i say its lakers vs nuggets in the west and heat vs knicks and it will end up lakers over miami in 6.
When the playoffs roll around, I shall be making my bracket but right now, I'd say it could very well be a Lakers vs Bulls Finals. The Celtics are going through the motions much like they did last year, but this time Rondo does not have a dependable backup. Say what you will about Nate's gunner ways, but he did a solid job spotting RR in the 2010 playoffs, especially in the latter part of the postseason. Rondo is hurt, adjusting to his new teammates and is in a bit of a slump. And I really don't think a team with the injury prone O'Neals as their big men really is prime for a deep postseason run. The Miami Heat are too flawed to come out of the East and Orlando is too inconsistent. Dwight Howard may be nicknamed "Superman" but his team is super in 0 ways, so scratch them. That leaves Bulls. In many ways, this is the deepest team in the East. I don't know about you guys, but a team featuring a starting lineup of Rose, Deng, Noah and Boozer is scary as hell. Their bench is probably the most productive in the NBA - Asik, Korver, Bogans, Thomas. The Bulls are just as flawed - with a shoot-first PG who has never met a tough shot he didn't like. I worry about their crunch time execution but if there were a better team equipped to beat the Heat (or Celts), they play in the United Center. In the West, things are equally interesting. San Antonio no doubt have the best record and deservedly so. Dallas always makes for an intriguing team, having finally found a big man that can patrol the pain, crash the boards and catch lobs from the seemingly ageless J. Kidd. However, very few teams win championships with zone defenses, and even on that score, the Mavs have been rather inconsistent as of late. Even if Butler returns in time for the playoffs, I have a hard time believing he'll be 100% and Dallas have a dubious history of underachieving in the postseason. The other Texas contender, San Antonio, does nothing but rack up 50 or more wins a season. In spite of his age, Tim Duncan is still good for 17-9-2 every night and with his selfless play, the Spurs are a multifaceted team, with ample offensive weapons. But they've been uncharacteristically healthy for most of the season. Besides, I have trouble believing they can match a fully healthy Lakers' team consisting of Odom, Gasol and Bynum. Size, despite what people say, does matter. With Bynum's play as of late, the sky is the limit as far the Lakers' 3peat ambitions go. Oklahoma are interesting too, but they really are not there yet - not in my opinion anyway. Defensively, they've improved a notch from last year, but they need alot more to work with in clutch situations that tough KD jumpers; Westbrook's J needs some work, Kobe-style. They're a sentimental favorite for many, but feelings don't get you to June. So there you have it, I'm predicting a Bulls vs Lakers Finals. Of course, I retain the right to go back on my word, but for now, I'm good. Take it away :smt072
I'm sure the rest of the contenders were praying that Bynum's knee would be fucked up so he would miss the playoffs and they have a chance. Because if Bynum doesn't miss time and the Lakers get everybody back to 100%, it's almost a lock. Boston would not be able to contend with LA's front line, even with the two O'Neals back. Chicago are good as I previously stated, but they are untested and I worry about their half court offense. If Derrick Rose isn't penetrating or setting dudes up, they have no other playmakers on offense. Miami are wholly unprepared for a 7 game series against the Lakers and Orlando? Well, I don't think they'll get that far but we never know. Of course all of this implies that the Lakers would even make it to the Finals. Of course, the Finals aren't played on paper, but they have a good short. I'll post my predictions when all the Western matchups are confirmed tonight
it's about time LA got spanked...i doubt that was the way Phil Jackson planned to end his career...he should have learned something from Jordan and quit while he was ahead... hmmmm where is my friend LA? lippy thought for sure he would be here to discuss sunday's game...lamar odum is bounced on a flagrant foul...artest almost gets bounced not even a minute later...i almost thought they weren't going to be able to finish the game... we should however be celebrating terry & peja's 3 point glory...damn!!!! keep in mind peja is playing with a bad back and coming off the bench...amazing go mavericks!!
not so pathetic in game 3 going to the celtics...big heart play by rondo after he dislocated his elbow and came back out to play one handed...kevin garnett was on fire:smt096
Bitter "end" to Phil's career - though I think the dude will come back at some point to coach either Miami or New York. You would think that LA would send off the greatest coach ever with the best gift, but they couldn't have been more disappointing. Oh well. I'm not with this whole "blow the team up" nonsense that Magic, the media and even some Laker fans are talking about. As bad as things are, let's keep in mind that the Lakers in 4 seasons went to 3 straight NBA Finals, won 2 straight titles, and won more than 240 games in the process. 29 out of 30 teams would kill for that record. You think coming out day and night as the #1 target doesn't take a toll? Give me a break. As bad as the Lakers play, "blowing the team up" will make us worse. Apart from Gasol, Bynum or Odom, the Lakers have no other tradeable assets. The same core that everyone wants to break up is full of mid-career guys in their 30s with long term deals, save for Bynum. Kobe is 32, Gasol is 30, Odom and Artest are 31 going on 32. The only "young" player in the core is Bynum, and with his injury history, most teams will hedge before biting that apple. Steve Blake and Luke Walton have what is known in the league as "bad contracts" so they're going nowhere. Shannon Brown will probably leave in the offseason, and we have a better chance of getting hit by a nuclear attack by Franciscan priests than Kobe getting traded. So what's left? Nothing, to be honest. Besides, I'm sure all Laker fans remember Oct 2004 - May 2007 very well. Those were dark times in Lakerdom. I don't want to go there again, at least not yet but I can guarantee you one thing - with the increasing competition out West, we shall be re-occupying that 7th seed tenancy we stayed in for too damn long if we dare "blow up" this team. I love Magic, he's my fav player every (sorry Mike, but you're #2) and is the greatest Laker ever (my bad Kareem, but he won all his rings here in the toughest decade ever in NBA history) but if he were the GM, Isiah Thomas would look like Jerry West given how terrible the roster would be.
What a season it was... Can't wait for next year.... With that said, I hope the Bulls beat the Heat....
