They're 4-3 on the road in the playoffs...they'll at least split the games played in Boston...

 

4-3, on the road going into what will be as tough of an environment as they have ever faced? Thats not very good rationale saying why they will slit. I really think talk of a sweep or a 5 game series is a bit of a pipe dream IMO.

 

This reminds me of Shaq and Kobe's last trip to the finals when everyone was giving the Pistons no credit. The funniest one to watch being dead wrong on his prediction was Stephen A. Smith.

They're 4-3 on the road in the playoffs...they'll at least split the games played in Boston...

Two of those wins were in Denver. They're 2-3 against REAL competition, and they only had to play two in San Antonio.

One of the big keys is can Garnett get Odom and Gauso (SP??) in foul trouble.

 

Also, will Kobe share the ball.

 

Boston does not have the one defender that can guard Kobe. They are going to have to doubleteam and on the center stage will he go to make his name some more or share the ball.

 

Will Kobe guard Pierce or Allen?

4-3, on the road going into what will be as tough of an environment as they have ever faced? Thats not very good rationale saying why they will slit. I really think talk of a sweep or a 5 game series is a bit of a pipe dream IMO.

 

This reminds me of Shaq and Kobe's last trip to the finals when everyone was giving the Pistons no credit. The funniest one to watch being dead wrong on his prediction was Stephen A. Smith.

 

Two of those wins were in Denver. They're 2-3 against REAL competition, and they only had to play two in San Antonio.

 

Spin it however you want, but I'll lay the facts out for you...

 

Denver won 50 games this year and was 33-8 at home. Utah won 54 games (37-4 at home). San Antonio won 56 games (34-7 at home).

 

That means the Lakers are 4-3 on the road in these playoffs against teams who had a combined home record of 104-19 (.846 winning percentage).

 

Boston was 35-6 at home...comparable to all the teams LA has played thus far.

 

Also, if you want to make a comment saying Denver isn't real competition, then I can just easily say that that Celtics didn't play any REAL competition until the conference finals...

 

And, finally, this may remind you of Shaq and Kobe's last trip to the finals now, but the result won't. Then again, maybe it will...I could see the Lakers pulling off the delayed sweep by losing game one and winning the next four...

 

It doesn't matter anyway. The basic premise of the thread is to pick a winner and how many games. I think the Lakers will win in 5. Should I apologize for that? I'm not mad at the people who think Boston is going to win. Should I be?

 

I'm very confident the Lakers will win this series...it doesn't matter to me if it takes them 4, 5, 6, or 7 games to do it.

One of the big keys is can Garnett get Odom and Gauso (SP??) in foul trouble.

 

Also, will Kobe share the ball.

 

Boston does not have the one defender that can guard Kobe. They are going to have to doubleteam and on the center stage will he go to make his name some more or share the ball.

 

Will Kobe guard Pierce or Allen?

 

Are you serious? Kobe will do what he has to do to give the Lakers their best chance to win...

Are you serious? Kobe will do what he has to do to give the Lakers their best chance to win...

 

I dunno, I could see what he's talking about.

 

 

Against other teams Kobe could be guarded, somewhat anyway. Now playing against Boston there is seemingly no one that can guard him, so why wouldn't he try to do it himself? Especially if they are down 2-0 or 3-1 maybe.

One of the big keys is can Garnett get Odom and Gauso (SP??) in foul trouble.

 

Also, will Kobe share the ball.

 

Boston does not have the one defender that can guard Kobe. They are going to have to doubleteam and on the center stage will he go to make his name some more or share the ball.

 

Will Kobe guard Pierce or Allen?

 

Kobe is 11th out of ALL the players that have played in the 2008 playoffs in Assists per game. He's not really to stingy...

It doesn't matter anyway. The basic premise of the thread is to pick a winner and how many games. I think the Lakers will win in 5. Should I apologize for that? I'm not mad at the people who think Boston is going to win. Should I be?

 

Who asked you to apologize? This is a forum, and this is a debate. I certainly didn't get mad at you. Should I assume simply because you disagree with me that you're mad?

 

FWIW, I picked L.A. in 6. Go ahead, check the poll results. So I agree with you on the result, just not the games. It wouldn't surprise me to see L.A. take 2 of 3 in Boston. I just don't think they're going to take all of their games at home. and I just don't think that 4-3 road record is all it's cracked up to be. I will give them full credit for beating two very, very good teams on the road, but many experts gave Denver zero chance, and the sweep was not shocking. Denver didn't have the defense to keep up with L.A. It's not about the record, it's about the matchups.

