After watching Boston @ LA ...
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arwillan
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cleveland is in the same group as LA and Boston if you've followed basketball at all this year. not to mention that cleveland has had the toughest schedule of all 3 of them according to the Strength of Schedule stat. Orlando beat New Orleans by 20 points this afternoon, they are also pretty close to being with the other 3. San Antonio is as dangerous as anyone come playoff time. I don't know where you came up with the idea that nobody else has a chance, but that's ridiculous.
Andrew
flamboyantly righteous!
One thing I know from being a basketball fan is don't proclaim such a bold statement so early in the season. Any team has a shot to win and I truly mean that. Just because a team doesn't display dominance in the season with a stellar record, doesn't mean their chances are gone.
My opinion has nothing to do with record. I have been watching NBA for more than 16 years, for the least, I can tell a little bit something just by watching. From all the games I have watched this season, the Celtics and Lakers r playing playoff-winning basketball. That intensive, swarming, breath taking defence. The other teams r far behind.
arwillan
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what andrew said is completely right. i could care less how long you've watched the nba, you clearly haven't learned much. Defense? you seriously just rated the defense of the lakers over the cavaliers?
PPG Given up:
Lakers: 97.5
Celtics: 91.4
Cavaliers: 89.2
The cavaliers give up the least amount of points of any team in the league, while the lakers are 15th. 15th is hardly in the top half of the league. the cavaliers hold opponents to 42% shooting. the lakers give up 44% shooting. The cavs win by an average margin of 13, the lakers win by an average of 9. So you probably think the cavaliers have an easier schedule? Actually they have the 12th toughest schedule in the league, and the lakers have the 15th toughest (google strength of schedule stat and see for yourself).
So we can easily see the cavaliers are superior defensively to the lakers.
So now offense. The lakers score the most points in the league, the cavs score the 6th most. However, the lakers shoot 47% from the field and the cavs shoot 48%. So even though the lakers score more, the cavs score more efficiently and win games by more as shown by the point differential.
The cavs have a better winning percentage with a tougher schedule. How you somehow fathom that the lakers play breath-taking defense is beyond me. The cavs and celtics are the two most dominant teams in the league defensively, and defense wins championships.
Are you sure the other teams are "far behind"? i think you are in serious need of a reality check. maybe 16 more years of the nba will help.
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Andrew
flamboyantly righteous!
Whoa, did you just agree with me?
I have no intention to start a debate or something. U don't need to search the flaw of my words and make laugh of it. No matter how stupid u think I am, 16 years of watching, I know defence win championship.
The Lakers and the Celtics r really really good. The style they r playing usually win in playoff. Due to local broadcast schedule, I haven't watched many games the Cavs, maybe u know it better than me that they r also the same class.
But, I had just watched 1 game just few days ago, they host the Rockets. It was a very tired Houston team (the end of a long road trip), very cold T-Mac, and foul trouble held YAO to less than 30 minutes. The defence of that Cavs wasn't convincing in that particular game.
Well, maybe it's just for that game. Maybe U know more than me.
The Lakers and the Celtics r really really good. The style they r playing usually win in playoff. Due to local broadcast schedule, I haven't watched many games the Cavs, maybe u know it better than me that they r also the same class.
But, I had just watched 1 game just few days ago, they host the Rockets. It was a very tired Houston team (the end of a long road trip), very cold T-Mac, and foul trouble held YAO to less than 30 minutes. The defence of that Cavs wasn't convincing in that particular game.
Well, maybe it's just for that game. Maybe U know more than me.
Mr. Boldin
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The difference between the Lakers and the Cavs is that the Lakers have multiple guys in their rotation that can create their own shot (Gasol, Fisher, Kobe, Odom, even Farmar/Sasha).
While the Cavs play great defense, they clearly dont have the playmakers the Laker do. Does that make the Lakers a better team? Not exactly, but I think we can all agree they both are good defensive teams (the Cavs being clearly better).
