It seems the Rockets will be only team to have given Lakers a run for their money.

I don't know, Orlando and Cleveland might be a handful, like the Rockets.

The Lakers are going to lose at least two games (maybe more), if they play Orlando. Who is going to stop Dwight Howard (Bynum got outplayed Nene and destroyed by an injured Yao) and he can guard, everyone over 6,9, unlike Yao. Also, the Magic have Gortat (who should start at Center in this series, I tell you why, later) and Battie who are decent defenders and big bodies. The Lakers really don't have anyone to guard Lewis and Turkoglu, except Lamar Odom. Turkoglu or Lewis should come up off the bench against the Lakers, it will give them some firepower in the 2nd unit and let Gortat and DH handle the Lakers big men. Make LA a jump shooting team. For Orlando, I like either matchup for Dwight being against Bynum or Gasol. He can handle both of them. Both were pretty ineffective against the Magic. Also, neither can really keep him off the boards. Once, Bynum gets in foul trouble or pulled out of game for lack luster player, then Magic can go to their original starters. DH poses a bigger threat against them than KG did.

Orlando's defense has been pretty good in Cavs series, but they can't stop Lebron and it will be the same thing with Kobe. Though, Kobe won't be driving to the basket as much, so they'll have chances for more rebounds.

The thing about Magic, they have one weakness, their backcourt. Rafer will be the reason they lose games, he's too inconsistent and will miss some key shots. He might cancel Fisher out in some games, while in others he will either look like an all-star or make Fisher seem like an all-star.

 

One thing I've noticed is how Orlando matches length and height w/ the Lakers.

What gives the Cavs fits is Rashard Lewis at PF. Which makes me think what is PJax going to do with Bynum. Will he have him in the startign lineup or at backup.

I think Odom should guard Lewis because Gasol is too slow for him.

IMO, the team who will win is who contains the other team's superstar.

 

I kinda agree and disagree. I disagree, because I don't really see either team stopping the other team's superstar. I believe Kobe will average about 27 to 30 (but everything depends on his fG%), while I have all of the doubts in the world anyone on the Lakers will slow down DH. I am not even a DH fan, but I think he is going to destroy the Lakers front line (offensively/defensively), I expect him to put up Shaq/Hakeem numbers against the Lakers, they're going to foul him often. Here are Bynum and Gasol's number vs. the Magic this year.

01/16/2009: Bynum - 14 points (6/13 FG), 3 rebs, 4 personal fouls
Gasol - 13 points (5/13 FG), 9 rebs, 4 personal fouls

D.Howard - 25 points (8/18 FG), 20 rebs, 3 block shots

12/20/2008: Bynum - 3 points, 1 reb, 5 personal fouls
Gasol - 11 points (4/9 FG), 7 rebs, 4 personal fouls.

Dwight Howard - 18 pts (4-6 FG), 12 rebs, 2 blks, 3 stls.



Remember, Dwight is not going to be playing Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neal. So, he is going to get to relax a bit in this series.

It might come down to the role players.

 

Lakers are not a bad team. They had physical gifts. They just don't have champion mentality. That's why we called them fakers.

If Yao kept healthy. Rockets would definitely beat them.

 

the way i see it is the Lakers left the front door open and the rockets stepped through the door. I dont think that takes anything away from either team. The lakers showed they could beat Houston pretty much whenever they gave a aolid effort and were mentally focused. However, they had games where they didn't have that for whatever reason, therefore leaving the door open for houston to beat them. Now that doesn't mean Houston got lucky, teams can often quit and turn away from the open door or just don't do enough to get through it. Houston deserves credit for not doing that, for keeping up their effort and not losing hope, but let's face it, taking them to 7 doesn't mean that we truly pushed them to the edge, traded blow for blow until the end and nearly took them down, afterall we did get blown out 2 of the last 3.

 

i hate moral victories.

 

Jumping the gun a little bit? The Lakers still have another series to play. Why don't you let them play it? Hmmm?

 

well, the consensus seems to be Denver is a better team than the Rockets. Did you hear they say Houston gave the Lakers a series tougher than the Lakers expected and it even gets tougher when they faced the Nuggets. Tougher? The Nugs are a good team, but they were blown out by the Lakers in a must-win game at home? Tougher?
I actually don't like yapping about moral victory, there is no second best in sports, but as Phil Jackson put, give Houston some fxxking credits.

 

Cool! When's the parade?

 

IF only we could have won the last game of the season.

 

If only we could have won at least one of the games in which we lost against every last place team in the NBA except against the Thunder.

 

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If only TSlack didn't play so much.

 

if only game 7 wasn't such a huge blowout...

 

if only bynum and gasol hadnt decided to play well in game 7 =[