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.

 

But LA and Cleveland are really good. So are Orlando and Denver. Denver is very good and you understimated them. I would rather give them credit than take away credit from LA

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.

 

Z did a nice job on Howard last night. Howard cannot consistently kill you offensively. His game just isn't developed enough. He had more rebounds than Z, but it was pretty much a stalemate. Wallace and Joe Smith played well before they got into foul trouble as well.

 

The Lewis matchup kills them, I think we will see more of the Cavs playing small with Pavlovic. He really cannot guard Lewis or Hedu, but he is quick enough to atleast put a hand up.

 

I really don't understand why they don't put LBJ on Turkuglu for the entire game, he can really take him out of his game. I see now why he's guarding Alston, which is so he can switch to Lewis/Hedu on pick and rolls, but they don't run that at James anyway.

 

Cavs have to finish the Magic when they have the chance. They built up that lead and went away from what was working. I feel that in both games the Cavs have stopped themselves as much as the Magic have. They get a lead and then start to stand around the 3 point line before shooting a 3 at the end of the shot clock. That's not how you increase a lead.

Z did a nice job on Howard last night. Howard cannot consistently kill you offensively. His game just isn't developed enough. He had more rebounds than Z, but it was pretty much a stalemate. Wallace and Joe Smith played well before they got into foul trouble as well.

 

The Lewis matchup kills them, I think we will see more of the Cavs playing small with Pavlovic. He really cannot guard Lewis or Hedu, but he is quick enough to atleast put a hand up.

 

I really don't understand why they don't put LBJ on Turkuglu for the entire game, he can really take him out of his game. I see now why he's guarding Alston, which is so he can switch to Lewis/Hedu on pick and rolls, but they don't run that at James anyway.

 

Cavs have to finish the Magic when they have the chance. They built up that lead and went away from what was working. I feel that in both games the Cavs have stopped themselves as much as the Magic have. They get a lead and then start to stand around the 3 point line before shooting a 3 at the end of the shot clock. That's not how you increase a lead.

LeBron needs to be on Hedu or Lewis and shut one of them down.

LeBron needs to be on Hedu or Lewis and shut one of them down.

 

They are going to pick and roll DWest to death either way. I could see them playing Pavlovic more over West, because of the size.

But LA and Cleveland are really good. So are Orlando and Denver. Denver is very good and you understimated them. I would rather give them credit than take away credit from LA

 

To each their own...

Z did a nice job on Howard last night. Howard cannot consistently kill you offensively. His game just isn't developed enough. He had more rebounds than Z, but it was pretty much a stalemate. Wallace and Joe Smith played well before they got into foul trouble as well.

 

The Lewis matchup kills them, I think we will see more of the Cavs playing small with Pavlovic. He really cannot guard Lewis or Hedu, but he is quick enough to atleast put a hand up.

 

I really don't understand why they don't put LBJ on Turkuglu for the entire game, he can really take him out of his game. I see now why he's guarding Alston, which is so he can switch to Lewis/Hedu on pick and rolls, but they don't run that at James anyway.

 

Cavs have to finish the Magic when they have the chance. They built up that lead and went away from what was working. I feel that in both games the Cavs have stopped themselves as much as the Magic have. They get a lead and then start to stand around the 3 point line before shooting a 3 at the end of the shot clock. That's not how you increase a lead.

 

Their guards have to be better than they've been so far. Especially Mo Williams...Orlando's backcourt is its "weakness". Mo has to play better to off-set what they lose with Hedo or Lewis (whoever LJ isn't guarding).

Their guards have to be better than they've been so far. Especially Mo Williams...Orlando's backcourt is its "weakness". Mo has to play better to off-set what they lose with Hedo or Lewis (whoever LJ isn't guarding).

 

Mo will be Mo. He was good last night. Delonte West has to play better. He has been terrible.

Mo was not good last night. He hit 2 big shoots but other than that he wasn't very good.

Mo was not good last night. He hit 2 big shoots but other than that he wasn't very good.

 

:thumb:

 

I certainly hope he's got a better game in him than that. They need him to play the first 46 minutes, in addition to the last two.

 

He was 7-21 last night, 1-6 from long range, for 19 points. Almost identical to his first game, and I don't recall many people saying he played good in the first one...6-19 (2-8 from long range) for 19 points.

 

13-34 FG (38.2%)

3-14 3Pt (21.4%)

 

If Mo is being Mo, Cleveland is about to get steamrolled by Orlando, because Lebron isn't going to shoot over 60% the entire series.

 

32-53 FG (60.4%)

4-9 3Pt (44.4%)

16-22 FT (72.7%)

 

42 ppg

 

That's insane.

As a Lakers fan, I must ask myself this question.

 

Why is Derek Fisher continuing to play the minutes he is? Farmar or Brown, at least one of them, plays better every night. Fisher is struggling defensively and he can't knock down shots.

 

I'm also wondering what the Lakers need to do with Lamar Odom. He's a versatile player and a nice piece to have, but he also disappears at times. They really need him in this series vs. Denver and here we are half way through game three and he has yet to show up.

 

But, I'll wait and see how things play out before addressing personnel.

The Lakers are lucky to be in this game, IMO. In that regard, I feel pretty good. The problem is, we're half way through the third game and still nobody other than Kobe, Gasol and Ariza have showed up to play in this series.

 

Fisher looks like he's done. Odom is MIA. Bynum...I don't know what to say about Andrew Bynum. Denver just presents terrible matchups for Luke Walton. Vujajic is in a slump. Farmar and Brown haven't been that bad, but they can't much when they're watching the Derek Fisher Experiment.

 

It's really frustrating to see a guy like Lamar Odom play like a 12th man.

I agree wholeheartedly 5Wide.

 

It seems like for 5- 2 minute intervals every game we see a great Lamar and then like you said, he disappears. 10 minutes of great Lamar isn't cutting it. Why Luke Walton is on an NBA team let alone guarding Carmelo is beyond me. They said Bynum is complaining that Phil doesn't let him play enough, but he would foul out in the 2nd quarter if Phil didn't take him out. Farmar has played great when on the court, Brown has been good and Vujajic will hopefully snap out of it at some point.

 

Their transition defense is the difference in this game so far.....

 

 

I have yet to see them play great basketball, which in a weird way, is encouraging because they will play better at some point.....right??????

I feel like a Kobe explosion is going to take place in the 2nd half. I hope I am right.

Fisher is giving LA nothing. Losing Ariza will hurt and Dontae Jones is a punk. He has pushed Kobe in the back twice on layup attempts.

I agree wholeheartedly 5Wide.

 

It seems like for 5- 2 minute intervals every game we see a great Lamar and then like you said, he disappears. 10 minutes of great Lamar isn't cutting it. Why Luke Walton is on an NBA team let alone guarding Carmelo is beyond me. They said Bynum is complaining that Phil doesn't let him play enough, but he would foul out in the 2nd quarter if Phil didn't take him out. Farmar has played great when on the court, Brown has been good and Vujajic will hopefully snap out of it at some point.

 

Their transition defense is the difference in this game so far.....

 

 

I have yet to see them play great basketball, which in a weird way, is encouraging because they will play better at some point.....right??????

 

I wouldn't count on it at this point.

 

Although, I'll be honest. I really like the matchups vs. either Cleveland or Orlando much better than this Denver series.

 

If, and it's a big IF at this point, LA makes it, I think we could see a repeat of last year when the C's struggled in a couple of series before trashing LA in the finals. I wouldn't be surprised if LA did that. But, if they keep it up, I'm going to be suprised to see them there. :cry: