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It looks like the Cavs or going to have to go through Chicago, Boston and Orlando to reach the Finals, while the Lakers are going to have to go through the Spurs (I'm glad as this sort of rivalry series might be just what the Lakers need to wake them up and get them playing championship caliber ball), Jazz and Mavs/Nuggets ... who's road is tougher?

I'd have to say the Cavs, though I would have loved to see them draw the Bobcats in the first round as that would have been a nightmare matchup for them. The Bulls are not as good as the Spurs but the Celtics are better than the Jazz and the Magic are better than the Mavs/Nuggets combo.

I still think it's very possible we see a re-match of last year's Finals as well ... don't hand the cavs the Eastern Conference title just yet

The Cavs opponents would be the Bulls and the winner of the Celtics and Bucks. The Lakers would have Spurs and the winner of Jazz/Suns. No need to worry any further than that because Dallas and Denver will knock one another off. For the moment I'll say it's the Cavs, for the mire fact they'll play teams who won't back down from them. While we'll face face teams we've played before in the playoffs, except we haven't played Dallas since Dirk has been there.

Lakers IMO. The west is stacked from top to bottom while the Cavs <<should>> be able to win their first two rounds with relative ease. Granted, Milwaukee's a dark horse in the east, but nonetheless, I don't rank them anywhere near the teams in the western playoff picture. If the Lakers get to the finals, they'll likely have to play 50 win teams the whole way in a constantly deep WC. Cleveland, on the other hand, will face the under .500 Chicago (probably) while they'll only face a 50 + win team in Boston in the second round, and even then, Boston's had a horrid second half. Orlando's probably tougher than any team not named LA in the west, but as a whole, Cleveland has an easier road to the finals.

I don't see anyone other than Magic giving Cleveland a big challenge. Atlanta is good but lack decent big man depth to trouble the Cavs and Cleveland have the vets to resist the temptation to go into a fast paced game.

The way the Lakers are playing or not playing. I would not think about the finals. I would just think about the first round. Spur or Blazers. Right now we can not beat them and that is at home.

cavs easily. For 1 reason... Orlando. Even most laker fans must admit they look like the 2nd best team right now (behind the cavs)

The lakers might face harder teams throughout the playoffs (if the make it to the finals ofc) but none of those teams will be anywhere near as tough of a team as orlando.

Lakers. There are no upsets in the Western Conference this year. Anyone can beat anyone. Look at the records. The whole conference is on the same level with each other.

The lakers. Because the bulls are a sub 500 team. the cavs face a sub 500 team in the first round, i don't care who they play in the conference finals, they only have to play good ball for 4-8 games, whereas we have to play good ball for 12 games to get there. huge difference. and i don't think orlando is that much better than dallas or denver. aren't dallas and denver like 3-1 against the cavs this year total?

i mean come on, OKC won TEN more games than the bulls. LoL. it's not even a comparison. the thunder would probably have a good shot at sweeping the bulls in a series. i'd pick the thunder to win 4-1 to be honest.

Why does everyone seem to be spoon feeding the eastern crown to Cleveland again? They still have to deal with Orlando. You guys do know that right? This is so reminiscent of last season when they were the heavy favorites heading in. We all know how that turned out, right? I give Orlando just as big of a chance to make it the finals, if not more than anyone in the East. They've earned that but no one seems to be paying much attention to it. Not surprisingly.

Lakers will have the hardest climb series by series. But at least we know when the Lakers are clicking and everything goes right, no one will stop us from what would be 3 consecutive Finals trip. This team knows their game plan heading into every series. I strongly doubt a team led by Phil and Kobe is just going to roll over in a 7 game series to anyone when we're the favorites. A dog is most dangerous when they have their backs against the wall. Play our game, raise the urgency, and no one can beat us. Can the same be said for Cleveland? We don't know.

Optms wrote:Why does everyone seem to be spoon feeding the eastern crown to Cleveland again? They still have to deal with Orlando. You guys do know that right? This is so reminiscent of last season when they were the heavy favorites heading in. We all know how that turned out, right? I give Orlando just as big of a chance to make it the finals, if not more than anyone in the East. They've earned that but no one seems to be paying much attention to it. Not surprisingly.

Lakers will have the hardest climb series by series. But at least we know when the Lakers are clicking and everything goes right, no one will stop us from what would be 3 consecutive Finals trip. This team knows their game plan heading into every series. I strongly doubt a team led by Phil and Kobe is just going to roll over in a 7 game series to anyone when we're the favorites. A dog is most dangerous when they have their backs against the wall. Play our game, raise the urgency, and no one can beat us. Can the same be said for Cleveland? We don't know.

I definately agree with this and hopefully this lag wears off and we appreciate our opppourtunity to go to the finals for the third time.

Yeah, as good as the west is, I think Cle will actually have a harder road. Chicago will be pesky, but probably won't put up a ton of resistance. But then they will have to play Boston, which in a slow down grind out series, will be a tough series regardless of how washed up people think they are. Those two teams hate each other and it will be a war. Then they will have to play Orlando most likely and I actually think Orlando is the best team in that conference.

We COULD end up with a harder road depending on how these last few days play out though. But as it sits right now, OKC then winner of Utah/PHX (neither of which give us tons of trouble) is an easy road. WCF will be tough, but if its Dallas it will be a hard series, but not an overly physical one.

If we end up with SA or Portland and then possibly Denver... that would be a rough trip...

denver is kinda like sacramento a few years ago. we consistently kicked their ass, and one day they got fed up and developed a toughened mentality to take it to us. and we had to bring everything we had to the table to finally get that victory over them. without us, they would be hanging a championship banner from that season.

the nuggets? we extinguished them for a while now, for what seems to be every dog gone year, and carmelo is a legit superstar who unlike cwebb, can lead his team to finally get over the hump.

dallas and other teams are tough, but i truly believe the nuggets will be the toughest team to face in this playoff run. of course, what is the nuggets biggest problem? focus so much on the LAKERs, that the mavericks might blindside them.

Lakers toughest road is the SELF road. They just need to get their isht together, start playing Laker ball, and wake up now that the prize is on the line.

i would rather face Utah or suns then Boston in the second round

jacksgrapes wrote:cavs easily. For 1 reason... Orlando. Even most laker fans must admit they look like the 2nd best team right now (behind the cavs)

The lakers might face harder teams throughout the playoffs (if the make it to the finals ofc) but none of those teams will be anywhere near as tough of a team as orlando.

That said, Cleveland is playing well (When Lebron is playing, meaning the last few games don't count) while LA is struggling, and playing in a much tougher conference. Cleveland realistically has one team that is a threat. LA has multiple.

I say its even now which is Shocking

Lakers vs Thunder Cavs 1st round bye-week
Lakers vs Suns (please) Cavs vs Celtics
Lakers vs. Mavs/Nug Cavs vs Magic

Seems fair. It really didnt when it was us vs. Spurs in the 1st round

The Magic have the toughest road IMO
Magic vs pesky Cats
Magic vs pesky Hawks
Magic vs pesky Cavs

Mamba Venom wrote:I say its even now which is Shocking

Lakers vs Thunder Cavs 1st round bye-week
Lakers vs Suns (please) Cavs vs Celtics
Lakers vs. Mavs/Nug Cavs vs Magic

Seems fair. It really didnt when it was us vs. Spurs in the 1st round

The Magic have the toughest road IMO
Magic vs pesky Cats
Magic vs pesky Hawks
Magic vs pesky Cavs

The Celtics are trashed and have no confidence or momentum right now, so the Cav's only competition is Orlando, who has looked tough lately (Especially Pietrus). I worry about LA in each of the series mentioned...even OKC.