Why are Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol still in the game? lol

I just didn't like how the first ones were trying to create a rivalry that isn't there.

 

True. They play twice a year and have never met in the finals. Probably won't ever meet in the finals if it doesn't happen in the next two years. They don't play the same position. They are in different age brackets. If they were both around the same age it would be fine, but they're not.

I just didn't like how the first ones were trying to create a rivalry that isn't there.

 

On second thought, there is a rivalry that is there....right, Cats 3X?

Kobe has already been quoted as saying that winning the Gold medal and bringing respect back to USA in the international game was his greatest accomplishment. That quote was before he won a title without Shaq though (assuming the Lakers win this).

 

It's the politically correct thing to say. He would have been killed in the media if he had admitted it.

It's the politically correct thing to say. He would have been killed in the media if he had admitted it.

 

Might be politically correct, but if I was him, I would honestly feel that way. I am a very patriotic person though, but it would mean more to me if I was an NBA star to win a Olympic gold medal (especially after how much the USA had sucked in the recent previous years).

Might be politically correct, but if I was him, I would honestly feel that way. I am a very patriotic person though, but it would mean more to me if I was an NBA star to win a Olympic gold medal (especially after how much the USA had sucked in the recent previous years).

 

I am patriotic as well, but after the Shaq song, my life mission would be to finish with more championships than Shaq so I could make a remix.

I am patriotic as well, but after the Shaq song, my life mission would be to finish with more championships than Shaq so I could make a remix.

 

:ylsuper:

WOW 43-0 are the Lakers in series when winning game 1. That's impressive.

WOW 43-0 are the Lakers in series when winning game 1. That's impressive.

 

Not the Lakers...Phil Jackson's teams.

It's just one game though. If the Magic shoot well they could make it a series. The way this Laker team fails to show up sometimes I would hate to already pencil them in as the champs.

 

:thumb: Said this same thing to a buddy last night. IMO, LA has the ability to sweep the Magic, and do it in the same fashion as last night. But part of me says they'll go into cruise control, and Orlando will beat them. LA has to be careful, IMO.

:thumb: Said this same thing to a buddy last night. IMO, LA has the ability to sweep the Magic, and do it in the same fashion as last night. But part of me says they'll go into cruise control, and Orlando will beat them. LA has to be careful, IMO.

 

I can see LA going into cruise control one, maybe two, games in this series. But, not enough for Orlando to win 4 games unless they just shoot lights out.

 

Just like Orlando was a bad matchup for Cleveland, I think LA is a bad matchup for Orlando.

 

The two things that cause LA the most trouble, a quick PG who can abuse Fisher and a physical team, especially on defense, are not in Orlando's arsenal. If Nelson hadn't been injured, they probably could have gained bigger advantage at the PG position. As it is, I can't see Nelson being able to make a big enough difference to swing this in Orlando's favor.

 

The Lakers have a lot of length to throw at Howard, and they have guys who can defend Lewis and Hedo, and put pressure on them on the offensive end. This series, like the rest, is all about the Lakers. If they're focused and ready to play, Orlando can't beat them in a best-of-seven.

On second thought, there is a rivalry that is there....right, Cats 3X?

 

Just between the fans, Purple:lol:

 

It's a good thing though, if it weren't for Kobe/LeBron who would I have to have good NBA convo's/arguments with on here? The Kobe/LeBron debate has kept about a dozen or so of us posting on here like 20 times a day so it is a good thing.:thumb:

I can see LA going into cruise control one, maybe two, games in this series. But, not enough for Orlando to win 4 games unless they just shoot lights out.

 

Just like Orlando was a bad matchup for Cleveland, I think LA is a bad matchup for Orlando.

 

The two things that cause LA the most trouble, a quick PG who can abuse Fisher and a physical team, especially on defense, are not in Orlando's arsenal. If Nelson hadn't been injured, they probably could have gained bigger advantage at the PG position. As it is, I can't see Nelson being able to make a big enough difference to swing this in Orlando's favor.

 

The Lakers have a lot of length to throw at Howard, and they have guys who can defend Lewis and Hedo, and put pressure on them on the offensive end. This series, like the rest, is all about the Lakers. If they're focused and ready to play, Orlando can't beat them in a best-of-seven.

 

I'm interested in what the Magic can do versus the Lakers when they are shooting a little better. I'm not ready to count them out yet.

