Lakers vs. Celtics now the most likely Finals scenario

[gmurray8]

I can't believe that Lakers vs. Celtics is going to be the most likely Finals scenario... Who would have thought this a year ago?? Crazy.

As a Lakers fan I can't wait to watch..

Lakers:
Fisher/Farmar
Kobe/Sasha
Odom/Ariza
Gasol/Radmanovic
Bynum/Turiaf

Celtics:
Rondo/Cassell
Allen/Allen
Pierce/Posey
KG/Davis
Perkins/Brown

Gonna be fun to watch.. hopefully the Spurs/Pistons don't derail this and the Finals go from the best ticket in town to unwatchable.

[phoolishly_insane]

Lakers will get swept and win by 20+ pts each game.

[That Nicka]

Lakers will get swept and win by 20+ pts each game.

Lakers will get swept and win by 20 at the same time? thats strange

[threrf23]

Its not most likely, Lakers won't beat the Spurs/Mavs IMO. Going by records? I saw a stat the other night, over last 10 years, only 4 or 5 #1 cedes (from either conference) have won the championship, whereas something like nine #1 cedes have lost in the conference finals. Something like that, at least.

A reason we shouldn't so gung-ho about imperfections in the reg season, our guys need to be ready come playoffs

[gmurray8]

Lakers will get swept and win by 20+ pts each game.

I give the Celtics respect as a Lakers fan and you counter with this ridiculous statement? (which doesn't make sense by the way, I was just able to discern the meaning behind it) I hope this isn't a representation of all fans on this board.

The key to this series will be how the Lakers adjust to having Bynum/Ariza in the lineup and how Boston adjust to Cassell/Brown.

[gmurray8]

Its not most likely, Lakers won't beat the Spurs/Mavs IMO. Going by records? I saw a stat the other night, over last 10 years, only 4 or 5 #1 cedes (from either conference) have won the championship, whereas something like nine #1 cedes have lost in the conference finals. Something like that, at least.

A reason we shouldn't so gung-ho about imperfections in the reg season, our guys need to be ready come playoffs

I never said I was going by records. I also stated that the Spurs or Pistons could also make it. Dallas has little shot unless Kidd learns how to shoot and Magloire reverts back to his All-Star days (the Kidd trade was average at best). I would also say that Phoenix/Cleveland have an outside chance as well.

[threrf23]

-= original quote snipped =-



I never said I was going by records. I also stated that the Spurs or Pistons could also make it. Dallas has little shot unless Kidd learns how to shoot and Magloire reverts back to his All-Star days (the Kidd trade was average at best).

I don't think the Pistons could make it. They're the good in the regular season team that just doesn't have enough talent to make it when their competition steps their game up (at least until guys like Amir Johnson etc grow their games more and get more minutes). Ben Wallace might not be outstanding but he's good and was good and put them over the top years ago.

Maybe the Lakers prove me wrong, but I can't see the Lakers beating the Spurs (or perhaps the Mavs but its yet to be seen how Kidd fits in and how chemistry adjusts). Kobe's Kobe, but guys like Gasol and Odom and Bynum are good but not great all around players like Josh Howard and Manu Ginobli. Duncan and Dirk both have very solid PGs playing with them too.

[Damon18Fan]

It's terrible that the Fakers and Celtics are good again. However, I still like the Pistons over the Celtics.

Ot here, it was awesome to see the Pats go down. And what is theo doin getting bad at Moose? LMAO.

[Grahf]

I can't believe that Lakers vs. Celtics is going to be the most likely Finals scenario... Who would have thought this a year ago?? Crazy.

As a Lakers fan I can't wait to watch..

Lakers:
Fisher/Farmar
Kobe/Sasha
Odom/Ariza
Gasol/Radmanovic
Bynum/Turiaf

Celtics:
Rondo/Cassell
Allen/Allen
Pierce/Posey
KG/Davis
Perkins/Brown

Gonna be fun to watch.. hopefully the Spurs/Pistons don't derail this and the Finals go from the best ticket in town to unwatchable.

I for one am also really excited! Not only is it a throwback to the days when Boston and LA ruled the NBA, it's a throwback to the days when the teams that made the finals were loaded with stars. KG, Pierce, Allen, the old vet Cassell, taking on Kobe, an emerging all-star in Bynum, Gasol, and the Lakers' depth.... how much better would this be than last year's Cavs/Spurs? I pray that we get this matchup. But you Fakers will have a tougher time than we will holding up your end of the bargain.

[Truthiracy]

Celtics in the finals, yes, Lakers? Don't think so.

[Rocky5000]

The Lakers will obviously have a much harder road to the finals. It'd be nice to play them though.

[nasbahceltic]

Could u imagine the ratings this matchup would get? Would be a dream scenario for the NBA

[GreenGrizz]

If the Lakers make it to the finals, we will destroy them. They will be dead tired after against Phoenix/San Antonio/Dallas.

[gmurray8]

The east isnt a complete cakewalk after the first round.. if you have to go through DET and CLE those are pretty tough teams IMO

[The Laker Kid]

Celtics in the finals, yes, Lakers? Don't think so.

+1

[Fencer reregistered]

I don't get the argument that the West winner will be a lot more tired than the East winner. And sometimes if one team sweeps and then sits while the other keeps playing every other night, the one that keeps playing does better anyway. Nor is this football, where hampering injuries are pretty much guaranteed in either game.

As for the teams most likely to make the Finals in each conference:

1. The teams with MVP-class players are Boston, Cleveland, (not Detroit), LA, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, (not Utah), arguably NO, and not really Denver at this point.
2. The teams with massive depth of stars are Boston, (not Cleveland), Detroit, LA, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Utah, (not NO), and Denver.
3. All of the above teams seem to have their heads screwed on pretty straight right now, Denver possibly excepted.

So to a first approximation, Boston is the most talented team in the East. In the West it's close between LA, Phoenix, Dallas, and San Antonio.

Of the West teams, the two with the most proven coaches are San Antonio and LA. Those two also have less system disruption from personnel changes than the other two.

So I won't argue with anybody who picks Boston-LA or Boston-SA. I do think Boston is somewhat ahead of the superstarless wonders in Detroit, and somewhat ahead of Cleveland as well.

[BrokenLeftyJumper]

Celtics-Lakers finals would be awesome. Unfortunately, with the Lake Show on a roll and an easy schedule down the stretch, I think Lakers have a good chance at getting home-court.

[GuyClinch]

Agreed - I think the Lakers are FAR AND AWAY the best team in the West. They have the best player and now the best supporting players. It's going to be tough for the C's to beat them. We had better hold onto home court advantage..

Pete

[numbas]

hey pete member me we had that huge thread arguing bout whos better pierce or wade lol

anyway celtics vs lakers would be sick and even as a laker fan i dont even no wut to expect outta this matchup becuz

celtics already beat the lakers twice pretty easy but the celtics have come down a level and lakers went up a level

lakers now have gasol and and bynum is due back before playoffs and ariza but have to see how bynum and gasol play 2gether

and now celtics have pj brown and most likley sam cassel to that have to settle in

so we'll see, it will have amazinggggggggggg rateings and david stern might die of a heart attack if this happens of excitment

[Magz50]

Lakers won't beat the Spurs. Book it.