I dunno, I could see what he's talking about.

 

 

Against other teams Kobe could be guarded, somewhat anyway. Now playing against Boston there is seemingly no one that can guard him, so why wouldn't he try to do it himself? Especially if they are down 2-0 or 3-1 maybe.

 

Well, if he plays how he's been playing and their down 3-1, then maybe he should try to take over. I'll be surprised if that happens.

 

I think lbbc is thinking more in terms of how Kobe will play from the opening tip of the series. Kobe will get his teammates involved and pick his spots, just like he has throughout the playoffs. The only difference will be that he'll have an easier time taking over at the end (or when he has to), if the Celtics can't guard him.

 

I expect the Celtics to come up with a plan to try to contain Kobe with their great team defense, which is not so different from what other teams do. The difference now is that Kobe has teammates he can trust to make you pay.

^ Yeah, that's the difference with the Lakers this year, his teammates are a lot better and can actually hit the open shot, for the most part. It's easier to play and pick your shots when you have players that you can trust.

Who asked you to apologize? This is a forum, and this is a debate. I certainly didn't get mad at you. Should I assume simply because you disagree with me that you're mad?

 

FWIW, I picked L.A. in 6. Go ahead, check the poll results. So I agree with you on the result, just not the games. It wouldn't surprise me to see L.A. take 2 of 3 in Boston. I just don't think they're going to take all of their games at home. and I just don't think that 4-3 road record is all it's cracked up to be. I will give them full credit for beating two very, very good teams on the road, but many experts gave Denver zero chance, and the sweep was not shocking. Denver didn't have the defense to keep up with L.A. It's not about the record, it's about the matchups.

 

I don't think Boston matches up well with the Lakers. I don't agree with the implication that beating a team that was 33-8 on the road is a gimme.

 

But, like I said, it's not a big deal...just my opinion. I think the Lakers will win all their home games, so to me, whether they sweep or win in 5 depends on whether the Celtics win the first game.

 

Here is exactly what I think will happen...

 

I think Boston's best chance to win a game is Thursday. If they win that one, I expect LA to take the next four. If they don't, I expect a sweep.

I don't think Boston matches up well with the Lakers. I don't agree with the implication that beating a team that was 33-8 on the road is a gimme.

 

But, like I said, it's not a big deal...just my opinion. I think the Lakers will win all their home games, so to me, whether they sweep or win in 5 depends on whether the Celtics win the first game.

 

Here is exactly what I think will happen...

 

I think Boston's best chance to win a game is Thursday. If they win that one, I expect LA to take the next four. If they don't, I expect a sweep.[/QUOTE]

 

And I expect you to be really dissapointed.:sssh:

 

:lol: I don't know what will happen, but I can't see this series being less than 6 games.

Should be a better ratings finals.

Spin it however you want, but I'll lay the facts out for you...

 

Denver won 50 games this year and was 33-8 at home. Utah won 54 games (37-4 at home). San Antonio won 56 games (34-7 at home).

 

That means the Lakers are 4-3 on the road in these playoffs against teams who had a combined home record of 104-19 (.846 winning percentage).

 

Boston was 35-6 at home...comparable to all the teams LA has played thus far.

 

Also, if you want to make a comment saying Denver isn't real competition, then I can just easily say that that Celtics didn't play any REAL competition until the conference finals...

 

And, finally, this may remind you of Shaq and Kobe's last trip to the finals now, but the result won't. Then again, maybe it will...I could see the Lakers pulling off the delayed sweep by losing game one and winning the next four...

 

It doesn't matter anyway. The basic premise of the thread is to pick a winner and how many games. I think the Lakers will win in 5. Should I apologize for that? I'm not mad at the people who think Boston is going to win. Should I be?

 

I'm very confident the Lakers will win this series...it doesn't matter to me if it takes them 4, 5, 6, or 7 games to do it.

 

:thumb:

 

DF, you say the Lakers haven't done it against REAL competition... have you looked at Western Conference numbers compared to the Eastern?

T. Allen likely out for finals

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10851176

 

ALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tony Allen might not be back from an injury to guard Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the NBA Finals begin Thursday night.

 

"It doesn't look good," Rivers said after practice on Monday. "He couldn't get through even the walkthrough portion."