Suns vs. Lakers - Series Prediction Thread

[Cheesebeef]

Why, because he'll be a creaky 31?

People on this board tend to forget how young Bryant still is. You know he's younger than both Nowitzki and Marion, right?

but he's gonna be an old 31. He'll have one or two more years at most being peak condition by the time he's 31 and if he has to continue to play with this kind of drek, he's gonna fade like Drexler did IMO.

I think this Laker team gets blown up in offseason and Bynum and Odom and a pick go to Minny for KG.

 

[D-Dogg]

but he's gonna be an old 31. He'll have one or two more years at most being peak condition by the time he's 31 and if he has to continue to play with this kind of drek, he's gonna fade like Drexler did IMO.

I think this Laker team gets blown up in offseason and Bynum and Odom and a pick go to Minny for KG.

Kwame and Odom, not bynum and Odom.


But McHale won't deal with LA, so doubtful that happens.

If we could move Kwame and Odom for KG + filler, it would be fantastic. But they aren't moving Bynum. Kwame's expiring 8mill contract will be VERY attractive (I think it is 8mil).

 

[az1965]

Kobe appeared seriously pissed at his team after the easy layup by Raja. Lakers need to get some decent players to support Kobe. This is brutal.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kobe will still be in his prime, but on the decline of it. I think he peaks next season then starts a three year downswing. Seriously, his prime's decline will be pretty damn good. And then there will be several years where he'll be a strong SG, better than most.

Farmar's already almost ready to play at a high level. He started two regular season games this year, and hasn't been intimidated by the playoffs. I love his game and his attitude. Bynum is a few years off.

The defense on this team is atrocious, Kwame is hobbled and has no heart (though I still love the guy), Lamar is hobbled and inconsistent. I'd love to package them both for a forward who can score consistently and get a serviceable SF or PF (whichever type isn't traded for).

The team needs a legit second threat. Nobody on this team is a legit second threat.

i think this team would have been so much better off if they never made that Kwame-Butler deal. You can find stiffs like Kwame anywhere - Butler would be a great 2nd or third option. that Laker team three years ago was just as good as either of these last two mediocre Laker teams - they just had much worse severe injuries and NO coach. They were in the 7 spot with 21 games left and then lost Odom for the rest of the year and finished 2-19.

another good move by Kupcake.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kwame and Odom, not bynum and Odom.


But McHale won't deal with LA, so doubtful that happens.

If we could move Kwame and Odom for KG + filler, it would be fantastic. But they aren't moving Bynum. Kwame's expiring 8mill contract will be VERY attractive (I think it is 8mil).

Kwame's contract is offset by Odom's huge deal - it's a non issue. You're not getting KG for anything less than Odom and Bynum, not when the Bulls can offer the world for him or we could if we didn't win the title this year.

or, they could just wait another year, hope KG opts out and signs with the Lakers just to win a title. That could be your best hope - unlikely, but who knows what KG's state of mind will be at that point after playing on such crap for years.

honestly, not moving Bynum for Garnett is stupid at this point. Bynum and Kobe are going to get the best of one another during the same era. You have to make a choice - are we going to continue to plod along and ruin Kobe's prime for the possible chance that one day, maybe, just maybe Bynum will be productive? Or do you take a chance and pair Kobe with the perfect 2nd banana and take your chances? I already know the answer is no because Kupcake is a pathetic GM. And that continues to make me a happy camper.

 

[elindholm]

If the Wolves trade Garnett, it won't be for a borderline All-Star and cap relief. If they want cap relief, all they have to do is keep sucking and let Garnett walk. I like Odom, but he's not the kind of player you rebuild a franchise around.

 

[D-Dogg]

i think this team would have been so much better off if they never made that Kwame-Butler deal. You can find stiffs like Kwame anywhere - Butler would be a great 2nd or third option. that Laker team three years ago was just as good as either of these last two mediocre Laker teams - they just had much worse severe injuries and NO coach. They were in the 7 spot with 21 games left and then lost Odom for the rest of the year and finished 2-19.

another good move by Kupcake.

I disagree entirely. Kwame has actually been instrumental in playing d on KG and Duncan and the like. Seriously. Not many people can do that. And that is important in the West.

SFs who can score can be had...and Butler brings absolutely NOTHING defensively to the table. That Laker team had a HUGE cancer in Chuckthree Atkins (who made Smush's ego look pea-sized). I didn't like that Rudy Three team...they were not that fun to watch and played less defense than this unit. Ugh...that was a bad, bad team. Lamar's injury or not. This year's team had worse injuries by far, and DROPPED in the standings down to the 7th seed. That wasn't their peak.

The deal worked for both teams.

Kwame was hurt most of this season...and still is hurt. He, Lamar, Luke, VladRad are all probably having surgery in the offseason. That really sucks.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I disagree entirely. Kwame has actually been instrumental in playing d on KG and Duncan and the like. Seriously. Not many people can do that. And that is important in the West.

