Can the Suns overtake the Lakers as the Pacific Division leaders?

[D-Dogg]

congratulations are definitely owed to the lakers after this year. who would have guessed that after an off-season where their best player openly campaigned for a trade they would be sitting atop the pacific division and in 2nd in the west with a week left in the season? i know i wouldn't have. i am no lakers fan, but they deserve some praise for this year. well done.

Yeah, a ridiculous roller coaster of a season for Laker fans. And I have a feeling there are a lot of twists and turns left.

 

[az1965]

I remember before the season on Yahoo! sports, when Kenny Smith was asked if anyone had a shot of taking over Pacific from Suns and he just laughed. The Lakers were playing much better than last 2-3 years even before Gasol trade, but that trade just completely changed everything for them.

Yeah, congratulations Lakers fan for winning Pacific. I hope we advance in the playoffs though .

 

[elindholm]

who would have guessed that after an off-season where their best player openly campaigned for a trade they would be sitting atop the pacific division and in 2nd in the west with a week left in the season?

Or first in the West with four days left...

 

[Bufalay]

who would've thought that they could trade the worst player in the league for an All-Star?

 

[Cheesewater]

who would've thought that they could trade the worst player in the league for an All-Star?

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MWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!

 

[SirStefan32]

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MWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!

HAHA, LOL. That was pretty funny.

 

[cobbler]

who would've thought that they could trade the worst player in the league for an All-Star?

Never heard any complaints when they traded the all star to get that worst player in the league 4 years ago. *grin*

 

[Darth Llama]

who would've thought that they could trade the worst player in the league for an All-Star?

Who would have known that months later, people would still be crying over it?

 

[Bufalay]

Never heard any complaints when they traded the all star to get that worst player in the league 4 years ago. *grin*

You mean a player with potential for a player with potential?

 

[Bufalay]

Who would have known that months later, people would still be crying over it?

Well when people talk about what a surprise the Lakers have been, it's not very hard to figure out why. It's because they were given a gift.

 

[D-Dogg]

Well when people talk about what a surprise the Lakers have been, it's not very hard to figure out why. It's because they were given a gift.

They were number one in the west when Bynum was healthy. After he went down, they fell off a bit. They got Pau and went back to number one in the west.

They are what they are because they are a good team, not because they got a gift. They will be sick as hell next year, because Pau and Bynum will play together.

To this point, the Lakers have had the top seed with Bynum and with Pau, yet neither has ever played together.

 

[elindholm]

To this point, the Lakers have had the top seed with Bynum and with Pau, yet neither has ever played together.

That's impressive, but it would be even more impressive if exactly one of them had played together.

 

[Cheesewater]

That's impressive, but it would be even more impressive if exactly one of them had played together.

At the Suns Teamshop in heaven, Dorothy Parker and Oscar Wilde fight over the last LINDHOLM jersey on the rack.

 

[Bufalay]

They were number one in the west when Bynum was healthy. After he went down, they fell off a bit. They got Pau and went back to number one in the west.

They are what they are because they are a good team, not because they got a gift. They will be sick as hell next year, because Pau and Bynum will play together.

To this point, the Lakers have had the top seed with Bynum and with Pau, yet neither has ever played together.

Cool they were #1 in the west for about a day when Bynum was healthy. Every team in the west has been #1 at some point. The Lakers were an early season overachiever this year just as they were last year. When the received their gift, they went from "scary team no one wants to see in the playoffs" to "the favorites". So they are what they are because they got a gift.

 

[TheHopToad]

For the Lakers, getting the #1 seed is significantly more important than merely winning the Pacific Division. Facing the Nuggets, or even the Warriors, is much more of a cakewalk than if they finished at #2 or #3 and had to play Dallas or Phoenix.

 

[Cheesewater]

For the Lakers, getting the #1 seed is significantly more important than merely winning the Pacific Division. Facing the Nuggets, or even the Warriors, is much more of a cakewalk than if they finished at #2 or #3 and had to play Dallas or Phoenix.

Agreed. In fact, I think Dallas would beat them.

 

[Cheesewater]

Not news:

Just watched Bruce Bowen try to slip his foot under Kobe Bryant on a jump shot. Facing AWAY from Bryant, Bowen takes two stabs with his foot to get it under Bryant. At 4 minutes or so to go in the 3rd.

