Lakers the real deal?

[Carl Hooper]

You reckon? Sportscenter have been going on about them as if they are the Ring favourites. They have a young side and gelling well, Kobe on fire as usual and with the arrival of a good Center they have a good setup.

 

[robd]

i was riding their bandwagon hard a few weeks back, but now I'm actually not convinced they can win a title this season. a couple of reasons:
1) Injuries. Gasol has gone down with an ankle and will miss at least 4-5 games I'd think. This will probably cost them #1 seed out West and potentially a top 4 finish. Bynum doesn't look scheduled to return any time soon and you just can't integrate a key piece of your team with 5 games to go and expect to have success in the playoffs. It's a bit of bad luck for the Lakers, but to me, it all points to them having a better season next year.

2) They still haven't played enough together (Gasol and Bynum have never played together) to build that chemistry and trust that is crucial to a championship. Basically, i think when the Lakers backs are against the wall Kobe still tries to do a little too much. if the scores are tight in a big playoff game, Kobe will try to takeover just like he has the past 2-3 years. this might sound like a good think (and kobe is pretty good at taking over games) but i still think it will be like MJ circa 1988-90 when he had a decent team with quality guys but didn't know how to use those quality guys when it counted.

3) There's too many other teams out West who are seasoned playoff veterans and have won playoff series together. Spurs obviously, Jazz, Mavericks, Suns. These teams won't be rattled come playoff time. They've all been to the Western Conf Finals (hmm maybe not the Suns?) whereas the Lakers haven't been passed the first round

Bottom line - I think they could win it all, but they'll need a bit of luck with injuries and other good teams being knocked out. But next year I think we'll see them at another level.

 

[eathb]

C - Bynum
PF - Gasol
SF - Odom
SG - Kobe
PG - Fisher

Phil Jackson is also the ultimate zen master, and would get that working. Scary :O

 

[PHX]

At full strength. Absolutely.

 

[celtic_pride]

I would be very confident about my Celtics if they played the Lakers in the finals. For all their yips lately, the Spurs are still the biggest threat in the West, esp with a lot of the other sides being a bit hot/cold lately, apart from the Rockets who have just been unreal, but lets be realistic, Houston won't make the West finals ...

 

[Biggie]

Injuries will be hurt, the depth would be exposed with injuries to key players Gasol Kobe and Odom.

 

[apollo_creed]

3) There's too many other teams out West who are seasoned playoff veterans and have won playoff series together. Spurs obviously, Jazz, Mavericks, Suns. These teams won't be rattled come playoff time. They've all been to the Western Conf Finals (hmm maybe not the Suns?) whereas the Lakers haven't been passed the first round

Phoenix have been there 2 from the last 3.

 

[robd]

^^^yep you're right.

and i agree with celtic pride, i don't see the Rockets being a serious thread come playoff team. certainly not against LA. Lakers have the tools to shut down T-Mac (Kobe/Odom) and Gasol/Bynum is far far far too much for Scola/Mutumbo

 

[peternorth]

^^^yep you're right.

and i agree with celtic pride, i don't see the Rockets being a serious thread come playoff team. certainly not against LA. Lakers have the tools to shut down T-Mac (Kobe/Odom) and Gasol/Bynum is far far far too much for Scola/Mutumbo

not sure thats the case judging by todays game (and yes its onl a reg season one)

 

[robd]

not sure thats the case judging by todays game (and yes its onl a reg season one)

well i did say with Gasol and Bynum.
without those two, i think anyone can beat the Lakers, including the Rockets.
It's amazing the Rockets can with with a relatively quiet game from T-Mac. Rafer stepped up big time, and it seems like every game there's a different Rockets player stepping up.

 

[d-mac3276]

I'm a massive Lakers fan and even i think that we maybe still a year or 2 away from another title.

To me Gasol is the key to us in the playoffs, if he gets back fit in the playoffs and relieves bit of the pressure off Kobe then we can go deep but to win it is a big ask.

Spurs for me r still the ones to watch as they have the experience when it counts which i think might b Boston's undoing although they have impressed me hugely to date and i'm really starting to warm to them as a title threat.

Anything can happen but i like experienced teams over teams that have come out of the blue.

 

[CURVE]

The Golden State Warriors are winning around 62% of their games this season, yet are sitting 8th in the West. 19 times out of 20 that would give you a top four position and a genuine chance at Finals glory, but this year there will be 8 teams in the West who will legitamately believe they are a contender. The depth of the Lakers bench will be a huge plus for them, as will the recent form of Odom, but it will still come down to Bryant as to how far the Lakers will go. If the team can stay close to their opponent during the course of the game, Bryant will get them home.

I still believe the Lakers can win this season, but I also believe the top 4 seeds in West could lose in the first round. The West is just that tight and unpredictable this season.

 

[peternorth]

Also

GO BRUINS!!!