SFs who can score can be had...and Butler brings absolutely NOTHING defensively to the table. That Laker team had a HUGE cancer in Chuckthree Atkins (who made Smush's ego look pea-sized). I didn't like that Rudy Three team...they were not that fun to watch and played less defense than this unit. Ugh...that was a bad, bad team. Lamar's injury or not. This year's team had worse injuries by far, and DROPPED in the standings down to the 7th seed. That wasn't their peak.

The deal worked for both teams.

Kwame was hurt most of this season...and still is hurt. He, Lamar, Luke, VladRad are all probably having surgery in the offseason. That really sucks.

I love how you place so much faith in Kwame! Stick with that - it works so well for ya!!
I will say that Farmar and Bynum look like they can be serious players down the road. But Kwami??? What a chump...

 

[Cheesebeef]

I disagree entirely. Kwame has actually been instrumental in playing d on KG and Duncan and the like. Seriously. Not many people can do that. And that is important in the West.

SFs who can score can be had...and Butler brings absolutely NOTHING defensively to the table. That Laker team had a HUGE cancer in Chuckthree Atkins (who made Smush's ego look pea-sized). I didn't like that Rudy Three team...they were not that fun to watch and played less defense than this unit. Ugh...that was a bad, bad team. Lamar's injury or not. This year's team had worse injuries by far, and DROPPED in the standings down to the 7th seed. That wasn't their peak.

The deal worked for both teams.

Kwame was hurt most of this season...and still is hurt. He, Lamar, Luke, VladRad are all probably having surgery in the offseason. That really sucks.

how instrumental can a guy be for a team who's been awful defensively for the last two seasons? You way overrate Kwame Brown.

and your wrong about this team having more injuries D-Dogg - the 2004 team lost Kobe for 16 games (as opposed to 5 this year), Odom for 18 (26 this year), Vlade for the entire season, Brian Grant (both of whom you thought were gonna be HUGE for them) for most of the entire season and they were just as mediocre then as they are now. I know. I watched that drek all season and loved every minute of it.

 

[D-Dogg]

how instrumental can a guy be for a team who's been awful defensively for the last two seasons? You way overrate Kwame Brown.

and your wrong about this team having more injuries D-Dogg - the 2004 team lost Kobe for 16 games (as opposed to 5 this year), Odom for 18 (26 this year), Vlade for the entire season, Brian Grant (both of whom you thought were gonna be HUGE for them) for most of the entire season and they were just as mediocre then as they are now. I know. I watched that drek all season and loved every minute of it.

Mihm all season.

Kwame 41 games. (this means our starting center was a 19 year old softie with NO backup--Kwame and Mihm out...so Ronny had to play center, and RONNY missed a bunch of games too with DNPs because of his hips).

Luke 20some at least.

Lamar 20 some at least.

Kobe 3

VladRad injured hand all year so ineffective, then missed like 18 games or so after snowboarding. He was supposed to be either starting or the sixth man, hitting the key triangle open threes that nobody is hitting.

Cook out like 8 games. He sucks, but still.

Evans even out like 5 games.

That was this year, off the top of my head. I think there were more...the only one NOT missing games was freaking SMUSH, who missed games while he was playing them. Yikes.

This year's injuries were terrible, and not only were there a lot of them, but they were staggered so much that we were usually missing at least one starter, often 2.

Really bad season for injuries, but they still battled tough enough to make the playoffs on the back of Kobe...but you can't rely on that in the playoffs.

I'd take this team a billion times over that chucky and rudy three team. A jillion even. A quakighkillion, if you can count that high.

 

[azirish]

Coming to a Suns board looking for sympathy about injuries is not rational.

As for your opinion about Kwame Brown, it's yours and you are welcome to it. You could set up a poll and doubt you'd get a single Suns fan who believes that Brown could be a rotation player on the Suns. He's just too limited even when healthy, which he isn't.

Odom is a guy the Suns fans love to dump on, but he'd really shine on the Suns. The Lakers style doesn't seem to fit him - or maybe it's that the Suns have Nash and the Lakers have....????

 

[D-Dogg]

Coming to a Suns board looking for sympathy about injuries is not rational.

Not looking for sympathy...like I'd want or expect that. Just talking basketball.

But I sure hope the suns fans aren't worried about their injuries this year. Last year is last year, this year is this year. You had a chance to win a title last year and a better one this year...injuries are just part of the game. Here's to you guys not getting any this postseason that could derail your title hopes.

 

[D-Dogg]

but he'd really shine on the Suns.

No, I'm sorry, but he wouldn't. He's (sadly) just too damn inconsistent. He really wouldn't do well in your system either..he needs the ball in his hands to operate. He would SUCK in the suns system, out loud. He has all the tools but none of the intangibles that make a good player great, and he is TERRIBLE without the ball which is something the Suns players are quite good at (moving without the ball or setting up for a three).

 

[Cheesebeef]

Here's to you guys not getting any this postseason that could derail your title hopes.

in the immortal words of Takashi: I drink to that!

