We beat LA if one of us can say "Hop On My Back"

[TitleMaster]

Right now, the Lakers are slowly reverting back to a Kobe... as primary playmaker and scorer extraordinaire... for the LAL.

The rest of the team is well... kinda chock full of role players w/ a aging but consistent Derek Fisher.

The Celts, however, have enough weapons to keep 'em busy all series long, however, like in Game 2 '08 finals, the Lakers were stunned by a Leon Powe who completely took 'em by surprise.

Today, we need at least one of the non-starting five to say.. "Hop On My Back" and that Maxwellian person I hope is 'Sheed (perhaps Daniels or BBD, if really lucky). What that'll do is allow Pierce to lock down on Kobe, all of the time, thus making him into another has-been swing man instead of the superman the league wants him to be. We've got enough coverage on Bynum, Gasol, and I'm not worried about Odom having the series of his life since he'd gotten his contract renewed last finals.

[vinnie]

You are probably right, but love him or hate him, and I know most of us hate him, Kobe is the best player in the NBA, night in and night out. He just scored the last 7 points in overtime including a shot at the buzzer to beat Milwaukee, 107-106. Of course, the Bucks gave the game away, as they were up 6 points with 1:30 left, but I guess that is life in the NBA.

[jdpapa3]

You are probably right, but love him or hate him, and I know most of us hate him, Kobe is the best player in the NBA, night in and night out. He just scored the last 7 points in overtime including a shot at the buzzer to beat Milwaukee, 107-106. Of course, the Bucks gave the game away, as they were up 6 points with 1:30 left, but I guess that is life in the NBA.

He missed a game winner before that and was gift wrapped an and 1 play before that. He should've cost LA the game with that charge.

[vinnie]

You are probably right, but love him or hate him, and I know most of us hate him, Kobe is the best player in the NBA, night in and night out. He just scored the last 7 points in overtime including a shot at the buzzer to beat Milwaukee, 107-106. Of course, the Bucks gave the game away, as they were up 6 points with 1:30 left, but I guess that is life in the NBA.

He missed a game winner before that and was gift wrapped an and 1 play before that. He should've cost LA the game with that charge.

Well, he hit the shot that mattered, and while I despise everything about him, he is the best player in the NBA and one of the 5-10 best to ever play the game.

[ManUp]

You are probably right, but love him or hate him, and I know most of us hate him, Kobe is the best player in the NBA, night in and night out. He just scored the last 7 points in overtime including a shot at the buzzer to beat Milwaukee, 107-106. Of course, the Bucks gave the game away, as they were up 6 points with 1:30 left, but I guess that is life in the NBA.

He missed a game winner before that and was gift wrapped an and 1 play before that. He should've cost LA the game with that charge.

Well, he hit the shot that mattered, and while I despise everything about him, he is the best player in the NBA and one of the 5-10 best to ever play the game.

I'd say he's 2nd best right now.

Lebron's is a more affective player at this point.

[Rondo_is_better]

We can beat LA no matter what, actually. We don't need a bench player to score 20 a game - we just need the bench to not give away leads that we've built. And they've been great at that so far. We can mop the floor with LA anytime anywhere.

[shiggins]

Lebron and Dwade are both better.  I bet if you put Melo on the Lakers instead they would be just fine as well...

[TitleMaster]

We don't need a bench player to score 20 a game - we just need the bench to not give away leads that we've built.

Yes, the bench's overall defense is critical, however, roughly two games of 18-20 Maxwellian ppg would certainly put the nail in the coffin. Right now, the Lakers have two X-factors, one is Kobe in the fourth quarter and two, Odom having a great series. Otherwise, we've got a nice containment of Bynum, Gasol, Ron Ron, and Fisher with our team defenses.

In a lengthy series, teams adapt and w/o one of our bench guys putting in an extraordinary performance (or two), we may run into that awful game where Ray Ray bricks everything and KG isn't able to put it in at ~12 ft. That's when it would be nice for 'Sheed to launch rainbow jumpers over Gasol and Bynum, while Perks or KG makes sure that none of the Lakers get any of those rebounds in transition. All and all, a devastating 5 or 6 game series against the Lakers.

[Bahku]

We can beat LA no matter what, actually. We don't need a bench player to score 20 a game - we just need the bench to not give away leads that we've built. And they've been great at that so far. We can mop the floor with LA anytime anywhere.

I agree ... the Lakers do not worry me much at all. Pierce has proven able to shut down Kobe on a consistent basis, and the only other real threat they have is Gasol, and the way KG and Sheed are playing right now, I'm not worried much about him, either. The teams that worry me are the Atlantas and the Chicagos ... the young teams who match-up in our weak areas. But when we are playing our best game, there is no one who can compete.

[LarBrd33]

Right now, the Lakers are slowly reverting back to a Kobe... as primary playmaker and scorer extraordinaire... for the LAL.

The rest of the team is well... kinda chock full of role players w/ a aging but consistent Derek Fisher.

The Celts, however, have enough weapons to keep 'em busy all series long, however, like in Game 2 '08 finals, the Lakers were stunned by a Leon Powe who completely took 'em by surprise.

