Lakers HCA throughout West once again

[GreenEnvy]

I honestly don't think it is a given they are getting past the Hornets. I'd expect them to, but IF they lose Game 5, I really think they are losing the series.

But, if they advance, it would have been nice to see them face a team with precisely what they are missing - heart. Portland always plays them well in Portland, but Dallas took a huge game tonight.

I thought Dallas would be a very tough challenge for LA and me still be because of their size at C(Chandler, Haywood) and quickness at the guards(Terry, Barea).

And if they advance past them, you know the Thunder will be waiting with bells on. After how well they played them last year, there's no doubt the Thunder got better and a strong case can be made that the Lakers are worse.

I wouldn't be so quick to put them in the Finals.

[j804]

I honestly don't think it is a given they are getting past the Hornets. I'd expect them to, but IF they lose Game 5, I really think they are losing the series.

But, if they advance, it would have been nice to see them face a team with precisely what they are missing - heart. Portland always plays them well in Portland, but Dallas took a huge game tonight.

I thought Dallas would be a very tough challenge for LA and me still be because of their size at C(Chandler, Haywood) and quickness at the guards(Terry, Barea).

And if they advance past them, you know the Thunder will be waiting with bells on. After how well they played them last year, there's no doubt the Thunder got better and a strong case can be made that the Lakers are worse.

I wouldn't be so quick to put them in the Finals.

The refs are going to give LA all the calls most likely, but if anybody is to go out there and get it cp3 could be the one to will NO and force a game 7

If that happens you just never know Paul is a competitive fierce lil fella he can take over games on top of that Kobe hobbled

[manbehindtheman]

I honestly don't think it is a given they are getting past the Hornets. I'd expect them to, but IF they lose Game 5, I really think they are losing the series.

But, if they advance, it would have been nice to see them face a team with precisely what they are missing - heart. Portland always plays them well in Portland, but Dallas took a huge game tonight.

I thought Dallas would be a very tough challenge for LA and me still be because of their size at C(Chandler, Haywood) and quickness at the guards(Terry, Barea).

And if they advance past them, you know the Thunder will be waiting with bells on. After how well they played them last year, there's no doubt the Thunder got better and a strong case can be made that the Lakers are worse.

I wouldn't be so quick to put them in the Finals.

i agree with most of what you have to say...except i don't think dallas is capable of taking out the lakers...dallas always chokes and for whatever reason their bigs don't match up well, although on paper it seems they should.

[aporel#18]

Chris Paul isn't still 100%, so if the Hornets knocked out the Lakers he should be MVP for the years, and they should establish other awards.

Dallas is a very good team, although they have mental lapses. If the Lakers advance, they'll probably meet Dallas, and it won't be easy.

And finallly, they'll probably would have to face OKC or Memphis. Memphis is playing great, I wouldn't count them out.

I still think the Lakers are the favorites, but they won't have a cakewalk as usual, this year they'll have to earn their spot in the Finals.

[Adelaide Celt]

Worst thing to happen now would be for Kobe to take a few days off to get his ankle right. LA would likely still advance and he'd be rested for the remainder of the Playoffs.

[PosImpos]

Here's hoping the Mavs can finish off the Blazers at the Rose Garden and then find a way to deal with the Lakers.  I don't see it happening, though.  I think the Thunder are our only hope.

[j804]

Here's hoping the Mavs can finish off the Blazers at the Rose Garden and then find a way to deal with the Lakers.  I don't see it happening, though.  I think the Thunder are our only hope.

Yea and that's how itd probably unfold, Chandler and Haywood will get killed by Bynum and Gasol

LA seems to always punk the Mavs

[action781]

Here's hoping the Mavs can finish off the Blazers at the Rose Garden and then find a way to deal with the Lakers.  I don't see it happening, though.  I think the Thunder are our only hope.

Yea and that's how itd probably unfold, Chandler and Haywood will get killed by Bynum and Gasol

LA seems to always punk the Mavs

They only played eachother 3 times this year:  Mavs by 9, Lakers by 5, Lakers by 28.  I wouldn't say that Lakers always seem to punk them.  I think they are a different team with Chandler and Chandler is a player who I've never seen get killed by an offensive player.  He is an absolute terrific defensive presence at C - one of the clear top 5 in the league IMO.  Dirk also averaged a solid 22 and 10 in those 3 games.

One thing I remember clearly from one of their matchups this year was Pau having a stretch where he owned Dirk.  That's scary for the Mavs if your best player is getting owned by the opponent's second best player.  But I think Dallas is deep, talented, and balanced enough to be a threat against any team in the NBA.

[action781]

Look at that... Charles Barkley actually predicted a series outcome correctly...

'09 he predicted Magic would beat the Cavs in the EFC. That's the only other one I remember

Chuckster loves teams with more size.  I so clearly remember back in '07 him repeating over and over how Dallas needed to make GS pay and "pound those midgets down low".

[Celticsfan336]

Thunder are a much tougher matchup for them than the Spurs though so that's a plus.

Agreed -- pulling for that series to happen. It'd be a great battle.

Can't wait for that series, its almost inevitable. I think the Thunder would pull it off because Westbrook is 10X the player he was last year and that would be the Xfactor, plus they got Perk and Ibaka will challenge Gasol, plus Lakers are struggling while OKC is on fire.

[Redz]

anyone else not counting the Spurs out of round 1 yet?

[birdwatcher]

anyone else not counting the Spurs out of round 1 yet?

Don't know if this is true, but I heard yesterday that the Spurs have never come back from being down 3 games. The way they played last game, I'd say they're golfing this weekend.

[Celticsfan336]

anyone else not counting the Spurs out of round 1 yet?

Me, i think Memphis will not let this slip.....but even if the Spurs do win there in 0% chance they beat the thunder

[JoT]

anyone else not counting the Spurs out of round 1 yet?

I wish I could feel the same way because I have a softspot for that team and Tim Duncan for some odd reason, but Memphis looks like they're on a roll and may just finish them off. I'm rooting for both because of Tony and Leon, but I've been a Tim fan for too long to just let it go. I can see it if the Spurs try really hard and Manu is playing well, but Memphis has been playing extremely well.

[Redz]

anyone else not counting the Spurs out of round 1 yet?

Me, i think Memphis will not let this slip.....but even if the Spurs do win there in 0% chance they beat the thunder

Agree with that, I just wouldn't be shocked to see them pull themselves together to get out of round 1.