strategy is to get the ref to “bail you out” you’re saying “I’m not good enough to guard you”. Thats why I think flopping is a punk move. Its an easy way out of actually playing defense.
Same goes for the other side of the court. If you make any play with the intent of drawing a foul and getting to the line you’re saying “I’m not good enough to get by you”. Even that pump fake then jump into your defender is a punk move. If you pump fake your man and get him in the air go by him and attack the basket and either create a play for yourself or a team mate. If the refs call a foul while your driving or trying to shoot so be it. You earned it. But darawing a foul for the sake of drawing a foul is weak.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
daquest?on says:
shane battier is weird.. is he black,white, latino?? the only 2 nba players that scare me and i wouldnt want 2 hang out with are kyle korver and shane battier
April 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
control says:
4real, tru dat.
daquest, Kyle is really weird, I could see him getting sucked into one of those weird cults, like LDS or Scientology. Ron Artest would be like hanging around a rabid pitbull…never know when the guy is goin to snap and kill ya.
Gilbert Arenas would probably be one of the best guys in the NBA to just sit around chilling with. Chris Bosh and Sheed would be interesting as well.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Kudabeen says:
Kobe is the #1 individual talent in the league, but Who on the Lakers is “handling” KG? Pierce is not going to just get ran through by Kobe, they can potentially cancel each other out. I guess I give the potential Laker/Boston series to Lakers if Odom is playing at the same level of intensity that he has been as of late. But even with that Who is checking KG?!?
I have to flip-flop in the same comment…
Lakers wouldn’t beat Boston on the strength of they have no favorable matchup against KG. It’s only two guys in the league that can give KG problems on both ends of the floor ; Rasheed and Duncan…KG would command a double team and Lakers would be forced out of their comfort-zone…
People always beatup on KG’s ability to takeover, but if you look at his performances, it wasn’t that he couldn’t takeover, it’s just when you are playing one on two or three for an entire playoff series (with your guys not stepping up) it tends to lessen your effectiveness. that won’t be the case and hasn’t been the case with this Boston team all year…
April 18th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Dave says:
The Celtics are already watching the West and hoping the Jazz lose along the way because that’s really the only team in the West who would beat the C’s and can match them in every aspect of the game.
Only if Boozer would play defense full time and AK shows up playing allupinyourface defense will they win though.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Kudabeen says:
I just don’t see Utah matching up…
Boozer Rondo
AK Perkins
Korver
April 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Kudabeen says:
My comments were cut up somehow…
Player for player Boston has better overall matchups, but Utah is a a potential problem for anyone not named San Antonio in the West…
April 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
daquest?on says:
denver is going to upset the lakers if jr smith plays very good
April 18th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
word says:
odom’s performance will be the biggest factor in what happens with the lakers.
and styles p is like 4′9.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Suciniac says:
@post 32
I am obviously doin it your way because I went through your previous points chronologically.If you can’t read properly than that’s your problem.Yes,the Lakers finished ahead of NO and Spurs ahead by ONE frickin game.You all are taking that as a clear path to a Championship and virtually handing them the trophy.GTFOH with that shit,if you don’t call that overrated than nothing is.Does a single game offer that much of an advantage in the playoffs.Yeah they are the 1 seed,home court advantage and blah blah…..so were Dallas and Phoenix the last couple years.
Just so you know I am Trailblazers fan and also a Garnett fan(not the Celtics) because I appreciate the way he plays.Since my team didn’t make it to the playoffs I will be rooting for the Celtics just because of Garnett.Obviously, you are a Spurs hater because Thomas will own every other big on the Lakers bench.He’s one of the better post defender in the league,monster on the boards and hits the mid range jumper consitently and efiiciently.He’s a stronger,better,experienced version of Haslem.Hell, he will even give Gasol trouble on the defensive end.Udoka has been getting steadily increased PT and is primed to contribute during the playoffs.Everbody knows he’s Bowen-lite..Stoudamire and Vaughn are there just for insurance because they won’t get any PT anyways, I am just naming them to show SA’s depth.What’s ‘comedy’ is that you mention Bynum,Ariza and MIHM(really???).As I said Bynums return is not decided and if and when he and Ariza returns,they are not going to blend in and contribute right away.You have to work them back into the rotation IN THE PLAYOFSS.Just see how Dallas and Phoenix struggled to come together in the regular season and with plenty of games left BEFORE the playoffs.This is the playoffs we are talking about, it’s no easy stroll in the park.Yeah I know Horry and Barry are old and useless that’s why I didn’t name them.Besides, playoffs are about big minutes from the starters and little and (hopefully) productive minutes from the bench.That’s why you play your starters as less minutes as possible in the regular season.A rotation of 8-9 players,10 tops.Yeah I have watched Lakers games this year, pre-Gasol and post Gasol and I am not sold on them yet.I don’t see what the big deal is anyway.They are good but not head and shoulders above Spurs,Suns and even Utah.Which brings me to….the reason Utah lost to Minny,NY and other cellar dwellars on the road is because of Fisher?????Oh,I see the light now….maybe the reason Boston lost to Charlotte and Wizards was because they didn’t have Casell yet.Nash’s backup IS Barbosa cuz as you know they don’t have any other guard who can cotribute,so, even though he’s a gunner of a 2 he still HAS to play the point.Yeah I’ve been watching games and that’s why I said what I said.So, if Fisher gets hurt and Farmar starts.Does that mean Farmar isn’t Fish’s backup anymore??Come on, you know that’s ridiculous.
I agree on backing up your comments.Also, I don’t think the Lakers got lucky because they are genuinely good legit contenders and will give any team a run for their money.I just don’t see them as clear cut favourites from the Wild West,That’s all.I just see too many holes in LA.
Definitely next year when the Lakers have all their players together and get to work together as a team and come out of the West winning 60 games(definte possibility) then i will acknowledge they are the favourites to win it all…just not this year.In short if you say Lakers are contenders I will agree,if you say Lakers are the favourites out of the West THEN I will say thats overstating it.