My problem is that the Cavs rely on Mo and LeBron to create for their shooters. Most of the time they are able to, but I still havent bought into LeBron being able to carry that team on his shoulders (mainly due to their average talent).
The Cavs are playing a better schedule and have a better margin of victory, but in a 7 game series I dont see the Cavs beating the Lakers or the Celtics unless they shoot lights out from the perimeter.
While the Cavs play great defense, they clearly dont have the playmakers the Laker do. Does that make the Lakers a better team? Not exactly, but I think we can all agree they both are good defensive teams (the Cavs being clearly better).
My problem is that the Cavs rely on Mo and LeBron to create for their shooters. Most of the time they are able to, but I still havent bought into LeBron being able to carry that team on his shoulders (mainly due to their average talent).
The Cavs are playing a better schedule and have a better margin of victory, but in a 7 game series I dont see the Cavs beating the Lakers or the Celtics unless they shoot lights out from the perimeter.
After watching the game I think cleveland has a heck of a chance of knocking boston out. One reason: bench.
Boston's is horrific. Last year they had posey, brown, so guys like house/powe as the eight/ninth guys off the bench was fine.
But when house/powe/big baby are the first guys off your bench, you're in trouble. I seriously think their bench maybe worse than ours during any of the d'antoni era. In '06 eddie basically got shelved during the plyaoffs because of his ineffectiveness. And they don't really have any pieces that they can trade to bring someone back.
Oh yeah, this whole rajon rondo is an all-star idea is utterly ridiculous. He's a slightly above average player at best. He couldn't make an open jumper if he was alone in the gym.
Boston's is horrific. Last year they had posey, brown, so guys like house/powe as the eight/ninth guys off the bench was fine.
But when house/powe/big baby are the first guys off your bench, you're in trouble. I seriously think their bench maybe worse than ours during any of the d'antoni era. In '06 eddie basically got shelved during the plyaoffs because of his ineffectiveness. And they don't really have any pieces that they can trade to bring someone back.
Oh yeah, this whole rajon rondo is an all-star idea is utterly ridiculous. He's a slightly above average player at best. He couldn't make an open jumper if he was alone in the gym.
French Fries
Mangaworm
i know. this guy ain't an all-star. he's getting opportunities because he's got 3 other superstars who take defenders off of him. i do give him credit for taking advantage, but he's nothing but average...
S_Nash
Funky Fresh
You'd sing a different tune if he was coming off our bench.
arwillan
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i think we all learned last year that the lakers do not play championship style basketball. they didn't play enough D then, and haven't gotten much better. they weren't tough enough then, and haven't changed that either.houston was on a long road trip? LOL they just came off of a 2-game road trip against new jersey and minnesota. not exactly stiff competition, and a very short road trip. the cavs didn't play well, so what? they match up poorly to houston, had an off night, and still managed to pull out a win. that says something to me.
nowagimp
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Yup, the cavs play better defense than the lakers, they look very improved over last year. The lakers are more the offensive dominating team, though they can match up well with anyone with their big, deep front line. IMO the lakers have been a bit lazy on defense knowing their offense and great depth can bail them out. WIth gasol radman and vujacic, they will always have soft defenders in the rotation. Come playoff time, the matchups and team composure in the clutch will be big. I think the lakers, and celtics are farther along the path in that regard than the cavs, but we shall see.
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arwillan
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i agree with you somewhat. i think the cavs are still learning how to be a great team that is competing for the title, while the lakers and celtics know how that works already.
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I'm really interested to see what, if anything, Cleveland does with Wally's expiring contract. Do they use it to get some disgruntled 2nd banana to try to put them over the top? Someone like a Vince Carter or Michael Redd? Or will the consider those guys too risky and not fitting in with their defensive game plan? Carter's having a bit of a renaissance this season and I think if Cleveland got one more player who could create their own shot, they'd have the perfect blend of O and D to really beat (or kill) anyone else in the league.
It's just a matter of time before Bron is paired up with one more All-Star caliber player and he just starts reeling off titles.
