But the Lakers are having trouble with a team is missing their two best offensive players on the bench, so how are they playing a tough team? No Tracy MacGrady and no Yao. Not exactly a quality team. I don't see how everyone is saying the Cavs and Nuggets are playing no one, but weren't the Jazz injury depleted as well? The Lakers and Rockets are just as hurting as the Hawks, Spurs, Pistons or Mavericks.

 

The difference is that the Lakers don't like to play defense and they are soft and fold when someone physical hits them in the mouth.

 

 

 

Something Kobe might not do?

:sssh:

 

 

 

The Rockets have actually played without Yao and Tracy at some points throughout this season so yesterday was nothing new to them and they were still the 5th best team in the West. Unlike the Spurs and Pistons, who are not only injured but old, the Rockets are still somewhat the same team with or without their superstars. The Jazz were at full strength against the Lakers. Boozer had been back for a month and played very well during the Laker series. The Hawks just aren't that good of team whether they have their players or not. The Hawks aren't well coached either. Their talent can onlycarry them so far. The Hornets didn't have Tyson Chandler and Peja was still injured, but Peja did play but he was affected by the injury and played awful. The Mavericks are at full strength. Remember, the Mavs are the 7 seed. They shouldn't be expected to beat the Nuggets, let alone give them a good series.

 

The Lakers were the 3rd best defensive team in the NBA this year. I expect the Lakers to win the next 2 games.

 

 

Kobe has made that pass on multiple occasions, sometimes they make the shot sometimes they don't. I've seen him make that pass, and I've seen him shoot it as well.

The Rockets have actually played without Yao and Tracy at some points throughout this season so yesterday was nothing new to them and they were still the 5th best team in the West. Unlike the Spurs and Pistons, who are not only injured but old, the Rockets are still somewhat the same team with or without their superstars. The Jazz were at full strength against the Lakers. Boozer had been back for a month and played very well during the Laker series. The Hawks just aren't that good of team whether they have their players or not. The Hawks aren't well coached either. Their talent can onlycarry them so far. The Hornets didn't have Tyson Chandler and Peja was still injured, but Peja did play but he was affected by the injury and played awful. The Mavericks are at full strength. Remember, the Mavs are the 7 seed. They shouldn't be expected to beat the Nuggets, let alone give them a good series.

 

The Lakers were the 3rd best defensive team in the NBA this year. I expect the Lakers to win the next 2 games.

 

 

Kobe has made that pass on multiple occasions, sometimes they make the shot sometimes they don't. I've seen him make that pass, and I've seen him shoot it as well.

 

How come no one thought the Hawks were terrible last series? Just because the Cavs are demolishing them doesn't make them a bad team, though they are certainly not a great one.

 

They sure look like the 3rd best defensive team in the NBA. I will take the Cavs, Celtics (with or without Garnett), Rockets, and Nuggest over the Lakers defense.

How come no one thought the Hawks were terrible last series? Just because the Cavs are demolishing them doesn't make them a bad team, though they are certainly not a great one.

 

They sure look like the 3rd best defensive team in the NBA. I will take the Cavs, Celtics (with or without Garnett), Rockets, and Nuggest over the Lakers defense.

I heard many say that they were terrible last series. They won at home and would get handled on the road. Both the Hawks and the Heat are average teams at best.

The Rockets have actually played without Yao and Tracy at some points throughout this season so yesterday was nothing new to them and they were still the 5th best team in the West. Unlike the Spurs and Pistons, who are not only injured but old, the Rockets are still somewhat the same team with or without their superstars. The Jazz were at full strength against the Lakers. Boozer had been back for a month and played very well during the Laker series. The Hawks just aren't that good of team whether they have their players or not. The Hawks aren't well coached either. Their talent can onlycarry them so far. The Hornets didn't have Tyson Chandler and Peja was still injured, but Peja did play but he was affected by the injury and played awful. The Mavericks are at full strength. Remember, the Mavs are the 7 seed. They shouldn't be expected to beat the Nuggets, let alone give them a good series.

 

The Lakers were the 3rd best defensive team in the NBA this year. I expect the Lakers to win the next 2 games.

 

 

Kobe has made that pass on multiple occasions, sometimes they make the shot sometimes they don't. I've seen him make that pass, and I've seen him shoot it as well.

 

 

We'll agree to disagree, they were without Mehmet Okur, who provides them size inside as well as an ability to shoot outside, which takes the big guarding him to strecth the defense and get them out of their comfort zone. Also, if the Spurs had Ginobli I think they would have beaten the Mavericks, pushed the Nuggets to at least 6 and maybe even 7 and would have won that series. The Rockets may have played well this season without T-Mac and Yao, but they never played the way they did yesterday without them. They beat arguably the best team in the NBA and a favorite to win the whole thing by 12 points and were leading by 28 at the end of the third.

 

And I'm just not buying the Lakers being a solid defensive team like you say they are. Fisher is older and considerably slower, Kobe is one of the better defenders at the 2 in the league, but Odom is not strong enough to guard a back to the basket power forward like Boozer, Gasol has always been soft defensively and does not perform well against someone that likes to go down low and bang. Ariza and Bynum are still to young to have developed their defensive skill set. I will take the Rockets, Celtics, Cavs, Nuggets, Spurs at full strength, and Nuggets over them defensively.

I heard many say that they were terrible last series. They won at home and would get handled on the road. Both the Hawks and the Heat are average teams at best.

