Haha...that's cool Los Angeles. Derrick Rose went off on the C's, but it wasn't totally unexpected. Rose is a superstar. Now that KG is out, i don't have any more expectations for the Celtics. There's no chance they'll beat Cleveland if they even get that far, so even if they beat the Bulls, they're just delaying the inevitable anyway.
After watching all the western conference teams play, i can say there are 4 teams that pose somewhat of a threat to the Lakers. Those teams are the Rockets, Mavs, TrailBlazers, and Nuggets. Now, let's go through their strengths and weaknesses. Dallas is clearly on a roll, and i'll bet anyone money that they knock off the Spurs and send them home early. San Antonio just cannot match up with them. However, the Lakers have two 7 footers that Dallas cannot contend with, and they've never played Kobe Bryant well, so that effectively eliminates Dallas as a contender. The TrailBlazers are a team that i legitimately feel matches up, player for player, with the Lakers. Roy matches up with Kobe, Aldridge matches up with Gasol, Outlaw matches up with Odom, and Pryzbilla/Oden matches up with Bynum. Add to that the fact that the Lakers have trouble winning in the rose garden, and if these two teams meet, it will definitely be a 6 or 7 game series. However, Portland drew the absolute worst possible team in the first round, the Rockets, which probably means they won't even make it that far to play the Lakers. Portland is eliminated as a contender. The Rockets have a good combination of players (Artest and Battier) who are tailor made for stopping Bryant. Yao will probably have his way with Bynum, and Scola can hold his own against Gasol, but the real mismatch comes with whoever is guarding Lamar Odom. Houston doesn't have anybody who can matchup with him. Their lack of scoring is also an issue. Because i just don't see any way that they will be able to score enough points to beat the Lakers in a 7 game series, Houston is eliminated as a contender. The only team remaining is the Denver Nuggets. They are second best in the western conference, and have home court over any team not named the Lakers. Chauncey Billups brings leadership and toughness that they didn't have before, and they have two explosive scorers in Smith/Anthony. Kenyon Martin is an outstanding defender, and Nene is probably most improved in the league. Birdman is also a sick shotblocker off the bench. I would say, the Nuggets have a legitimate chance of taking the Lakers to 6 or 7 games if: Billups continues his good play, and Jr Smith continues to be unguardable off the bench. Jr is inconsistent, but the guy can flat out score, and cannot be stopped when he's hot. I really like the Nuggets chances more than any other western conference team of beating the Lakers in a series. I don't know if they can actually win, but if they do draw each other, it will be one heck of a series.
The Lakers "should" win the championship this year. They have the best team, from top to bottom. If they don't win it, it will be one of the all-time choke jobs.
But seriously though, if the Lakers and Cavs meet in the finals, i'll be rooting for the Lakers.:smt023
I was sad when Ray Allen made that 3. It shouldn't have come down to a one possesion game. I hope Chicago gives the Celtics a run for their money.
Yup. I was actually a Blazer fan before I was a Laker fan. I started liking Portland back in 3rd grade because I like Brian Grant's dreads, and he was my favorite player. Then I actually became a fan. Then the next year, thanks to my dad, I became a Laker fan too. But, I've been slacking on Portland updates and even the Lakers over the past few years. But I'm trying to get back into the game, so to speak. I missed the old Portland lineup. Rasheed, Grant, Smith, Stoudamire, Sabonis, etc. Shame they didn't use Jermaine O'Neal when he was on Portland, but he Portland already had their starting squad set.
