5Wide, the Lakers played hard at home for two games and lost one. It could be 2-0 either way, but you have to admit that Denver is just as good as LA.

5Wide, the Lakers played hard at home for two games and lost one. It could be 2-0 either way, but you have to admit that Denver is just as good as LA.

 

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I seem to have overestimated the Cavaliers as well...:idunno:

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I seem to have overestimated the Cavaliers as well...:idunno:

 

It may be more of understemating Denver and Orlando.

 

After LBJ the next 3 best players in that series belong to Orlando.

 

Melo is playing as well as Kobe right now and he is beginning to make the leap where it might be a big 4 instead of a big 3. He might not be there yet, but if they win this series and he continues putting up 30 a night it is a big 4. After that Billups is way more proven than Gasol. KMart and Nene are way more physical than you gave them credit. They're not nearly as big as Gasol and Bynum, but they are outworking them. These series could be classics.

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I seem to have overestimated the Cavaliers as well...:idunno:

 

It was one game. The Magic shot lights out. Only LBJ going off for 49 kept the Magic from steamrolling them, which would happen most nights when you shoot like 60% in the 2nd half and most of your shots are 3's. Now if a similar result happens tonight then people may have a point.

 

I just don't see where people think game 1 means so much. Everyone on the Magic was shooting lights out, and no one outside of LeBron for the Cavs consistently did anything. Big Z missed alot of shots he usually makes, same with DWest and Mo. While the Magic may win the series, game 1 was not the type of game we will see from the rest of the series.

 

Pietrus will not conistently be on fire.

Lewis will have good nights and bad nights.

Howard will have a good series against the slow, unathletic Illgauskus, but he won't be taking 20 shots a game and getting 30 points. That's just not how he plays.

LeBron isn't going to average 49 points for the series.

Big Z, Mo, and DWest probably won't shoot as poorly in most of the rest of the games.

 

Not saying the Magic won't win the series, or won't win tonight, but I don't think you can base anything off of Wednesday other than the fact that Lewis has a great matchup on Varajao. I think you may see a smaller line up at times tonight for the Cavs with Wally Z in the game and LBJ on Lewis or Hedu who ever has the hotter hand.

 

Also, just an adjustment I would make is more minutes for Big Ben. He is the most likely of the Cavs bigs to be able to stay with Lewis, even at his old age. Varajao doesn't need to guard a shooter because he is the Cavs best interior defender. I say forget about stopping Howard, he will get his, foul him and keep the ball off the rim. Stop the shooter, don't worry about penetration. Magic going to the hole and D Howard getting 25 ppg won't beat you. Wide open 3's will.

Melo is playing as well as Kobe right now and he is beginning to make the leap where it might be a big 4 instead of a big 3. He might not be there yet, but if they win this series and he continues putting up 30 a night it is a big 4.

 

That's a bit pre mature if you ask me. Melo has never won a playoff series until this year and it has just as much to do with Billups. Melo is playing lights out right now, just as good as Kobe, but he needs to do it for a longer period of time before you can put him in with Kobe, LBJ and D Wade.

That's a bit pre mature if you ask me. Melo has never won a playoff series until this year and it has just as much to do with Billups. Melo is playing lights out right now, just as good as Kobe, but he needs to do it for a longer period of time before you can put him in with Kobe, LBJ and D Wade.

 

I agree. I do think Melo is in the top 5 in talent in the NBA. I think it's a class of LeBron, Kobe, DWade, Chris Paul, and Melo as the 5 most talented players in the league. Howard will be there once his offense develops, and I think Deron Williams is on the verge of being there.

This series is already amazing. I don't really care for either team but I have watched every minute of both games

It may be more of understemating Denver and Orlando.

 

After LBJ the next 3 best players in that series belong to Orlando.

 

Melo is playing as well as Kobe right now and he is beginning to make the leap where it might be a big 4 instead of a big 3. He might not be there yet, but if they win this series and he continues putting up 30 a night it is a big 4. After that Billups is way more proven than Gasol. KMart and Nene are way more physical than you gave them credit. They're not nearly as big as Gasol and Bynum, but they are outworking them. These series could be classics.

 

 

Pau Gasol is playing better than I expected. They really don't seem to have an answer for him and they can't keep him off the boards either. Bynum didn't play much in the 2nd half, but when he gets the ball in the post he is getting good looks, he just needs o make his shots, and wake up on defense. If Lamar would make his shots, the Lakers are up 2-0, Lamar is getting good looks in the paint as well. I can't give the Denver bigs too much credit, Houston's bigs played the Lakers better than Denver's have so far. Birdman is getting scored on everytime a Laker big gets the ball down low. At least that's how it looks from my view.

It may be more of understemating Denver and Orlando.

 

After LBJ the next 3 best players in that series belong to Orlando.

 

Melo is playing as well as Kobe right now and he is beginning to make the leap where it might be a big 4 instead of a big 3. He might not be there yet, but if they win this series and he continues putting up 30 a night it is a big 4. After that Billups is way more proven than Gasol. KMart and Nene are way more physical than you gave them credit. They're not nearly as big as Gasol and Bynum, but they are outworking them. These series could be classics.

 

No. I overestimated Cleveland and LA. My biggest question about Orlando was them performing under pressure...I'm still not convinced they'll keep it up, but they've certainly turned in the right direction with their last two games.

