Pao Gasol and Bynum will push the Lakers to a title as long as Kobe continues to play team ball, IMO.
Though my sentimental favorite is Boston to win it all.
Though my sentimental favorite is Boston to win it all.
NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run
- Thread starter tomalak301
- Start date
Hmm, Carmelo seems to be trying to prove you right!
Well, it's official.
The Warriors are out and they have at least 48 wins. How does it happen that a team with 48 wins misses out on the postseason. That just goes to show how tough this western conference was. It was a great season, but there were some games that really made it so they didn't make the playoffs. Games like Chicago, Minnesota, and then the game against the Lakers in which the bad call was made really hurt this team. To all the teams and fans going to the postseason, it should be a hell of a ride. I personally don't care but I might watch just to see if there are any upsets. To the Laker fans. Watch out for Denver. They are a very very good team and shouldn't be looked over.
Until next year, when the Warriors will be back in the hunt, good luck in the postseason. I won't be following it as closely as I would have if GS had made it.
The Warriors are out and they have at least 48 wins. How does it happen that a team with 48 wins misses out on the postseason. That just goes to show how tough this western conference was. It was a great season, but there were some games that really made it so they didn't make the playoffs. Games like Chicago, Minnesota, and then the game against the Lakers in which the bad call was made really hurt this team. To all the teams and fans going to the postseason, it should be a hell of a ride. I personally don't care but I might watch just to see if there are any upsets. To the Laker fans. Watch out for Denver. They are a very very good team and shouldn't be looked over.
Until next year, when the Warriors will be back in the hunt, good luck in the postseason. I won't be following it as closely as I would have if GS had made it.
The Lakers need to take care of bidness tonight.
I really think the West has a very balanced field where anything can happen. Having home court advantage will help.
And yeah, 48 wins and no playoffs...that's tough to swallow. Especially since Atlanta gets into the East with a losing record.
I really think the West has a very balanced field where anything can happen. Having home court advantage will help.
And yeah, 48 wins and no playoffs...that's tough to swallow. Especially since Atlanta gets into the East with a losing record.
If they don't win and get home court I'll be quite depressed.
They should be fired up to win this game.
And it's even better, since it's Sacramento. I love pounding them.
S
Stone_Cold_Sisko
Guest
I've got the Pistons coming out of the East after a classic series with the Celtics.
I don't know wtf is gonna happen in the West. Seems like a crap shoot. It's easier to say who I don't think will win in the West:
Denver = overrated plus horrible defense
New Orleans = I think they will be surprised at how different the playoffs are than the regular season. need a little playoff rough and tumble roughness under their belt.
Dallas = got smaller in the Jason Kidd trade while everybody got bigger, Kidd isn't a good fit, plus I think he's overrated these days. A few years ago he was amazing. even last year and this year i have not been impressed with his play except during the olympics.
Houston = playing well, but the lack of a real inside presence hurts most in the playoffs
Basically, SAS, LAL, Utah, or Phoenix is gonna win the west imo - yeah really narrowed it down there.
I'll go with the Suns, producing a great point guard matchup between Billups and Nash.
I don't know wtf is gonna happen in the West. Seems like a crap shoot. It's easier to say who I don't think will win in the West:
Denver = overrated plus horrible defense
New Orleans = I think they will be surprised at how different the playoffs are than the regular season. need a little playoff rough and tumble roughness under their belt.
Dallas = got smaller in the Jason Kidd trade while everybody got bigger, Kidd isn't a good fit, plus I think he's overrated these days. A few years ago he was amazing. even last year and this year i have not been impressed with his play except during the olympics.
Houston = playing well, but the lack of a real inside presence hurts most in the playoffs
Basically, SAS, LAL, Utah, or Phoenix is gonna win the west imo - yeah really narrowed it down there.
I'll go with the Suns, producing a great point guard matchup between Billups and Nash.
East --> Celtic
West --> Lakers
It's back to 80s baby!
West --> Lakers
It's back to 80s baby!
Yay! Lakers won! Home court!!!!
What do Andrew and Pau know about winning championships? Drew is only in his third year and after 61/2 years in the league Pau just won his first playoff game today. The Lakers are going nowhere that Kobe doesn't push them. Andrew, Pau, and the rest of the team need to follow Kobe's lead and don't screw it up.
Fish is definitely a main ingredient and has been a steadying force this season, but unless he can transfer what you call "more behind the scenes" to the basketball court, the Lakers will go no further than Kobe takes them.
We need what Derek brings, but what we get from Kobe, we can't do without, and we can't get it from anyone else.
If Pao Gasol gets hurt, the Lakers are out.
I think you underestimate the importance of that player to the team, but that's your prerogative.
Shaq had Kobe, then Wade.
Jordan had Pippen.
Now, Kobe has Gasol.
Not to mention Fisher, Odom (who works really well with Gasol from what I've seen), and a bench that is deeper and better than in recent years.
And Kobe has, perhaps, finally learned to listen to voices other than his own. A mark of maturity.
I will never be a "fan" per se of Kobe's, but man has he ever grown up beautifully this season. He plays all facets of the game, gets his teammates involved and remains intensely competitive. The day the Lakers signed Gasol may well have been the most significant in his playing career since Shaq left. You just can't overestimate the importance of having such a significant option on offense like this.
If you thought I was saying that Kobe could do it by himself then you grossly misunderstood what I wrote.
Of course no one player can do it on his own, but every team needs a leader who can when the need arises, gather himself and push his team to heights they would not have been able to attain without that leader -- for the Lakers, its Kobe and no one else.
This is what I meant.
You haven't been paying attention the last 7-8 years if you think this is true.
