If we face the Jazz again, we will likely match up better against them than last year. Chuck Hayes, rather than Yao, will get to guard Boozer. We would need homecourt, though- Utah is great in home games.
If we can get HCA, I pick the Jazz. Their frontline isn't that big, and we have good mobile 4s that will come out and guard Okur. It's really tough to win in their building though, so I'm not sure I'd like this match-up as much if they finish with a better record. I think the Lakers are a good match-up if Bynum isn't totally healthy. I'm sorry, but Gasol doesn't scare me AT ALL. Hayes would give him big problems on defense. Our best bet would be to see Kobe drop 50 and the rest of the team stand around and watch him. That seems to happen alot. If Bynum is back though, it's trouble because we're just so damned small. Overall I pick Utah, because of our lack of size more than anything. That said, I fully expect McGrady to be much better in the playoffs this year compared to last. He's shown alot more athletecism this year which bodes well for the Rockets (remember last year: "I don't dunk anymore because my body can't take it."). He'll destroy AK.
In the first round of playoffs, Lakers would not want to face anyone beside Dallas or Houston. Lakers would prefer GS, but they are just too streaky and kind of feed into their eagle of knocking out the number 1 seed in dallas. (beside they won't make it) Lakers matchup a problem with Denver who can actually counter them like the spurs. I prefer that we face Lakers then Jazz. Jazz is playing at the same level thru the season, and will tough it up a notch in playoffs. Which is dangerous, they are pretty consistent. Lakers however are the weakest in the first round if they can go all the way. Bryum will be back from 2 to 3 months long break away from active BB. He is going to be rusty and chemtry will be a problem. he won't showcase himself at least until second or third round. Most likely he will be backup to Gasol. Gasol and odom are both not true center, they play face up and not post up game. Which actually helps us as we don't have Yao. we need faster quicker forwards to match them up. However, I do see our height to be the biggest issue. Hopefully loren woods can help us down the road. I don't think scola will have much problem with gasol or odom. we do need landry back 100% for the offense. If we can shut down Gasol, we can pretty much win this series.
For some reason Id take Lakers, outside of Kobe, Pau and Bynum, all their players are a bunch of boneheads. Laker fans hate Odom, Walton, etc. And when the players arent making thier shots, the Lakers are screwed because they cant win with defense.
I think I go with the Lakers, as long as Bynum isn't 100%. Gasol may not be 100% either. Kobe can score whatever he wants, the rest of his team (outside of those other 2) isn't very good. Utah has shown how they can give us fits and their team is even better this year. Brewer can guard Tmac, Deron is awesome, and we can't stop Boozer. I don't want to play Utah if I can help it.
lakers could be a fun team. they are a team that got no consistency, on defense. their offense relies on their shooting, but they usually have at least a 3rd or a 4th, where everything goes in.
This is such a hard question cause I hate both teams so much. I have to choose the Jazz, though, cause we probably do match up a little better against them. The Lakers size could be too big of a problem to overcome.
I actually think we can beat both of them because I don't think Bynum is going to make it back and I think Pao is still going to be effected by his injury. However, without Yao, I think I would still prefer to face Utah, simply because we match up better with them without Yao. Especially if we get Brooks some run over the last few games here and he makes enough progress to warrant giving him some rotation minutes come playoff time. No, he can't stop DWill either. Nobody in the league can. But he sure could put a lot of pressure on DWill to have to defend him. Rafer won't.
