L.A. Lakers 08-09 Season (official thread)

[schwab]

I think we scared 'em off OC...

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by schwab

I think we scared 'em off OC...

but wouldn't you rather have people to talk to?

[schwab]

Da Fish for Da Trey..

Bynum fouled... I stumble when I try to find a way that the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Kobe tonight... and I still can't see it.

One of my friends is a HUGE Cavs fan, and he began texting me early last season "See you in the Finals"

I have been texting it back since then, and still the Cavs are going down... Either to Boston or L.A., take your pick

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by schwab

Da Fish for Da Trey..

Bynum fouled... I stumble when I try to find a way that the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Kobe tonight... and I still can't see it.

One of my friends is a HUGE Cavs fan, and he began texting me early last season "See you in the Finals"

I have been texting it back since then, and still the Cavs are going down... Either to Boston or L.A., take your pick

I don't know if the Cavs will win tonight, but they are missing 2.5 starters right now with Ben not being 100%. When the Cavs are healthy they are as good or better than anyone. The Lakers advantage is that they have no competition in the West. The East has 3 good teams.

[schwab]

Originally Posted by exhawg

The Lakers advantage is that they have no competition in the West. The East has 3 good teams.

Celtics, Cavs, Magic

I get it.

Spurs, Hornets, Suns, Rockets, etc..

I could go on all day about how bad the East used to be. And the funny thing is, I still think the East is weak. As is the West.

What's your point?

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by schwab

Celtics, Cavs, Magic

I get it.

Spurs, Hornets, Suns, Rockets, etc..

I could go on all day about how bad the East used to be. And the funny thing is, I still think the East is weak. As is the West.

What's your point?

The other teams in the West might be strong by playoff time, but right now I don't feel the Lakers have a test until the Finals. The 2&3 seeds in the East will have 2 tough series just to get to the Finals. I agree that if you look at all the playoff teams the East is weaker than the West, but the East has 3 of the best 4 teams in the NBA and any of those 3 can beat the Lakers.

[schwab]

Originally Posted by exhawg

The other teams in the West might be strong by playoff time, but right now I don't feel the Lakers have a test until the Finals. The 2&3 seeds in the East will have 2 tough series just to get to the Finals. I agree that if you look at all the playoff teams the East is weaker than the West, but the East has 3 of the best 4 teams in the NBA and any of those 3 can beat the Lakers.

Word. I can see your perspective. The West used to be a giant, and there was a time that the East was a lamb out to slaughter.

Times have surely changed, and I would agree that the power has shifted solely to the Eastern Conference. 3 out of the 4 best teams in the league will do wonders for your strength of schedule, but they won't do you any favors when it's time to play for the ring.

The West used to be it, and now the East is it.

Good luck, when the finals tip off as Lakers vs. Celtics or else Lakers vs. Cavs, your conference won't do you many favors at that point.

Without looking it up, I would like to see where the last 10 finals championships resided, knowing that the Pistons were bastards in the last 10 years.

[exhawg]

My main hope is that the Rockets stay in the 4-5 spot and the Spurs stay in the 2. Both of those teams can at least beat on the Lakers a little. The 1 seed in the East is very important.

[schwab]

Now is as good a time as any...

I have been a huge proponent of trading Bynum for Oden.. with ugly results. (I have a lot of Laker fan friends)

Maybe I am the only one who can see it, but I think L.A. could use G.O.'s Defense, and I am always a Buckeye, so whatever....

[schwab]

KABLAMMY

[schwab]

The Cavs will advance. Far enough to see the Lakers again, that is to be determined.

Lake Show Overflow.

[OCBucksFan]

Originally Posted by exhawg

I don't know if the Cavs will win tonight, but they are missing 2.5 starters right now with Ben not being 100%. When the Cavs are healthy they are as good or better than anyone. The Lakers advantage is that they have no competition in the West. The East has 3 good teams.

Since 2000 how many West Championships? How many east? There's good teams in both conferences, don't try to play the "they have an easy road" card, there's just as many good and just as many [censored]ty teams with bad owners on both sides of the fence. I agree the Cavs are short handed, the Lakers needed this, they had been swept by the Cavs 2 years in a row, they needed to get it out of their head.

[schwab]

Originally Posted by OCBucksFan

Since 2000 how many West Championships? How many east? There's good teams in both conferences, don't try to play the "they have an easy road" card, there's just as many good and just as many [censored]ty teams with bad owners on both sides of the fence. I agree the Cavs are short handed, the Lakers needed this, they had been swept by the Cavs 2 years in a row, they needed to get it out of their head.

We got 'em dawgggg.. at least tonight we got em

[OCBucksFan]

It will be interesting to see what happens over the season in the east either way. The Celtics have been going through a lot of issues, the Magic are just un-[censored]ing-real, and the Cavs are getting beaten up. The Lakers really needed a win tonight, after the debacle in San Antonio and then Nelson just administering another beat down, they couldn't drop three in a row, especially with the NBA's best record in the line. Overall, I thought they played well but went to [censored] in stretches, they are falling back into the habbit of relaxing when they are up on teams which really irritates me. Showtime never did that [censored], if they were up by 15 they were going to try for 25, and even then, they played like it was a tie game or they were down by 10. I wish we could see this energy out of these guys.

Bynum finally had a good game, he's been ok to decent all season, but overall, it's been Gasol and Kobe for offense. Ariza tossing down those two threes was a great sight as well, I love that kids game.

[OCBucksFan]

Great game by Bynum, 42 points, grats kid.