Every championship that has been won since Michael Jordan's retirement has had an asterisk next to it in my book since none of these teams ever beat Michael Jordan for the title.
the lakers have too much firepower....plus nobody is gonna be able to guard kobe but the celtics always seem to come through in big games prediction: lakers in 6
Celtics will win. Take a look at the Lakers playoff road: Thunder, Utah, PHX. Celtics: Heat, Cavs, Magic. Celtics have had a much harder path to the playoffs and they're arguably better than they were when they won in 2008. Lakers are arguably worse than they were in 2008. Lakers win because they're simply too big for their opponents with the length of Odom/Gasol/Bynum. They don't have a 3 point game, so they just out rebound their opponents and murder them on the inside. Not happening with the Celtics. Their help defense inside is simply amazing. And now they don't have to worry about shooters stretching out. Lakers are going to get murdered.
The key is Gasol. If he fades like he did in 2008, then the result will be the same this year as it was then. If he can man up and start elbowing people like Garnett, Perkins, and Sheed do, then I don't think the Celtics will beat the Lakers. Kobe will probably roam on Rondo again, and Derek Fisher is more than capable of guarding Ray Allen. Artest will wrestle Pierce into submission. Pierce just doesn't have an extra gear to go to when he faces elite defenders. He either falls and clutches his knees or some other random body part, or he just stands at the 3 point line and raises his hand. Lakers will probably win, but I hope the Celtics prove me wrong.
Celtics has the best chance of beating Lakers this year so I'm looking forward to this match up. I think Lakers have just too much talent so I have a feeling that they'll win, but I'll be rooting for Celtics.
It's going to be the battle of the douches, as kobe faces of against KG, and my heart is with KG. I know that the celtics will not be scared of accidently landing an elbow on kobe if he starts doing his kobe antics. Come on Boston!
I wouldn't mind the Celtics if not for Garnett and his "doucheness". The Lakers I just plain hate. Go Suns! There is still hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rondo >>>>>> Fisher Kobe >> Ray Allen Pierce > Artest Gasol - Garnett Bynum - Perkins If Rondo is guarded by Fisher this series, that's a wrap for the Lakers. They better put Kobe/Artest on him.
they guarded him pretty damn well two years ago and this year he is older and I believe more injured(don't remember him being injured back then) paul pierce can do a decent job tony allen will prob be guarding him alot. I think if rondo doesnt get destroyed in the post by kobe he might be able to do an ok job as well
I'll believe Gasol doing that against the likes of Garnett and Perkins when I see it. Same with the Lakers beating a physical, tough-minded group like Boston. I've never been more underwhelmed with a champion than I was with last year's Lakers. The way they were absolutely crushed and just rolled over in Games 4 and 6 against the Rockets is something I can't get out of my head. It was too reminiscent to the way they folded up shop in Game 6 in Boston in 2008. Outside of Kobe, the Lakers aren't a mentally tough team and can easily fold if you punch them in the mouth. The problem is/was that they've had an incredible run of weak opponents. I'd argue the best team they've played the past two postseasons was the 2009 Rockets, and then they lost Yao... and still took LA to seven games. The Magic may have good overall talent, but they don't have the killer instinct to be a true championship team - a fact that's being exposed right now. This year, Oklahoma City - the youngest team in the league, with no playoff experience, a shortage of big guys and of three-point shooters - was one missed block-out from taking LA to seven. And the Lakers' fold job in Game 4 of that series was eerily reminiscent to Games 4 and 6 against the Rockets and Game 6 against the Celtics. But as luck would have it, the next two teams they drew were the woefully undersized Jazz and Suns, who simply didn't have a chance on the interior. I agree that the Lakers, in theory, have slightly better talent than the Celtics. But when pushed by tough opponents, I've seen them - and particularly, Gasol and Bynum - fold time and time again. I'll believe it when I see it.
Agreed. They were practically given a red carpet to the Finals with fortunate matchups (eg, Orlando taking out Cleveland) and major injuries to every opponent they faced. This year it's looking like the same deal, except they are about to run into a brick wall in the Finals. Can't wait to see the Faker fans cry.
I totally agree, I'm going to almost say that to some of the same people out there (especially on ESPN) who will often deride the Rockets two banner years as asterisk seasons in basketball (because there was not much of MJ on the seen), yet turnaround press a team, like these current Lakers that really haven't beat a powerful opponent or have benefited from their circumstances. Remember, the Rockets quite possibly toughest two year playoff stretch in NBA history The toughest teams, they've beat in the last 3 season are an injury riddled Houston Rockets team (no Yao, no Mutombo, and no T-Mac) and last year's version of the Denver Nuggets. Not great teams by any stretch of the imagination, neither team even won 60 games are considered heavyweight teams.
I was actually using the logic that most people already do put the asterisks on the Rockets championships. And how was last year's Laker team deeper than this year's team? Trevor Ariza is the only significant player from last year's team that is gone, and they added Ron Artest. Not to mention that Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, and Shannon Brown all played more games for the team this year than last year.
Rondo is not even close to the same player he was two years ago. He was the weak link on that team, now he's their best player. We saw what happened when the Cavs tried playing off Rondo, it just doesn't work.
As much as I hate to say it because I think KG's a dick, the Celtics has a pretty damn good chance at beating the Lakers. They made me eat my words when I thought there was no way they could get past LeBronettes but I think they are healthy at the right time. It should be a fun series to watch.
I don't know about you guys, but I hate the Celtics more than I hate the Lakers. So... I'm praying to god for a 4 game winstreak by both the Magic and the Suns.