As for a quick PG, the Magic are better off not trying it. Nelson can be that, but he is out of rhythm with his teammates and hurts more than he helps. But the Magic can be physical inside when they have shooters making shots. Dwight Howard sort of plays defense on offense because he physically wears you down. He whips you in a wrestling match, and then he spins for the oop.

 

Also, Odom is a guy who must be attacked when Orlando has the ball. IMO, the Magic are in better shape when he is on the bench or in foul trouble. Odom is a guy that can match up with Lewis defensively and abuse him on the other end. Lewis needs to attack the rim more when he is guarding him rather than settle for the jumper. Problem is, Lewis is probably the worst finisher on the Magic around the basket, it's just not his game.

I'm interested in what the Magic can do versus the Lakers when they are shooting a little better. I'm not ready to count them out yet.

As for a quick PG, the Magic are better off not trying it. Nelson can be that, but he is out of rhythm with his teammates and hurts more than he helps. But the Magic can be physical inside when they have shooters making shots. Dwight Howard sort of plays defense on offense because he physically wears you down. He whips you in a wrestling match, and then he spins for the oop.

 

Also, Odom is a guy who must be attacked when Orlando has the ball. IMO, the Magic are in better shape when he is on the bench or in foul trouble. Odom is a guy that can match up with Lewis defensively and abuse him on the other end. Lewis needs to attack the rim more when he is guarding him rather than settle for the jumper. Problem is, Lewis is probably the worst finisher on the Magic around the basket, it's just not his game.

 

It's just not a good matchup for Orlando, IMO.

 

The Lakers have enough bigs...quality bigs...to always been in decent shape with Howard. They can push him on both ends.

 

Same goes with the forwards...Gasol on Lewis in the post is a huge advantage for LA. Lewis should be able to make some headway on the perimeter in that matchup, but not enough. And, as you say, finishing at the rim isn't his strongest ability. Ariza on Hedo is a solid matchup for LA as well. He can defend him as well as anyone, and his improved shooting forces teams to account for him. And, Odom's size and versatility allows LA to do any number of things without losing anything in the matchups, and perhaps even gaining a bigger advantage.

 

And, the backcourt isn't even a debate because Kobe is the best player on the court and the rest of the guards on both teams are just decent ballplayers. (Obviously Nelson is better when he's 100%.)

 

I don't expect to LA to win every game by 25...but I wouldn't be surprised to see them win at least a couple more of the games by double digits. The Lakers are likely going to win any game the Magic don't shoot well rather easily. I think they'll live with Howard operating one-on-one in the post to a great extent, because they don't think he can do enough to beat them. It's when those shooters get going that Orlando becomes a nightmare.

 

FWIW, I think LA may have matched up even better with Cleveland. I think the Cavs would have been very lucky to make it back to Cleveland for a sixth game in that hypothetical.

It's just not a good matchup for Orlando, IMO.

 

The Lakers have enough bigs...quality bigs...to always been in decent shape with Howard. They can push him on both ends.

 

Same goes with the forwards...Gasol on Lewis in the post is a huge advantage for LA. Lewis should be able to make some headway on the perimeter in that matchup, but not enough. And, as you say, finishing at the rim isn't his strongest ability. Ariza on Hedo is a solid matchup for LA as well. He can defend him as well as anyone, and his improved shooting forces teams to account for him. And, Odom's size and versatility allows LA to do any number of things without losing anything in the matchups, and perhaps even gaining a bigger advantage.

 

And, the backcourt isn't even a debate because Kobe is the best player on the court and the rest of the guards on both teams are just decent ballplayers. (Obviously Nelson is better when he's 100%.)

 

I don't expect to LA to win every game by 25...but I wouldn't be surprised to see them win at least a couple more of the games by double digits. The Lakers are likely going to win any game the Magic don't shoot well rather easily. I think they'll live with Howard operating one-on-one in the post to a great extent, because they don't think he can do enough to beat them. It's when those shooters get going that Orlando becomes a nightmare.

 

FWIW, I think LA may have matched up even better with Cleveland. I think the Cavs would have been very lucky to make it back to Cleveland for a sixth game in that hypothetical.

 

We'll never know. I think Kobe would have had a big series vs. West, but I think the Cavs bigs would have been able to bang with LA. Cavs bigs aren't good, but they don't care to be physical.