semi-sentient wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I think everyone needs to look at that a little closer, yourself included. The team that started 23-13 was relatively healthy compared to the one that finished 19-27 (actually, they started 26-13, and finished 16-27). I can't believe people keep bringing this argument up as if it's any indication of what we can expect this year from the Lakers. For one, the Lakers are a deeper team, with their young guys are finally starting to step up. This didn't happen last year when injuries started hitting, so the team struggled mightily. So far this season the Lakers haven't really missed a beat even though Odom, Kwame, Walton, Radman, and Turiaf have all missed multiple games due to injury. It's clear that this year the team is more equipped to deal with injuries. No one can predict if or when injuries happen, so I think most people here arguing for the Lakers are looking at what the team would do when relatively healthy.
The only team that I would fear in the West, with all parties being healthy, is San Antonio. Everyone else is very much beatable, and I have to say I love our chances against any of them, ESPECIALLY Phoenix, who I hope we meet in round 1 or 2.
A few "words" on playoff experience: Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and yes, even Kwame Brown. Our guys, combined, have plenty of playoff experience, and the only team with more at this point is San Antonio.
The point was only to show that the season is long and things happen -- both good and bad. What that particular poster did was dismiss Utah because they aren't in the playoff picture right now. (Right now being less than halfway through the season).
The only players with significant playoff experience outside of Bryant and Fisher are Odom (25 games) and Radmanovic (23 games). Walton is credited with 29 games, but 17 were spent essentially riding the bench in 2003-2004 (8 minutes per game).
Is that your definition of "plenty" of playoff experience?
Just looking at the Suns' roster (noting that all but Hill have played in the WCF the last two years):
Barbosa (43 games)
Bell (63 games)
Diaw (30 games)
Hill (19 games)
Marion (65 games)
Nash (97 games)
Stoudemire (31 games)