 

[95pro]

Not news:

Just watched Bruce Bowen try to slip his foot under Kobe Bryant on a jump shot. Facing AWAY from Bryant, Bowen takes two stabs with his foot to get it under Bryant. At 4 minutes or so to go in the 3rd.

did you see what he did to walton under the rim?

 

[Darth Llama]

Cool they were #1 in the west for about a day when Bynum was healthy. Every team in the west has been #1 at some point. The Lakers were an early season overachiever this year just as they were last year. When the received their gift, they went from "scary team no one wants to see in the playoffs" to "the favorites". So they are what they are because they got a gift.

Yeah, you're right. The fact that they got Pau is the sole reason that everyone on the team is playing better. Pau is the reason that Odom finally got through a season without getting hurt, he's the reason Kobe is a leading MVP candidate, he's the reason Andrew Bynum started playing like we hoped he would, he's the reason Sasha and Farmar started playing so well, he's the reason Turiaf started to really contribute.. yeah.. he's all of that. Maybe Pau should be MVP then huh?

Agreed. In fact, I think Dallas would beat them.

I feel the exact opposite. I would rather have Dallas then Denver. Dallas is soft as it gets, and I don't think they would even last 6 against LA. The Lakers would take out Dallas in 4-5 games tops. Just because they beat the Suns doesn't make them a good team. Dallas is horrible at holding a lead and they are terrible in the clutch. It would be one of the worst 4th quarter teams vs. one of the best 4th quarter teams. If we drop into the #2 seed, I won't be terribly unhappy, but I would rather have #1 just to guarantee home court.

Dallas doesn't scare me in the least.

 

[Renz]

Cool they were #1 in the west for about a day when Bynum was healthy. Every team in the west has been #1 at some point. The Lakers were an early season overachiever this year just as they were last year. When the received their gift, they went from "scary team no one wants to see in the playoffs" to "the favorites". So they are what they are because they got a gift.

Waaaahhh! The Lakers get all the breaks!

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[95pro]

Yeah, you're right. The fact that they got Pau is the sole reason that everyone on the team is playing better. Pau is the reason that Odom finally got through a season without getting hurt, he's the reason Kobe is a leading MVP candidate, he's the reason Andrew Bynum started playing like we hoped he would, he's the reason Sasha and Farmar started playing so well, he's the reason Turiaf started to really contribute.. yeah.. he's all of that. Maybe Pau should be MVP then huh?

does that mean kobe is overrated as a MVP candidate?

 

[Darth Llama]

does that mean kobe is overrated as a MVP candidate?

Since you are apparently unfamiliar with sarcasm, we shall conclude the conversation here.

Seriously though, no I don't. Kobe is the legit MVP in my opinion. It's close with Chris Paul, he's amazing, but I think this is Kobe's year.

 

[D-Dogg]

Cool they were #1 in the west for about a day when Bynum was healthy. Every team in the west has been #1 at some point. The Lakers were an early season overachiever this year just as they were last year. When the received their gift, they went from "scary team no one wants to see in the playoffs" to "the favorites". So they are what they are because they got a gift.

No, they were number one in the west for a while, and challenging for it as well with Bynum. They weren't overachieveng. In fact, if you want to make arguments, they were better with Bynum...they played the harder games with him, blowing out the Nooch with him in a walk. With Pau, they had the lighter part of their schedule. The improvement was from Farmar, Bynum and Sasha plus Fisher instead of Smush. That's no joke. They were scary team then. They became "favorites" because we added Pau to the mix and everyone expected Bynum to be healthy...he isn't yet so maybe it is Favorites for next year.

Sorry your memory only works for Suns games.

 

[D-Dogg]

That's impressive, but it would be even more impressive if exactly one of them had played together.

ha.

 

[D-Dogg]

Not news:

Just watched Bruce Bowen try to slip his foot under Kobe Bryant on a jump shot. Facing AWAY from Bryant, Bowen takes two stabs with his foot to get it under Bryant. At 4 minutes or so to go in the 3rd.

What? He never does that. Ever. BTW, that's just basketball. Everyone does it. But Bruce doesn't. Or something. He's clean. I love him and want to have his children.

/ambchang