si: lakers should fear blazers

[maxiep]

Well, the way some of you blazers are posting, you would think you just three peated, have the best record in the NBA, and the Lakers are just another western playoff team that you would easily beat.

Well, we just bitchslapped your team with ease. And that was a game the L*kers had circled. So, do we fear LA? Not in the least.

 

[maxiep]

What's the reasoning behind the "*" in "L*kers"? Somehow implying that the NBA/stern fix the games or something ridiculous like that?

Because I believe the word "Lakers" is an obscenity not fit for viewing.

 

[maxiep]

The irony here is that the L*kers really are a good team with a legit shot to go all the way. So why do their fans feel the need to sh!t on everybody else? Is that insecurity I see raising its' ugly head?

Even Tex Winter is worried about the L*kers. He thinks they could lose their seeding.

 

[Toko]

Well, we just bitchslapped your team with ease. And that was a game the L*kers had circled. So, do we fear LA? Not in the least.

Record 2-1 LA.

Playoff record 9-2 LA.

HCA - LA.

You're lucky in 1 regard though....you won't be playing the Lakers. You won't make it past the first round.

 

[maxiep]

Record 2-1 LA.

Playoff record 9-2 LA.

HCA - LA.

You're lucky in 1 regard though....you won't be playing the Lakers. You won't make it past the first round.

Yawn. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Toko]

Yawn. We'll just have to wait and see.

Good luck. You're gonna need it.

 

[maxiep]

Good luck. You're gonna need it.

Yep, just like Monday night.

 

[Boob-No-More]

That being said, Phil's record in the playoffs when his team has home cort advantage is something like 33-0.

Wrong. I know Lakers fans like to pretend it didn't happen, but Detroit whipped the Lakers 4 - 1 in the 2004 finals. The Lakers had HCA in that series.

BNM

 

[e_blazer]

If I were a Laker fan (shudder!!), I'd be more concerned with this article than I would this SI piece.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-fyi10-2009mar10,0,1329149.story

Tex Winter knows Laker basketball better than just about anybody alive. The fact that he's concerned that the Lakers aren't anywhere near as good as their record would indicate...especially given that he was interviewed before the Blazers lambasted the Lakers on Monday, should give even the most ardent Laker supporter pause to consider whether these guys really have what it takes to take it all this season.

 

[Toko]

Wrong. I know Lakers fans like to pretend it didn't happen, but Detroit whipped the Lakers 4 - 1 in the 2004 finals. The Lakers had HCA in that series.

BNM

Make it 33-1 then

 

[Boob-No-More]

Tex Winter is a smart man. Needless to say, I agree with him (and Nate). If they don't have Bynum in the play-offs, their odds of winning a title goes way down. There is no doubt the Lakers have a ton of talent - especially offensive talent. However, defense and rebounding is what wins games in the post season, and without Bynum, the Lakers aren't anything special on defense or on the glass. Boston exposed those weaknesses in last season's finals. The Lakers will still be favored against weaker oppononents, but they don't match up well with teams that rebound well and play good defense (San Antonio comes to mind).

BNM

 

[Toko]

Tex Winter is a smart man. Needless to say, I agree with him (and Nate). If they don't have Bynum in the play-offs, their odds of winning a title goes way down. There is no doubt the Lakers have a ton of talent - especially offensive talent. However, defense and rebounding is what wins games in the post season, and without Bynum, the Lakers aren't anything special on defense or on the glass. Boston exposed those weaknesses in last season's finals. The Lakers will still be favored against weaker oppononents, but they don't match up well with teams that rebound well and play good defense (San Antonio comes to mind).

BNM

We don't match well against SA? Last years 4-1 WCF must have been a dream then.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Make it 33-1 then

They didn't just lose, they were totally owned in that series. But, that's why they play the games.

I also remember when a very young, inexperienced 42-40 8th seeded Nuggets team upset the 1st seeded 63-19 Sonics in the 1st round back in 1994. At the time, it was unprecidented. Anything can happen. You can't count on an upset if the Lakers end up playing the Blazers, but it certainly could happen - and given the Lakers well documented struggles in Portland, it wouldn't exactly surprise a lot of people.

BNM

 

[Toko]

They didn't just lose, they were totally owned in that series. But, that's why they play the games.

I also remember when a very young, inexperienced 42-40 8th seeded Nuggets team upset the 1st seeded 63-19 Sonics in the 1st round back in 1994. At the time, it was unprecidented. Anything can happen. You can't count on an upset if the Lakers end up playing the Blazers, but it certainly could happen - and given the Lakers well documented struggles in Portland, it wouldn't exactly surprise a lot of people.

BNM

Sure, it's possible. Just not very likely(very being a big understatement). You admit yourself a number 8 seed upsetting the number 1 seed happened, what, twice in NBA history?

And has it ever happened that a team with 0 playoff experience ever beat the 1 seed?

Didn't think so.

 

[STOMP]

You should be a happy blazer fan just for making the playoffs after missing them for several years. If you're expecting anything other than losing in the first round, well, you are just setting yourself up to be dissapointed.

the end of every season is disappointing for every fanbase but one. I don't see why Blazer fans shouldn't be excited about their team especially after recent struggles, or why they shouldn't be aloud some amount of speculation of what the playoffs might hold for their young inexperienced rooting interest. In 1977 the average age of the starting lineup was 24 and they had zero playoff experience... but thats why they play the games!

