Why the Lakers won't finish above us. <BR> I thought this updated version of an earlier post in a little-read thread deserved a spot of its own... <BR><BR> Although they're currently near the top of the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are not nearly as good<BR>as people seem to think, and despite what the media says about our streak, THEY'RE the ones who have loaded up<BR>recently by beating a bunch of wussy teams. Look at who they've played since they stole Gasol and were anointed<BR>automatic champs by the press: New Jersey Atlanta (LOSS) Orlando Miami Charlotte Minnesota Atlanta Phoenix Clippers Seattle Portland Miami Portland (LOSS) Dallas Sacramento Clippers Sacramento (LOSS) THAT, my friends, is a creampuff schedule. It's to their credit that they took care of business and went 14-3 during<BR>that stretch. But look at those same teams list in order of winning percentage, starting with the few good teams: Phoenix .651 Dallas .635 Orlando .625 Portland .524 Portland .524 (LOSS) --------------------- Sacramento .444 Sacramento .444 (LOSS) Atlanta .419 Atlanta .419 (LOSS) New Jersey .413 Charlotte .381 Clippers .328 Clippers .328 Seattle .254 Minnesota .226 Miami .180 Miami .180 It's no surprise they've done well with Gasol -- ANY top-tier team should win most of those games. In fact, of the above 17 games they've played with Gasol... * 12 games were against sub-.500 teams. * 14 games were against sub-.525 teams. * 24% were against the league's worst four teams. * The three losses were against mediocre teams, including a loss at HOME to the Kings. * Only three wins were against quality opponents -- the slumping Mavs at home; the Suns in their FIRST game trying to work Shaq into the team; and in Orlando (the only post-Gasol win I'd consider impressive). Maybe when they get Bynum back, they'll be a true title contender, but that depends on whether Bynum comes back near 100% (remember how slow Yao's moves looked after he came back last year?) and whether Bynum can play as well as before since he'll now be sharing space in and near the paint with Gasol. The Lakers have an upcoming 4-game road trip, playing in New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah. If they can win any 3 of those, I'll give them credit for being among the league's elite. For now, though,<BR>I'd put them on about the same level as Cleveland, Toronto or Golden State. <BR><BR>
Stats just tells you so much. You actually have to watch the game. Lakers are pretty good. Yeah, we will finish ahead of them of course.
Great stuff. The big test will be next Sunday. Hopefully the Rockets can remain undefeated till then. The Atlanta game worries me, though. Didn't we lose to Atlanta in 93-94 to end our record-tying 15 game win streak to start the season?
I agree. If I can get my concentration span up to more than 5 minutes I'm going to start a "What is so great about Andrew Bynum" thread in the NBA forum. This cat is average something like 13/10.5 and everyone is acting like if he comes back the Lakers are a lock to win it all. Really? A young, inexperienced (although very talented) kid that is averaging numbers that Chris Kaman laughs at transforms this team into an unstoppable juggernaut? OK.
For the most part the Lakers took care of business, and if you watched them you can see they look pretty good. They beat the Mavs and Suns.
great stuff indeed, I thought their schedule was weak of late, hadn't bothered actually looking at it. This really makes me feel good, maybe we can actually win 55+ games.
two teams who have suffered from the trade? not necessarily suffer, but have been struggling to be consistent. these are not the mavs/suns of last year.
But those losses could be argued. Dallas and Phx have declined since they made those trades, the Lakers got lucky they played them after those trades while those teams are in a transition period with their acquisitions. If they would have stayed the same maybe those two would be losses.
eh? is this just an updated copy/paste from another thread? LA is still the #1 seed right now by 1/2 a game. find barkley and kenny's email address and send it to them
Dave......can't say it any better than that? I could understand if he was a 22 ppg and 11 rebs. They'll be a better team than they are now, but I think fans, media talking head, and the people who take those ridiculous Vegas spreads are going to be in for real disappointment come the playoffs....they are some team out there who are actually better than the Lakers front line, like the Spurs, Suns, and even Utah. Boozer, Okur, and Kirilenko - Shaq, Amare, Hill - Thomas, Duncan, Finley (or Bowen > Better front lines than Lakers even with Bynum I think Suns and Jazz give actually give them some nightmarish matchups.....because cannot guard Okur out on the wing and he sure as hell can't stay with BOozer for a whole series and Gasol is not very good defender. Against the Suns, Bynum did good job against Amare when he was healthy, but even at 35 who is going to guard Shaq....don't tell me Paula Gasol is....because he get into foul trouble so fast .
No wonder! I used think they would have better chance to win the coming game against us. Not any more. I watched the last few minutes of tonight's game (you know why). Defensively and offensively, they were not impressive at all. Maybe it's just a few minutes and it's reasonable to think their offense could be better, but if they play that kind of defense against us, they have no hope.
Dude, I live in LA and watch a lot of Lakers ball. They're good, and I think they'll probably end up somewhere in the top 5 seeds in the west -- but not above us.
Don't get me wrong they are a very good team, but I don't see the warranted attention of handing them the West and NBA title.....even if they get out of the west...title is not a guaranteed thing especially going up against the Pistons or Celtics.....which in some areas (especially on defense) are going to be alot tougher than most WC teams, except the Rocks and Spurs. I see teams who can actually slow down Kobe and even make Gasol non-factor (Wallace or Garnett).
Hey uh not to be a hater or a Fakers fan but Andrew Bynum is pretty important to their team. With him they are a number 1 seed team. Without they are a ... oh nevermind. JK he is an important piece to their team, that is true. He is like their Carl Landry although he is nowhere near as ballin'.
The reason the lakers are so good is because virtually half of their games are rigged, if you've ever watched a game @ staples center you know what i'm talking about, refs give kobe at least twice as much love there than anywhere else.
