Their defense is based on quickness and athleticism. It's not your typical scheme defense like Boston in 08 or Chicago last season and this season. Having a big guy just coming off the bench to use fouls with is something that helps. It's not a HUGE thing, I just think they might need something like that in the playoffs. Pittman is that guy for them right now but IDK if he's really talented enough to fill that role. I agree their D is still championship caliber, I don't think it's the best in the league though. Philly and Chicago can play some pretty sick lock-down defense when they're on all cylinders. Found this video of LeBron before the OKC game. Hope he's in the dunk contest next season. That 2nd dunk was effortless. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QAEVce_c3nY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Bynum destroyed Marc last meeting (37 pts and 16 boards). Pau has to be huge b/c Bynum will be blanketed by double/triple teams tonight, as he has since the All-star Break. Make no mistake, Bynum IS the Lakers' best offensive player right now. Kobe is facing a ton of single coverage b/c of Bynum.
The Heat's main concern now is get LBJ back to normal. He's playing like the Finals right now the past 4 games, and is looking very human. The Heat go as LBJ goes. Right now, he doesn't look like the best player in the league at all.
He'll be normal LeBron again during the playoffs. That's all that matters. Whatever they do from now till the playoffs start is pretty much meaningless. They want to get HCA but I don't think its THAT important for them since they've already beaten Chicago in a series before without HCA. He'll be fine, they'll be fine. When the playoffs start, and he doesn't play the way he should be playing, that's when you worry.
Bynum has emerged as the clear-cut #2 center in the league. But dude is definitely playing like a superstar right now.
Agreed. I seriously thought the Grizzlies would make sure he didn't repeat his performance tonight but it doesn't look like it.
Luc Longley says hi. That sounds like -please insert word I forgot here- for the job. Bynum is the only x-factor the Lakers had in that roster. They must feel pretty confident about their chances now, unlike how they were when started the season without him.
all he does is fight for position, dominate down low, get offensive putbacks, and alley-oops. the same thing as dwight. his post game is better than dwight. dwight's face-up running hook is money tho
Good 1st quarter. Now I'm gonna grab a sandwich, fire up the DVR to watch Mad Men and will check back in during the 4th quarter if it's close.
The grizzlies are about 5 notches below what they were last season. Right now, it's not even about playoff seeding anymore; we don't own the tie breaker against any top team. It's more about getting to the playoffs with some momentum and getting back to basics.
Dwight doesn't have a chance to display his offensive game, which is pretty damn good. Watch when he has some iso situations (v. MIami for instance), dude has a lot of moves. He just doesn't have the opportunity to display it b/c opposing teams rarely let him get a shot off. So the only way he can score is by what you said. Despite Bynum faces stiffer defenses, it's still nowhere compare to what Dwight sees on a nightly basis. EDIT: And the reason the Lakers won't sniff a championship is b/c Kobe isn't the old Kobe, yet he shoots the same amount of shots.
because of his horrible free throw shooting. if dwiht could get his free throw shooting up to %65 he's be stoppable but that's not the case. crazy stat is the magic are 9-0 when Dwight shoots over 65% from the free throw line.
Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS! Lets go LAKERS!
This is true. The grizzlies haven't played with this lineup for over a year; plus we added speights, pondexter, pargo and selby. It's just going to take time.