STOMP

 

[Minstrel]

I also remember when a very young, inexperienced 42-40 8th seeded Nuggets team upset the 1st seeded 63-19 Sonics in the 1st round back in 1994. At the time, it was unprecidented. Anything can happen. You can't count on an upset if the Lakers end up playing the Blazers, but it certainly could happen - and given the Lakers well documented struggles in Portland, it wouldn't exactly surprise a lot of people

The difference, though, is that the first round was five games back when the Nuggets knocked off the Sonics, and it's seven games now. Longer series benefit the favourite.

That said, it's certainly within the realm of possibility that Portland could beat LA in a series, but the chances of defending home court 3 times AND overcoming Portland's mediocre road record vs. LA's sterling home record is vanishingly small.

If Oden is back and healthy and Bynum isn't, it might be interesting to see, though.

 

[STOMP]

We don't match well against SA? Last years 4-1 WCF must have been a dream then.

as opposed to last year, this year Manu should be fine. Is he really inconsequential to you?

STOMP

 

[Boob-No-More]

We don't match well against SA? Last years 4-1 WCF must have been a dream then.

Just an example of a good reebounding team that plays defense and has plenty of post season experience. Without Bynum, the Lakers will have a tough time in the play-offs against any team with a big, physical post player, or any team that rebounds well and plays physical defense.

Look on the bright side, you don't have to worry about playing Charlotte in the play-offs, and won't have to face the Magic until the finals (if you and they make it that far).

BNM

 

[Toko]

as opposed to last year, this year Manu should be fine. Is he really inconsequential to you?

STOMP

And this year, Bynum will be fine.

See? 2 can play at this game.

 

[Toko]

Just an example of a good reebounding team that plays defense and has plenty of post season experience. Without Bynum, the Lakers will have a tough time in the play-offs against any team with a big, physical post player, or any team that rebounds well and plays physical defense.

Look on the bright side, you don't have to worry about playing Charlotte in the play-offs, and won't have to face the Magic until the finals (if you and they make it that far).

BNM

Orlando won't be making the finals, so I like the Lakers chances this year.

 

[STOMP]

And has it ever happened that a team with 0 playoff experience ever beat the 1 seed?

Didn't think so.

I'm sure it's happened other times, but this was the case in 1977 as well in the finals.

Man you throw a lot of easily rebutted stuff out

STOMP

 

[Toko]

I'm sure it's happened other times, but this was the case in 1977 as well in the finals.

Man you throw a lot of easily rebutted stuff out

STOMP

Look, there's a chance the blazers can upset the Lakers. That chance is very small. That's all there's to it.

 

[Boob-No-More]

And this year, Bynum will be fine.

Really? I thought his injury this year was more severe than last season. He was supposed to be back last seeaon, too. Last year, he went down on 1/13 and still wasn't able to play in the NBA filnals 6 months later. This year, he went down on 1/31. What makes you so sure he'll be back in time for the play-offs this season?

BNM

 

[STOMP]

And this year, Bynum will be fine.

See? 2 can play at this game.

you can play, but these two things are of course far from equally likely. Manu is due back this week, while Bynum remains a question mark as to when he'll be back. I'm sure you know this, which begs the question of why respond when your answer is such a failure?

STOMP

 

[Toko]

Really? I thought his injury this year was more severe than last season. He was supposed to be back last seeaon, too. Last year, he went down on 1/13 and still wasn't able to play in the NBA filnals 6 months later. This year, he went down on 1/31. What makes you so sure he'll be back in time for the play-offs this season?

BNM

What makes you sure Ginobilli will be back?

P.S Bynum's right on schedule, expected to be back by the end of this month(or the next one, haven't been following him lately).

 

[Toko]

you can play, but these two things are of course far from equally likely. Manu is due back this week, while Bynum remains a question mark as to when he'll be back. I'm sure you know this, which begs the question of why respond when your answer is such a failure?

STOMP

Bynum's right on schedule. He'll be back before the playoffs.

 

[STOMP]

Look, there's a chance the blazers can upset the Lakers. That chance is very small. That's all there's to it.

whats the chances of a team that has lost in the NBA finals returning to win the next year?

STOMP

 

[Toko]

whats the chances of a team that has lost in the NBA finals returning to win the next year?

STOMP

If it gets HCA this time?

I'd say much much better than the 8 seed upsetting the 1st.

 

[STOMP]

What makes you sure Ginobilli will be back?

P.S Bynum's right on schedule, expected to be back by the end of this month(or the next one, haven't been following him lately).

reports from the Spurs are that he'll play this weekend

Bynum's suffered a much more severe injury that typically has a varying recovery table. These two things are far from equal.

STOMP

 

[Boob-No-More]

And has it ever happened that a team with 0 playoff experience ever beat the 1 seed?

Didn't think so.

Well, you thought wrong. The previously mentioned 93-94 Denver Nuggets. The team hadn't made the play-offs the previous four seasons and didn't have anyone on their roster with significant post season experience.

BNM