 

The Lakers are doing fine inside. They've rebounded well against Denver. They need to play better defense, but I'm not sure they can. They aren't super athletic and they aren't that quick...that creates a lot of problems on the defensive end.

 

It's going to be a tough series for them. But, I still like their chances if they come to play every night, and I think they will.

Pau Gasol is playing better than I expected. They really don't seem to have an answer for him and they can't keep him off the boards either. Bynum didn't play much in the 2nd half, but when he gets the ball in the post he is getting good looks, he just needs o make his shots, and wake up on defense. If Lamar would make his shots, the Lakers are up 2-0, Lamar is getting good looks in the paint as well. I can't give the Denver bigs too much credit, Houston's bigs played the Lakers better than Denver's have so far. Birdman is getting scored on everytime a Laker big gets the ball down low. At least that's how it looks from my view.

 

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The Lakers are doing fine in the matchup of the bigs. They talked a lot about Denver's front line scoring a ton of points in Game 1, but 39 of those were 'Melo. He might be a forward, but he ain't a big.

 

I'd like to see Kobe attack the basket more, but he doesn't seem to be getting a lot of calls thus far in the series. The stripes have been far more kind to Billups when it comes to getting to the line when he drives to the basket. But, I haven't watched all 96 minutes, so I could be wrong there. Regardless, the officiating hasn't determined the outcome in either game...I wouldn't call it good. It's been inconsistent, but at least it hasn't cost anyone a game.

It was one game. The Magic shot lights out. Only LBJ going off for 49 kept the Magic from steamrolling them, which would happen most nights when you shoot like 60% in the 2nd half and most of your shots are 3's. Now if a similar result happens tonight then people may have a point.

 

I just don't see where people think game 1 means so much. Everyone on the Magic was shooting lights out, and no one outside of LeBron for the Cavs consistently did anything. Big Z missed alot of shots he usually makes, same with DWest and Mo. While the Magic may win the series, game 1 was not the type of game we will see from the rest of the series.

 

Pietrus will not conistently be on fire.

Lewis will have good nights and bad nights.

Howard will have a good series against the slow, unathletic Illgauskus, but he won't be taking 20 shots a game and getting 30 points. That's just not how he plays.

LeBron isn't going to average 49 points for the series.

Big Z, Mo, and DWest probably won't shoot as poorly in most of the rest of the games.

 

Not saying the Magic won't win the series, or won't win tonight, but I don't think you can base anything off of Wednesday other than the fact that Lewis has a great matchup on Varajao. I think you may see a smaller line up at times tonight for the Cavs with Wally Z in the game and LBJ on Lewis or Hedu who ever has the hotter hand.

 

Also, just an adjustment I would make is more minutes for Big Ben. He is the most likely of the Cavs bigs to be able to stay with Lewis, even at his old age. Varajao doesn't need to guard a shooter because he is the Cavs best interior defender. I say forget about stopping Howard, he will get his, foul him and keep the ball off the rim. Stop the shooter, don't worry about penetration. Magic going to the hole and D Howard getting 25 ppg won't beat you. Wide open 3's will.

 

After watching some of their first game, I'm not sure I like the matchups for Cleveland. They've been a great defensive team for sure this season, but they don't match well with Orlando.

 

The frontline matchup is a nightmare for Orlando...

 

Hedo, Lewis and Howard vs. Varajao, Big Z and Lebron

 

Lebron can lock down Hedo or Lewis, but after that, Cleveland is left with two terrible matchups. Varajao can't guard either guy and Big Z has no chance vs. Howard. Ilgauskus has to make his jump shots this series to draw Howard out of the paint so the Cavs can exploit that on the offensive end, otherwise he's going to be a huge, huge liability this series.

 

Again, I'll stick with Cleveland, but it's obviously going to be tougher than I expected. Honestly, I'm surprised more by this series than the Lakers/Nuggets.

Good game by Carmelo last night, he is emerging as one of the 4 best scorers in the NBA.l

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The Lakers are doing fine in the matchup of the bigs. They talked a lot about Denver's front line scoring a ton of points in Game 1, but 39 of those were 'Melo. He might be a forward, but he ain't a big.

 

I'd like to see Kobe attack the basket more, but he doesn't seem to be getting a lot of calls thus far in the series. The stripes have been far more kind to Billups when it comes to getting to the line when he drives to the basket. But, I haven't watched all 96 minutes, so I could be wrong there. Regardless, the officiating hasn't determined the outcome in either game...I wouldn't call it good. It's been inconsistent, but at least it hasn't cost anyone a game.

 

 

Billups got to the line a lot more than Kobe on drives to the basket, but Kobe shot 10 free throws so it balances out. I agree, the refs haven't been great, but they haven't determined a game yet. Phil Jackson let me down last night, not the refs.

I'd be shocked if they didn't. They have at least three guys who are pretty much covered...

 

 

Birdman has at least five more tatoos than any other team in the league

It's been inconsistent, but at least it hasn't cost anyone a game.

 

There should have been a violation on JR Smith on the jump ball and possibly a foul when Ariza fell down, they were certainly calling that on the other end. That would have put the Lakers down two with the ball or at the line. I wouldn't say that cost them the game, but it sure as heck had a big impact.