There are currently 4 teams that realistically could slot into the 8th seed in the Western Conference right now. Those teams are the Spurs/Suns/Thunder/TrailBlazers. I personally believe that all four of those teams could pose serious threats to the defending champion Lakers. If healthy I believe the Spurs could very easily knock the Lakers off. First off we already know they play better in the playoffs. Secondly they match up very well in almost every way. The Spurs have Duncan to match the seven footers of Bynum/Gasol, Tony Parker is superior to Fisher in every facet. Manu is instant offense off the bench and Richard Jefferson only helps them. Of the four possible teams I think the Suns match up the worst followed by the Thunder and TrailBlazers. But either way the #1/#8 seed matchup should be enjoyable to say the least.
I can see the Suns or Thunder putting up a good fight but the series would go to 6 games max, with the Lakers winning. The Rose Garden has always been tough to play at for the Lakers but the Blazers don't have HCA and are too beaten. Spurs are the only low seed matchup capable of pulling it off. They could get swept or lose in 5 games like they did to the Mavericks last year, but if they can shift gears by playoff time then they definitely do have a shot.
I think the Rockets can pull it off. They'll just need to hustle and play with heart like in the beginning of the season.
if parker comes back healthy and ginobili can keep playing this way he has lately and if duncan can outplay gasol and kobe averages less that 30 in the series then the spurs can win easily
The Majority of NBA fans were saying we had no shot at them either, but we at least came close, and that was without Yao Ming for most of the series. I think a big problem with the Lakers is their mental toughness. They seem to become very lazy at times and lack the mental and physical effort. I truly think that if the Spurs and Lakers matchup in the first round that the Spurs will in all probability beat them.
Lakers beat Spurs 2 years ago, easily. They didn't have Bynum and Artest/Ariza at that time either. Without Bynum they are still a better team. For Spurs, they had the addition of Jefferson and the reduction of Bowen. Bowen of 08 > Jefferson of 10 TD gets older and can't get 40/20 beast game any more. Both Parker and Manu have some injuries. The regular season record indicates the direction they have been moving. Spurs were never this bad.
This may sound crazy, and I'm not even thinking about the specific matchups, but I think the Thunder have enough athleticism and talent take down the Bynum-less Lakes. They've been losing lately though.
Hopefully blazers. Winning record against LA last year, but that was a very different roster. Who would outsoft each other, Aldridge or Gasol?
We were not an eight seed. Yao came up huge in the first win. Yes we a couple of nice games without Yao but did you forget game 7 of that series? The Lakers can really step it up when they need to. It is a seven game series and I don't think any of these teams can beat the Lakers in a seven game series. They are just too deep, too well coached. Too good. There are a couple of teams that can give them trouble, none of them are at the bottom of the Western playoff picture.
LA is going to have another cakewalk through the west. Mavs have dropped back to earth, Denver simply sucks after losing martin, and Utah doesn't show up on the road. The only team that could maybe take the Lakers to 7 is Portland. Unfortunately i just can't see them beating LA on the road.
LOL, Suns will be a cakewalk for Lakers. Lakers were just too experienced to counter a fast break team. Nuggets are still the best challenger for their physical style. And Mavs are in a groove. No other team has a chance.
Spurs were done 2 yrs ago. LA in 5, tops, with or without Bynum. Age and mileage goes forward, not backward.
Phx isn't physical, teams like that do the Lakers a favor. OKC are newbies against the defending champs. It would be a suprise if they won 1, much less 2.