 

The Hawks and heat are both dreadfully young as well. You aren't going to win a seven game playoff series with on viable scoring option whether it's Kobe LeBron or Dwyane Wade. The Hawks are still maturing as a team and once they finally reach their peaks-Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams aren't there yet, Joe Johnson is in his right now-they will be a very very good team.

The Hawks and heat are both dreadfully young as well. You aren't going to win a seven game playoff series with on viable scoring option whether it's Kobe LeBron or Dwyane Wade. The Hawks are still maturing as a team and once they finally reach their peaks-Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams aren't there yet, Joe Johnson is in his right now-they will be a very very good team.

 

Agreed.

We'll agree to disagree, they were without Mehmet Okur, who provides them size inside as well as an ability to shoot outside, which takes the big guarding him to strecth the defense and get them out of their comfort zone. Also, if the Spurs had Ginobli I think they would have beaten the Mavericks, pushed the Nuggets to at least 6 and maybe even 7 and would have won that series. The Rockets may have played well this season without T-Mac and Yao, but they never played the way they did yesterday without them. They beat arguably the best team in the NBA and a favorite to win the whole thing by 12 points and were leading by 28 at the end of the third.

 

And I'm just not buying the Lakers being a solid defensive team like you say they are. Fisher is older and considerably slower, Kobe is one of the better defenders at the 2 in the league, but Odom is not strong enough to guard a back to the basket power forward like Boozer, Gasol has always been soft defensively and does not perform well against someone that likes to go down low and bang. Ariza and Bynum are still to young to have developed their defensive skill set. I will take the Rockets, Celtics, Cavs, Nuggets, Spurs at full strength, and Nuggets over them defensively.

 

 

I forgot about Okur.

 

If the Spurs had a healthy Ginobli and a healthy Duncan, then they would be the only team I would be afraid of the Lakers playing. I don't think any other teams in the NBA are as equipped as teh Spurs to defeat the Lakers. But then again we'll see what happens, that's why they play the games.

 

Yeah, I was looking at the wrong stats on the wrong page with all the wrong info. The Lakers aren't as good defensively as I thought. This page is a much better page to use.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/byteam?cat1=Total&cat2=opponent&conference=NBA&year=season_2008

Cleveland completes the sweep against Atlanta, winning their 8th straight postseason game, all of them by double digits. They now sit back and wait for whichever team is left standing between the Magic and Celtics.

Cleveland completes the sweep against Atlanta, winning their 8th straight postseason game, all of them by double digits. They now sit back and wait for whichever team is left standing between the Magic and Celtics.

 

Did you hear the Hawks fans chanting MVP to LeBron during the last minute of the game? I don't know if that was good sportsmanship or just pathetic.

I assumed it was just a contingent of Cleveland fans that had made the trip down.

I assumed it was just a contingent of Cleveland fans that had made the trip down.

 

Possible.

We'll agree to disagree, they were without Mehmet Okur, who provides them size inside as well as an ability to shoot outside, which takes the big guarding him to strecth the defense and get them out of their comfort zone. Also, if the Spurs had Ginobli I think they would have beaten the Mavericks, pushed the Nuggets to at least 6 and maybe even 7 and would have won that series. The Rockets may have played well this season without T-Mac and Yao, but they never played the way they did yesterday without them. They beat arguably the best team in the NBA and a favorite to win the whole thing by 12 points and were leading by 28 at the end of the third.

 

And I'm just not buying the Lakers being a solid defensive team like you say they are. Fisher is older and considerably slower, Kobe is one of the better defenders at the 2 in the league, but Odom is not strong enough to guard a back to the basket power forward like Boozer, Gasol has always been soft defensively and does not perform well against someone that likes to go down low and bang. Ariza and Bynum are still to young to have developed their defensive skill set. I will take the Rockets, Celtics, Cavs, Nuggets, Spurs at full strength, and Nuggets over them defensively.

 

 

Okur played in that last series.

I forgot about Okur.

 

If the Spurs had a healthy Ginobli and a healthy Duncan, then they would be the only team I would be afraid of the Lakers playing. I don't think any other teams in the NBA are as equipped as teh Spurs to defeat the Lakers. But then again we'll see what happens, that's why they play the games.

 

Yeah, I was looking at the wrong stats on the wrong page with all the wrong info. The Lakers aren't as good defensively as I thought. This page is a much better page to use.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/byteam?cat1=Total&cat2=opponent&conference=NBA&year=season_2008

 

I'm sorry man, I'm going to disagree with you. There isn't one other truly solid defensive player on the Lakers apart from Kobe. Look at what Garnett, Perkins and Powe did to Gasol and Odom last year-yeah I know that Bynum wasn't healthy, but he hasn't really played much since game one when Yao beat him up-the Lakers' bigs fold when they have to play post players that will go in and bang with you.

 

Okur played in that last series.

 

He played 30 minutes in the first game and 13 in the second and then went down for the rest of the series.

Okur is garbage anyway.

I'm sorry man, I'm going to disagree with you. There isn't one other truly solid defensive player on the Lakers apart from Kobe. Look at what Garnett, Perkins and Powe did to Gasol and Odom last year-yeah I know that Bynum wasn't healthy, but he hasn't really played much since game one when Yao beat him up-the Lakers' bigs fold when they have to play post players that will go in and bang with you.

 

 

Yeah, I know, I thought I said as much in my last post when I said the Lakers aren't as good defensively as I thought and then I posted a link to the page where I realized the error in my ways. They aren't that good defensively, you are right.