 

[Cheesebeef]

No, I'm sorry, but he wouldn't. He's (sadly) just too damn inconsistent. He really wouldn't do well in your system either..he needs the ball in his hands to operate. He would SUCK in the suns system, out loud. He has all the tools but none of the intangibles that make a good player great, and he is TERRIBLE without the ball which is something the Suns players are quite good at (moving without the ball or setting up for a three).

i think you're really wrong here - he'd basically be a better version of Boris Diaw. As maddeningly inconsistent as Odom is, he's miles ahead of Boris.

 

[elindholm]

Here's to you guys not getting any this postseason

Same to you, bub. Like my wife needs any more encouragement to avoid me.

 

[D-Dogg]

i think you're really wrong here - he'd basically be a better version of Boris Diaw. As maddeningly inconsistent as Odom is, he's miles ahead of Boris.

Lamar is a very lazy, lazy player. I'm still mad at him for walking the ball up the court two (maybe three) years ago against sacramento and getting an 8 second violation. I am positive he'd fail in the uptempo Suns system where quick decisions take place...he's also a walking offensive foul. You guys complain about Marion, but he'd excel in the triangle because he knows how to move without the ball. I'd trade his inconsistency for Lamar's any day. Lamar has a MUCH higher ceiling than a Marion, but Lamar plays about 7 floors below his ceiling while Marion plays about 2 floors below his. I'll take the guy who plays closer to his potential any day.

I hate to say it because I love Lamar and dislike Marion, but no way would Lamar be good in the Suns style.

 

[D-Dogg]

i think you're really wrong here - he'd basically be a better version of Boris Diaw. As maddeningly inconsistent as Odom is, he's miles ahead of Boris.

And isn't Diaw pretty much a bust this year for you guys after getting the nice contract? I may be wrong, but that's the gist of what I've heard.

 

[D-Dogg]

Same to you, bub. Like my wife needs any more encouragement to avoid me.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Lamar is a very lazy, lazy player. I'm still mad at him for walking the ball up the court two (maybe three) years ago against sacramento and getting an 8 second violation. I am positive he'd fail in the uptempo Suns system where quick decisions take place...he's also a walking offensive foul. You guys complain about Marion, but he'd excel in the triangle because he knows how to move without the ball. I'd trade his inconsistency for Lamar's any day. Lamar has a MUCH higher ceiling than a Marion, but Lamar plays about 7 floors below his ceiling while Marion plays about 2 floors below his. I'll take the guy who plays closer to his potential any day.

I hate to say it because I love Lamar and dislike Marion, but no way would Lamar be good in the Suns style.

people said all the same things about Diaw before he came to the suns. You underestimate DA's coaching and Nash's influence.

hell, Lamar's best season was playing next to Wade, who even as a rookie, completely controlled that team.

to honestly say that a guy, who is Coach DA's wet dream, would struggle here, or down right be TERRIBLE doesn't take into account the reality of the situation.

 

[Cheesebeef]

And isn't Diaw pretty much a bust this year for you guys after getting the nice contract? I may be wrong, but that's the gist of what I've heard.

Boris doesn't have Odom talent, size, skills or confidence (as little as that may be, Odom is still miles ahead of Boris there).

 

[elindholm]

Okay, then in the offseason it's Stoudemire and the Cleveland pick for Odom and Bynum. That way D'Antoni gets to coach Odom, Stoudemire can play with his MVP, and everyone is happy.

 

[D-Dogg]

people said all the same things about Diaw before he came to the suns. You underestimate DA's coaching and Nash's influence.

hell, Lamar's best season was playing next to Wade, who even as a rookie, completely controlled that team.

to honestly say that a guy, who is Coach DA's wet dream, would struggle here, or down right be TERRIBLE doesn't take into account the reality of the situation.

Lamar was also Phil's wet dream. He's a prototypical triangle initiator (point). Damn near perfect. If Phil could construct him in a lab, that's what he'd put out there. Tex would disagree though, because Tex actually KNOWS what he wants in the triangle and a ball dominant, poor shooting from distance, inconsistent trip-dub threat-in-name-only isn't what he built the offense for.

But no, on paper Lamar is ideal for the Tri. Probably ideal for Mikey D's offense, and ideal for a ton of other offenses. In reality, he just does not have the goods to deliver on his immense potential. Bill Simmons once compared him to a taco salad...sounds so damn good on the menu (who doesn't love the idea of a taco salad) but at the table it just doesn't meet your expectations. That's Lamar...a taco salad. But he's my freaking taco salad, alright??

 

[D-Dogg]

Okay, then in the offseason it's Stoudemire and the Cleveland pick for Odom and Bynum. That way D'Antoni gets to coach Odom, Stoudemire can play with his MVP, and everyone is happy.

DONE!!!!!!!!!!

Someone call the press, and keep Mitch asleep so I can pull this off.

 

[Cheesebeef]

you know why the Nash to Marion OOP was my favorite play? In the slow-mo replay on Nash, before he throws the ball, you see him survey the ENTIRE floor (from behind half-court) and his eyes go as wide as anything I've ever seen, saying WOW, as if the options were just too good to be true. Then, he throws a frozen rope 50 feet for a perfect oop.

the guy is the CONSUMATE leader. He never ceases to amaze me.