Probably safe to assume first one to 100 wins. My point is Denver isn't exactly known for defense. If it's a track meet and the Lakers relax on D I think its advantage Denver.

 

The Lakers defense is much better and more active when they get into an up-tempo game. Denver might win a game going toe-to-toe with LA in a high octane game, but they won't win the series that way.

I think it is the other way around. Hold the Lakers under 100 and you beat them.

 

Get the Lakers in a slower game, you keep their energy level down, they'll be a little off on offense and, most importantly, their defense will be bad.

 

If you let them get out and run, the energy level rises, and that's when their defense becomes really good. This Lakers team can play great defense when they choose to, but it seems to be totally contingent upon them coming out motivated and getting their offense clicking.

 

That's why it's a poor choice to run with them.

Get the Lakers in a slower game, you keep their energy level down, they'll be a little off on offense and, most importantly, their defense will be bad.

 

If you let them get out and run, the energy level rises, and that's when their defense becomes really good. This Lakers team can play great defense when they choose to, but it seems to be totally contingent upon them coming out motivated and getting their offense clicking.

 

That's why it's a poor choice to run with them.[/QUOTE]

 

^^^

 

All of that and the fact that they have two big men that run the floor like guards. Odom and Gasol are both great open court players.

Nuggets in 7.

Nuggets in 7.

 

If the Nuggets win, it will be in six.

 

They're not winning a game 7 in the Staples Center. I'll guarantee that.

Get the Lakers in a slower game, you keep their energy level down, they'll be a little off on offense and, most importantly, their defense will be bad.

 

If you let them get out and run, the energy level rises, and that's when their defense becomes really good. This Lakers team can play great defense when they choose to, but it seems to be totally contingent upon them coming out motivated and getting their offense clicking.

 

That's why it's a poor choice to run with them.[/QUOTE]

 

^^^

 

All of that and the fact that they have two big men that run the floor like guards. Odom and Gasol are both great open court players.

 

 

Denver doesn't have slow big guys. Denver loves to run. I doubt they slow it down.

The Lakers defense is much better and more active when they get into an up-tempo game. Denver might win a game going toe-to-toe with LA in a high octane game, but they won't win the series that way.

 

As you said they may only have to win one game. The problem I see is Denver is going to come to play hard every game. The Lakers got away w/ coasting in the Houston series. Denver is too good to just play hard 4 games and expect to win the series.

I don't think the Lakers will be doing any sleep walking this series.

As you said they may only have to win one game. The problem I see is Denver is going to come to play hard every game. The Lakers got away w/ coasting in the Houston series. Denver is too good to just play hard 4 games and expect to win the series.

 

That's only if LA tanks it three times like they did against Houston. That's the point...this series, just like the last one, is all about the Lakers. If they bring the intensity level all series, they won't lose.

The Lakers won 65 games this season. Don't let the Houston series fool you, this team is very good.

 

I'm not, I picked the Nuggets since the beginning of the playoffs.

 

Also, if you are going to pick the Nuggets in five that is pretty crazy. That means they will have to win two out of the first three times they play in LA and both at home, I just don't see it.

 

Well, I think they will, they are playing a lot better than the Lakers right now.

 

:laugh:

 

What is funny about what I said? The Celtics played a very young and athletic Hawks team in the first round last season and their athleticism caught an older Celtics team off guard. And the Cavaliers were also healthy, might I add, and that series was taken to a seventh game because Paul Pierce and LeBron James played to a draw the entire series.

 

The Lakers played 2 teams that were not at full-strength this postseason and one was decimated and they were still taken to a seventh game. There's a big difference between the 2 teams-after Kobe Bryant there is not a player that is going to for sure step up and score. The Celtics had 3 players that were going to step up if one did not.

 

The Lakers of 2009 and the Celtics of 2008 are not comparable. Andrew Bynum does not make that much of a difference.

Denver doesn't have slow big guys. Denver loves to run. I doubt they slow it down.

 

Which is why this is a much better matchup for LA...the Lakers are the best offensive and best up-tempo team in the league. In an up-and-down game, they have the advantage against anyone they play. Denver's big guys won't bother LA as much as Houston's did.

