RealGM

With Andrew Bynum possibly done for this season. Do you believe the Lakers will say they were without him as one excuse if they don't reach the NBA finals?

For me, If the Celtics were to reach the NBA finals, the Spurs or Hornets would make for an intriguing match up. I've a friend that desires for that opponent to be the Lakers. I could careless as long as Boston does their part and get there themselves. The opponent doesn't matter. The TV networks probably care more about that than anyone.

It would probably be used as an excuse, but it's a legitimate one. Taking Bynum off the Lakers is at the very least the equivalent of the Celts losing Perk, and I know that would be a huge loss for our team.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bynum still plays this season.

You know, if Lakers fans use Bynum as an excuse, then they're no better than the Phoenix/Sacramento/Timberwolves fans who've used the same excuse over the past couple years when they've lost becaues of injuries to Stoudemire/Webber/Cassell etc. Injuries are part of the NBA, and it sucks, but that's the way it goes. "If only" doesn't matter.

The Celtics lost 18 straight games last year, and only won 24. No one cares that Paul Pierce was injured for most of them. No one accepts that as a legit excuse. So in my book, the Lakers losing Bynum is no different.

RoyHobbs wrote:It would probably be used as an excuse, but it's a legitimate one. Taking Bynum off the Lakers is at the very least the equivalent of the Celts losing Perk, and I know that would be a huge loss for our team.

Fortunately, the Celtics still have Powe and Davis as twelve fouls as oppose to Garnett who doesn't like to play center. Whereas, the Lakers have to play their second best player at center. They aren't afforded the same luxury as Boston with Garnett. Still, the Lakers have Mihm and Ilunga-Mbenga who both must be injured or just don't play much.

About the Celtics. If Kevin Garnett gets injured do you think they'll use that as an excuse if the Celtics don't make the Finals?

An excuse is a reason for when you don't accomplish a goal. The Celtics minus Garnett still feature Pierce, Ray Allen and a deep bench. Not to mention, they're the league's best defense with Tom Thibodeau still on the coaching staff to make adjustments if the team were to lose their defensive leader in Garnett. I like the chances of Boston to still be able to compete for a NBA finals appearance. Conversely, I can't say the same of the Lakers with confidence. Even with Bynum, the Spurs are still a tough out opponent for the Lakers with their experience. Remember, the Lakers are one of three teams, Denver and Phoenix being the other two, that gave up the most points (100+) during the regular season of the teams that made the playoffs in the western conference.

of course they will. you really expect anything less?

I don't care about the Lakers much.
Besides I want Spurs in the Finals.
You have to beat the king, to became one

bonsaiflipflops wrote:With Andrew Bynum possibly done for this season. Do you believe the Lakers will say they were without him as one excuse if they don't reach the NBA finals?

For me, If the Celtics were to reach the NBA finals, the Spurs or Hornets would make for an intriguing match up. I've a friend that desires for that opponent to be the Lakers. I could careless as long as Boston does their part and get there themselves. The opponent doesn't matter. The TV networks probably care more about that than anyone.

Yes the lakers would use AB not being there as an exscuse. That is what they do. Whine, bitch complain, and then make exscuses somewhere in the middle of all that.

Celt's would crush the Lakers in 5. They would manhandle them.

How many games have the Lakers played with Bynum and Gasol together?

spf211 wrote:How many games have the Lakers played with Bynum and Gasol together?

zero

Does anyone else think Bynum is just a WEE bit overrated? I mean, is he good, yes. But people around the league talk about him like the second coming of Kareem or Russell...he has shown NOTHING, especially for sustained stretches, that warrants those comparisons.

I think it would be a pretty legit exscuse. I know if we lost one of our starting 5, and I mean any one of them I think our chances of winning would be diminshed differently.

Anyway I think the team to watch is New Orleans. I'm officially a little nervous about Chris Paul the way I get nervous about LeBron. He is able to get anywhere he wants and I sort of think of the West teams they are one of the better constructed teams as far as matching their strengths against some of our weaknesses. On Paper only San Antonio seems equipped to deal with Paul and Paul has killed them this year If I remember correctly.

^^Chris Paul has been fantastic, but let's face it, Dallas plays next to no D...Kidd and Dirk are two of the WORST defenders at their positions.

I don't think Paul would be running as wild if he was up against better D...that being said he'd still be great!

New Orleans would be a tough out in the Finals. Chris Paul is something else. I'd love to see him and Deron Williams go at it in the playoffs, beating each other up before one of them has to face the Celtics!

Jumping the gun a bit, but I'm a homer.

Not sure either of those teams could get past the Spurs or Suns, though.

Why would any real Celtics fan prefer the Spurs over the Lakers in the finals? Is it not a C fan's wet dream to have a matchup between Celtics and Lakers with Celtics dominating the Lakers? Last I checked Celtics didn't have a real big history with the Spurs like they do the Lakers.

dclock wrote:Why would any real Celtics fan prefer the Spurs over the Lakers in the finals? Is it not a C fan's wet dream to have a matchup between Celtics and Lakers with Celtics dominating the Lakers? Last I checked Celtics didn't have a real big history with the Spurs like they do the Lakers.

Ooooh tough one. It's not as long a history, but it's a pretty acrimonious one. The whole Tim Duncan thing, constantly winning championships and contending while the Celtics suffered. It'd feel damn good to win a championship against the Spurs!

dclock wrote:Why would any real Celtics fan prefer the Spurs over the Lakers in the finals? Is it not a C fan's wet dream to have a matchup between Celtics and Lakers with Celtics dominating the Lakers? Last I checked Celtics didn't have a real big history with the Spurs like they do the Lakers.

I'm not a "real" Celtic fan, I'm a KG fan and a bbal fan in general.
And for me, KG vs. TD NBA Finals matchup is as good as it can possibly get.
If (it's a BIG if I know) KG can own TD in the Finals ala Hakeem/Admiral, I will die a happy man.
I mean it's possibly TWO BEST POWER FORWARDS EVER in a head-to-head showdown, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?