Today, we need at least one of the non-starting five to say.. "Hop On My Back" and that Maxwellian person I hope is 'Sheed (perhaps Daniels or BBD, if really lucky). What that'll do is allow Pierce to lock down on Kobe, all of the time, thus making him into another has-been swing man instead of the superman the league wants him to be. We've got enough coverage on Bynum, Gasol, and I'm not worried about Odom having the series of his life since he'd gotten his contract renewed last finals.

Kinda disagree about the Lakers being role players.

Pau Gasol is statistically the 3rd best player in the league right now.  Lol.   17 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 57% shooting is pretty legit.

Bynum is in the top 20 ... averaging 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 57% shooting.

The Celtics don't have any players in the top 30 (statistically)... this is of course because we balance our numbers out.  But it's nutty to call the Lakers "Kobe and a bunch of role players".  That team is stacked.

If we match up with them player for player... maybe the only matchup we can exploit is Rondo vs Fisher, right?   Perk's got his hands full with Bynum.  KG has his hands full with Pau.   Artest has been known to shut down Pierce in the past.  And I can't see Ray stopping Kobe.

[Drucci]

If we match up with them player for player... maybe the only matchup we can exploit is Rondo vs Fisher, right?   Perk's got his hands full with Bynum.  KG has his hands full with Pau.   Artest has been known to shut down Pierce in the past.  And I can't see Ray stopping Kobe.

What? Pierce has had the edge over Artest during his whole career.

Kobe and Gasol are two excellent players and the Lakers' biggest threats. However, I think we have a clear advantage at the PG position where Rondo can abuse Fisher, and at the center position where Perkins can shut down Bynum and even outmatch him. Pierce has an edge over Artest too. Don't forget that, with the exception of Odom, the Lakers have no bench whatsoever while we have Sheed, House, Marquis and Baby.

It's not only about individual matchups but I like our defense and our teamwork much better than the Lakers. They are talented but we still have the edge in my opinion.

[Bahku]

If we match up with them player for player... maybe the only matchup we can exploit is Rondo vs Fisher, right?   Perk's got his hands full with Bynum.  KG has his hands full with Pau.   Artest has been known to shut down Pierce in the past.  And I can't see Ray stopping Kobe.

What? Pierce has had the edge over Artest during his whole career.

Kobe and Gasol are two excellent players and the Lakers' biggest threats. However, I think we have a clear advantage at the PG position where Rondo can abuse Fisher, and at the center position where Perkins can shut down Bynum and even outmatch him. Pierce has an edge over Artest too. Don't forget that, with the exception of Odom, the Lakers have no bench whatsoever while we have Sheed, House, Marquis and Baby.

It's not only about individual matchups but I like our defense and our teamwork much better than the Lakers. They are talented but we still have the edge in my opinion.

Absolutely, Drucci! (TP) Artest shutting Pierce down? Guess I was sleeping during those games ... Pierce has been so completely dominating of Artest that Ron has resorted to absurd, childish acts like pulling Pierce's shorts off! And Pierce in return drained a three over him immediately after. Does that sound like the tactics of somebody who's "shutting him down"? Sorry, but the only shutting down being done is Pierce on Kobe. Paul has been one of the few players who can close Kobe down on a consistent basis. Like I said, the Lakers don't worry me at all.

Here's an example of Artest's best attempt to shut Paul down ... from the horse's mouth, (or I should say, the other end):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD796H08J7w


Idiot.

[TitleMaster]

Pau Gasol is statistically the 3rd best player in the league right now.  Lol.   17 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 57% shooting is pretty legit.

Bynum is in the top 20 ... averaging 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 57% shooting.

Although I'll probably get flack for it, I see the co-stars of the Lakers as softer stats players vs ones that get the job done (ala Perks and KG). Realize, Kobe is generating the entire play with each possession, so those co-stars are in effect, riding off the *Kobe effect* whereas when Pierce and Ray Ray are on the bench, Perkins doesn't back off his man, same goes for KG, and they still get the job accomplished. Granted, a lot of this has to do with Rondo's ball handling and distribution but if you take Kobe out of the game, both Gasol and Bynum start to look like they have Odom-itis. On the other foot, when Ariza was around, the Lakers were tough at all times, even w/o their primary go-to guy on the floor.

[j_fran]

Pau Gasol is statistically the 3rd best player in the league right now.  Lol.   17 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 57% shooting is pretty legit.

Bynum is in the top 20 ... averaging 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 57% shooting.

Although I'll probably get flack for it, I see the co-stars of the Lakers as softer stats players vs ones that get the job done (ala Perks and KG). Realize, Kobe is generating the entire play with each possession, so those co-stars are in effect, riding off the *Kobe effect* whereas when Pierce and Ray Ray are on the bench, Perkins doesn't back off his man, same goes for KG, and they still get the job accomplished. Granted, a lot of this has to do with Rondo's ball handling and distribution but if you take Kobe out of the game, both Gasol and Bynum start to look like they have Odom-itis. On the other foot, when Ariza was around, the Lakers were tough at all times, even w/o their primary go-to guy on the floor.

You don't actually watch Laker games do you...

[Fafnir]

Lebron and Dwade are both better.  I bet if you put Melo on the Lakers instead they would be just fine as well...

Wade was better last year, but he hasn't been playing nearly as well this year.