How we match up with PHX.

[kobe>mj]

SHAQ<BYNUM - even if shaq still claims he has gas in the tank he canont match up with a healthy bynum.
AMARE=GASOL - it will be intresting to see this match up, unlike previos years amare is going to have to worry about a serious offensive threat.
DIAW<ODOM - depending on which odom shows up, i think odom has the slight edge over diaw.
BELL<KOBE - enough said : )
NASH>FISHER - I think where good enough offensivly for kobe to use most of his energy to shut down nash.

and with our upgrade of smush to Fisher. were pretty damm good, and not to mention OUR BENCH>>>>>>THIER BENCH

Im a 7 game series i predict Lakers 4-2

[slifersd]

I think at this point, Bynum and Shaq are about equal. Bynum typically doesnt play well against physical centers and Shaq is still the most physical one of them all. Besides that, Shaq would play extra hard to show everyone that Bynum is not in his league for obvious reasons. A motivated Shaq can be pretty dangerous even at this age. Of course, Bynum's length and offensive skills will be difficult for Shaq to handle.

Odom shouldn't be matched up against Diaw, he should be matched up against Hill. Diaw is not a small forward given that he doesn't have three point range. I would think Odom has a slight edge over Hill because of his size and athleticism advantages.

[Sofa King]

We beat the crap out of the Suns in the first two games with a healthy squad that didn't include Gasol. I know this will be the year the Lakers can get over the hump.

[Patterns]

If Diaw steps up(I think he will), this will be a 7 game series.

[bobobolas1]

I would like the play the first two games in the series in the stapples, so....what we have to worry now is get more win as soon as possible.

Diaw has to step up, of course! but he will never be marion

to sum up, i predict a 4-1 if we begin playing at home.

[Slava]

Bynum has quicker feet for Shaq to match him on the floor. Shaq might use his bag of tricks, trash talk etc but Bynum is still good enough to play his game and do well.

[Tommy Trojan]

I think Lakers and the Suns are the top teams in the West. But, when Bynum get's back no one can stop us

[ray ray]

Do not discount the fact Amare cannot guard a brick and Gasol will average 25+ in such a series.
On the flip side...he'll also give up 25.

Is more like Gasol is going to give up 30 ppg and will be in foul trouble vs Amare. Gasol has never matchup well agasint Amare you can look at their avg vs. each other. I think that we are thinking that our teams are going to gel once they get in the court. It's going to take time for your team to gel jsut like it's going to take time for Shaq to become comfrtable with out team.

Just a word of advice to all the LAKERS and SUNS fans, let them play vs/ each other before we annoint them what kind of team they are going to be.

[Sofa King]

-= original quote snipped =-



Is more like Gasol is going to give up 30 ppg and will be in foul trouble vs Amare. Gasol has never matchup well agasint Amare you can look at their avg vs. each other. I think that we are thinking that our teams are going to gel once they get in the court. It's going to take time for your team to gel jsut like it's going to take time for Shaq to become comfrtable with out team.

Just a word of advice to all the LAKERS and SUNS fans, let them play vs/ each other before we annoint them what kind of team they are going to be.

We beat the crap out of the Suns in the first two games with a healthy squad that didn't include Gasol. I know this will be the year the Lakers can get over the hump.

[That Nicka]

We beat the crap out of the Suns in the first two games with a healthy squad that didn't include Gasol. I know this will be the year the Lakers can get over the hump.

[Squirrel Boy]

We beat the crap out of the Suns in the first two games with a healthy squad that didn't include Gasol. I know this will be the year the Lakers can get over the hump.

[rsavaj]

This will be an excellent series, I only hope this Shaq move doesn't backfire horribly.

[One Love]

The real question is as follows:

"How do teams match up with us?"...

[tayzer]

I doubt Amare will get at least 25 points. Remember with Bynum in the paint, players are afraid to attack it. Bynum gives Amare a hard time offensively, he's too big and his shot blocking ability is too intimidating.

[fuhgidabowdit]

there is no way the lakers can beat the suns in the playoffs, honestly, look at the big picture, in the past two playoff series (not talking about the regular season, i know the suns lost the first 2 games) your biggest weapon was odom against marion, he would kill marion on both ends of the court, basically marion sucks against you guys in the playoffs, so he is gone. we pick up shaq, who i think is a big upgrade in the slow down game against the lakers and spurs instead of marion, and has anyone seen gasol play against amare? amare kills him everytime, gasol is way to soft to play against amare, your biggest weapon is still kobe, bynum is still young with no playoff experience, i can already see shaq getting in his head, it all depends on how kobe feels, if he wants to dominate the suns and shaq, then i can see the lakers winning, but you cannot say that the lakers are going to win the series because you picked up gasol or that the suns lost marion, both are erelavent.

[Kobay]

all we need is a broom.

[fuhgidabowdit]

dont worry i'll ship you one from phoenix because you will need it at the staples center game 4 after amare averages 40 points against another soft euro in gasol.

besides you know shaq is going to be motivated like hell to beat your drunk owner.

[rsavaj]

there is no way the lakers can beat the suns in the playoffs, honestly, look at the big picture, in the past two playoff series (not talking about the regular season, i know the suns lost the first 2 games) your biggest weapon was odom against marion, he would kill marion on both ends of the court, basically marion sucks against you guys in the playoffs, so he is gone. we pick up shaq, who i think is a big upgrade in the slow down game against the lakers and spurs instead of marion, and has anyone seen gasol play against amare? amare kills him everytime, gasol is way to soft to play against amare, your biggest weapon is still kobe, bynum is still young with no playoff experience, i can already see shaq getting in his head, it all depends on how kobe feels, if he wants to dominate the suns and shaq, then i can see the lakers winning, but you cannot say that the lakers are going to win the series because you picked up gasol or that the suns lost marion, both are erelavent.

You know, I'm all for having confidence in a team, but this kind of boasting is bordering on obnoxious...stick our board for stuff like this, yeah?

[EiRON]

We beat the crap out of the Suns in the first two games with a healthy squad that didn't include Gasol. I know this will be the year the Lakers can get over the hump.

[PdxLaker]

I am not one to say the Shaq has nothing left in the tank but it's clearly on the down side of half full. I do not think whatever he contributes offensively will make up for what the Suns lose in Marion offensively and more importantly defensively.
After watching how we play with Gasol, Amare is still going to have troubles with his defensive liabilities. Beyond that I think he will suffer the most when it comes to the Suns having to run more of a 1/2 court offense in the playoffs. For however much the Shaq/Marion trade opens things up for Amare I don't think it's going to mean the he suddenly doubles his stats. His improvement will be negligible at best.
The Lakers have the legs and bench to run with the Suns and the discipline and the pieces to play the 1/2 court set. I think we will have the abilty to far outmatch the Suns.

BTW-Let's start the over/under on how long it takes before Shaq starts complaining about his touches. His ego is too big to be capable of being a role player, albeit a big role player. If Shawn Marion had trouble being the 3rd fiddle on the Suns how do you think Shaq is going to deal with that once the excitment of the trade wears off.