Lakers-Hornets series proves Lakers won't make it to the Finals

[blake]

TP to the poster talking about CP3. 

The Lakers have one weakness, and that is at the PG position.  So if you have the best point guard in the league, you have a very good chance of competing with them. 
Their next round opponent won't have near the advantage with it being Kidd or Miller.

If Kobe's foot is OK, then he can guard CP3 for the rest of the series like he did with Rondo.  This has to do with the individual matchup rather than a microcosm of their chances at winning the West.

[Roy H.]

The thing is, this is pretty standard for the Lakers recently.  Last year they went to 6 games against the Thunder and Suns, in 2009 they went to 7 games against the Rockets and 6 against the Nuggets, in 2008 they had a six game series against the Jazz.

In all of those series, the Lakers looked weak and unfocused.  Unfortunately, they survived each time, and made the Finals all three years.

[Rondo9dunx]

only thing that was proven last night is that there will, in fact, be a game 6

[Donoghus]

Lakers are not a team I'd bet against.

Time & time again, they've stepped up when their backs have been against the wall.

(I feel dirty that I just complemented LAL  )

[Marcus13]

Wow.

Atlanta must've proven we weren't gonna make the Finals in 2008 then, too

[Redz]

Lakers are not a team I'd bet against.

Time & time again, they've stepped up when their backs have been against the wall.

(I feel dirty that I just complemented LAL  )

yeh, we'd all love to see them lose, but it's a huge mistake to underestimate their ability to pull it together when it counts.

[Fafnir]

The thing is, this is pretty standard for the Lakers recently.  Last year they went to 6 games against the Thunder and Suns, in 2009 they went to 7 games against the Rockets and 6 against the Nuggets, in 2008 they had a six game series against the Jazz.

In all of those series, the Lakers looked weak and unfocused.  Unfortunately, they survived each time, and made the Finals all three years.

They've won game 5 in every one of those series if I recall it correctly. If New Orleans wants to win this series they have to steal game 5.

I do think the Lakers look more vulnerable than in the past, simply because Kobe's decline has continued.

[zerophase]

...Well it's not like our road to 17 was so smooth. we went 7, 7, and 6 before getting to the finals.

[OsirusCeltics]

2 reasons for me

1. Chris Paul. Yes, I do believe he can single-handly take over this series (Ariza, Landry, Okafor, Jack aren't bad players either). But the Lakers can't stop him. And if Kobe decides to guard him, it takes a way from his offensive game. Which is a win-win for the Hornets

2. Their bench. I think their bench are not as good as the two previous years. Barnes, Blake, and Brown aren't giving anything for the Lakers. Which forces the starters to play heavy minutes and wears them out

[hpantazo]

they lakers have had some trouble in the 1st round the last 2 years, and we all know how those years turned out in the end, so unfortunately, I won't believe the lakers are out until I see it.

[Fred Roberts]

In terms of the bench, you gotta like the way Aaron Gray has been playing in limited minutes. His size helps NO a lot vs the LA bigs. Okafor is giving up too much size and has struggled a good deal.
I would like to see Gray get more minutes in game 5. Shooting 63% from the field this series. Nice.

[RAcker]

...Well it's not like our road to 17 was so smooth. we went 7, 7, and 6 before getting to the finals.

I was thinking the exact same thing.  We're getting a little ahead of ourselves with this thread here.

[European NBA fan]

TP to the poster talking about CP3. 

The Lakers have one weakness, and that is at the PG position.  So if you have the best point guard in the league, you have a very good chance of competing with them. 
Their next round opponent won't have near the advantage with it being Kidd or Miller.

If Kobe's foot is OK, then he can guard CP3 for the rest of the series like he did with Rondo.  This has to do with the individual matchup rather than a microcosm of their chances at winning the West.

The difference between having Kobe on CP3 and having him on Rondo last year is, that he can't sag off CP3 to play help on whoever Fish is guarding. And Fish will need help.

The biggest problem for the Lakers is keeping Kobe healthy. They don't have anyone to really take his place, and the triangle offense will be very different without a dominant scorer (a slightly better version of the Timberwolves).

Their other problem is that Odom seems to have played his best in the regular season, and hasn't saved much for the playoffs. Even with Bynum being a beast and Artest playing his best for a whole year, that is a huge setback.

On the original topic: I would still be very surprised if the Lakers don't make it to the Finals.

[Yogi]

   Chris Paul is amazing.  Kobe has about 5 times the will of Chris Paul.  The Lakers have 5 times the talent of the Hornets.  Love how the Hornets are playing.  If any lower seed wishes to upset a higher seed, they should play like the Hornets are playing under Monty Williams.  Unfortunately, they are playing the reigning 2 time champs with one of the best players and the most "winning" coach in history. 
   Lakers have seriously underestimated the Hornets.  If this was a best of 5 then the Hornets have a fighting chance.  But the Lakers are not going to lose twice in the next three games.  That being said, I'll be rooting for the Hornets every game. 

[xmuscularghandix]

I disagree.  The Lakers went to 7 against the Thunder last year. 

It was actually a 6 game series

ESPN has convinced everyone that The Thunder almost won that series...