Actually, the cavs have the 6th easiest schedule in the league.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking?season=2009&column=sos&order=false
I think the Cavs play better consistent defense, overall for a whole game..as do the Celtics. The Lakers play tenacious and intense spot defense for 3-5 minute stretches, sometimes entire quarters, then let up.
The Lakers are lucky....Orlando, Cleveland and Boston are going to thump on each other during the playoffs. That conference isn't deep, but the talent at the top is very strong.
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i wouldn't rule the Spurs out yet Donald. If those Big 3 are healthy I think they can still give the Lakers a run for their money... or at least their best run for their money out of anyone out West. You guys just straight OWN the Hornets and pretty much everyone else, but I think this Spurs team (as much as I hate them) has one last hurrah left inside of them and would have given you guys more problems last year if they weren't so beat up.
But everything on the way to the Conference Finals is a cakewalk for you guys.
True, the Spurs ALWAYS peak for the playoffs.
Arizona's Finest
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I got a hundred bucks says the Spurs are not in the WCF. Past performance doesn't always indicate a future trend. I know the Spurs have been there before so its easy to assume they will do it again. But they just don't have the horses around the big three anymore and Manu is not the samer player.
As bad as the West is looking now - there are 3 -4 teams I feel will wear them down over the course of the season and in to the playoffs. And Yes - i even throw the Suns in that discussion with HOU, NO, and Utah. At least one of those 3 teams will go on a hellacious run before the end of the season after sputtering this first MONTH AND A HALF. The caps is key.
As for the Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs? As has been mentioned...those teams are the creme'. Hopefully none of the three get a key injury or are peaking too soon because those are the best three teams in a awhile with go to guys galore. I am amazed at the Lakers depth and the Cavs and Celtics play NBA Champ defense. And thats before Lebron, Kobe, KG, Ray and the Truth.
But the Spurs are not in that class and my hundred says they won't make the WCF. Anyone want to take me up on that?
As bad as the West is looking now - there are 3 -4 teams I feel will wear them down over the course of the season and in to the playoffs. And Yes - i even throw the Suns in that discussion with HOU, NO, and Utah. At least one of those 3 teams will go on a hellacious run before the end of the season after sputtering this first MONTH AND A HALF. The caps is key.
As for the Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs? As has been mentioned...those teams are the creme'. Hopefully none of the three get a key injury or are peaking too soon because those are the best three teams in a awhile with go to guys galore. I am amazed at the Lakers depth and the Cavs and Celtics play NBA Champ defense. And thats before Lebron, Kobe, KG, Ray and the Truth.
But the Spurs are not in that class and my hundred says they won't make the WCF. Anyone want to take me up on that?
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Thing is the Spurs have been sputtering around for A MONTH AND A HALF and stilll have the 2nd best record in the West. They missed Manu for a month, Parker for three weeks and again, they're still the 2nd best team in the West. That's not past performance. That's here and now. Give them and their new role players time to really gel and they're only gonna get better. They're also not nearly as old as they have been. And NO and HOU might have a shot at them because of matchups, but we don't and neither does Utah.
Not for nuthin, but Pop is a hell of a coach. He preps that team to win late in the year and for the playoffs. They have veterans who have been there, done that. They don't make stupid desperation moves (looking at you, mark cuban) and almost always hit their stride as the season winds down. Pop knows how to win.
mark it down here...the Lakers will be tested severely by....PORTLAND. Not that Portland is any great shakes, but they play the Lakers tough, since like forever, and the Lakers kryptonite might be buried deep under the Rose Garden.
Pops is a tremendous coach. But you know as well as I do that he is phil jackson's bitch. '01 4-0, '02 4-1, '04 4-2 (coming back from 0-2), '08 4-1.
The one time pop won in '03 was when he had the FAR superior team and they still were an in and out horry 3 from the lakers winning that one. It's not just that they beat the spurs but the way they have done it.
If the spurs can avoid the lakers they have a chance, otherwise 0 chance. They got whupped last year and the lakers had no bynum (ginobili was hurting, so maybe a wash but still lakers had the 4-1 advantage).