Which is why this is a much better matchup for LA...the Lakers are the best offensive and best up-tempo team in the league. In an up-and-down game, they have the advantage against anyone they play. Denver's big guys won't bother LA as much as Houston's did.

 

The Lakers were the best team all year, but they don't look like it right now. Who takes 3 games off in the Western Conference semis? Championship teams don't take games off. Denver has looked better than them for the last 2 months. We'll see. I find it hard to believe that the Lakers are that much better right now. I predict Lakers in 7, but wouldn't at all be surprised if Denver wins in 6. To say it's all about the Lakers takes too much credit away from Denver who finished 2nd in the West and has played the best so far in the playoffs in the west.

I like this series for several reasons as a Lakers fan...

 

1. They're in the Western Conference Finals against a team many are picking to beat them. I don't expect the apathy we saw vs. Houston in this series.

 

2. Denver likes to play up tempo. That's good for LA.

 

3. I don't see the bad matchups that Houston presented with a lightning quick PG shooting lights out and a bunch of rugged, physical bangers in the paint from Denver. It's got nothing to do with who is better. It's all about the matchups and styles. Denver's isn't suited to exploit/expose LA's biggest weaknesses.

 

Sure, Billups is better than Aaron Brooks, but the Lakers are better suited to go against him. Carmelo is a great player and he's going to score, but I feel fine with how the Lakers will match up with him. And, I'm not as high on Denver's bigs as apparently everyone else is. They're good and athletic, but they don't beat and bang you like Houston, or even Utah, does. I don't see this one as a problem for the Lakers.

 

I think the Lakers match up good with the depth as well.

 

It takes a tough, physical, defensive team to beat LA, IMO. That's not the Denver Nuggets. I don't know where this myth came from that they're a strong defensive team, but I don't see it. The Mavericks averaged almost 107 ppg in the last series.

 

For the season, Denver allowed almost 101 ppg. They allowed over 1.5 ppg more than LA who isn't exactly known for its defense. The Lakers are a pretty good defensive team when they want to show it. At worst, they're equal with the Nuggets in that regard.

 

As for the bigs...again, not sure where this idea suddenly sprang up that Gasol and company would be overmatched by K-Mart, et al...again, I don't see it.

 

Bynum averaged 8 boards, Odom 8.2 and Gasol 9.6...Denver's leading rebounder was Nene at 7.6.

 

If Billups can control the tempo and Denver can run selectively without letting the game get into an up-and-down affair, their chances are far better.

The Lakers were the best team all year, but they don't look like it right now. Who takes 3 games off in the Western Conference semis? Championship teams don't take games off. Denver has looked better than them for the last 2 months. We'll see. I find it hard to believe that the Lakers are that much better right now. I predict Lakers in 7, but wouldn't at all be surprised if Denver wins in 6. To say it's all about the Lakers takes too much credit away from Denver who finished 2nd in the West and has played the best so far in the playoffs in the west.

 

Exactly. They took three games off and still won the series...they won the other four games by an average of 106.5 to 85. Denver has looked better only because the Lakers have seemed disinterested at times...they haven't looked better in the games LA chose to crank the intensity up.

 

It is all about LA. If they choose to play from the opening tip of the series until it is finished, Denver simply isn't good enough to beat them. But, if they fail to show up half the time, it will be Denver's series to lose. Everyone expects the Nuggets to continue to bring it and play hard every game this series...not everyone is sure what to expect from LA. And, that's why many people are on the Nuggets bandwagon. It has far less to do with Denver than it does LA.

FWIW, here's a head-to-head comparison of the big men on each team...

 

vs. Denver - LA's big trio of Gasol, Odom and Bynum averaged 39.8 ppg and 30.6 rpg.

 

vs. LA - Denver's big trio of K-Mart, Nene and Bird Man averaged 28.8 ppg and 20.1 rpg.

 

 

Additionally, Billups averaged 18 points and 7.7 assists in 3 games against the Lakers.

 

Kobe averaged 31 points vs. Denver this year.

 

Take that for what it's worth and make of it what you wish...