Lakers Just Became the Best Team in the League

Lakers05 · Post #81 » by **Lakers05** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 6:52 am

westthebest wrote:I'm just gonna go ahead and ignore the Laker fans who are convinced that Pau friggen Gasol just made their team the best in the league. Again, Pau Gasol.

Well, people have no problems proclaiming Boston the best team(and if they didn't, they should learn from it) after KG and Allen were acquired. Most of the time, you can tell how good a team is going to be just by the perception of the talent put together.

This league is run on star power, and right now to me, it's Big Four vs Big Three. While KG(particularly his defense) has made Boston's Big Three a lot more potent than I expected, I doubt he's that good where he can beat one superstar, two All-Stars, and one quality starter.

Al n' Perk No Layups! · Post #82 » by **Al n' Perk No Layups!** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:25 am

Lakers05 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Well, people have no problems proclaiming Boston the best team(and if they didn't, they should learn from it) after KG and Allen were acquired. Most of the time, you can tell how good a team is going to be just by the perception of the talent put together.

This league is run on star power, and right now to me, it's Big Four vs Big Three. While KG(particularly his defense) has made Boston's Big Three a lot more potent than I expected, I doubt he's that good where he can beat one superstar, two All-Stars, and one quality starter.

Your "big four" has a superstar and an All-star. Our big three has three superstars. Odom doesn't belong in the conversation with any of the other players and Bynum is a young C averaging 13 and 10. Very good young player, not an All-star. Advantage Boston.

Post #83 » by **wetsthebed** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 7:45 am

Lakers05 wrote:This league is run on star power, and right now to me, it's Big Four vs Big Three.

You're including Bynum and Odom in a "Big Four"? Really?

Bgil · Post #84 » by **Bgil** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:01 am

Gasol/Odom might be the worst 3/4 defensive combo in the league.

Odom's not a bad defender at the 3. In fact, he's phenomenal at shutting down slashers and garbage men (like Marion). Jump shooters cause him problems though.

Your "big four" has a superstar and an All-star. Our big three has three superstars. Odom doesn't belong in the conversation with any of the other players and Bynum is a young C averaging 13 and 10. Very good young player, not an All-star. Advantage Boston.

We don't just have any superstar but arguably THE superstar. Allen and Pierce can't hold Kobe's jock especially Allen (I'm a big PP fan). Our bench is also FAR superior to yours when healthy. Not to mention Phil Jackson >>>>>> Doc Rivers.

It'll be fun to see how things continue to play out. Gasol brings us much closer to the top than we were previously.

AWalkerREMIX · Post #85 » by **AWalkerREMIX** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:05 am

LA knows nothing about sports. It's pure comedy reading some of these Lakers' fans' posts. Ariza's defense? This isn't the NBDL or NBA Live....Pierce eats him for breakfast every time he plays him. The fact of the matter is that the Lakers have no one to guard Pierce or Garnett. Garnett can/has/will easily shut down Gasol and the team defense has shown it can limit Kobe's effectiveness. Couple that with the fact that Bynum is nothing against an actual defense and Lamar Odom's pure incompetence and the Lakers don't have a chance. If they get past the WCF, I'd be surprised, but a finals matchup against them is a sweep.

Day in the Life · Post #86 » by **Day in the Life** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:46 am

Lol, it's amazing how overconfident Celtics fans are. Really...sweep em in the Finals? Just like how the Wizards beat you guys twice?

The Rondo Show · Post #87 » by **The Rondo Show** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:50 am

Day in the Life wrote:Lol, it's amazing how overconfident Celtics fans are. Really...sweep em in the Finals? Just like how the Wizards beat you guys twice?

The Wizards are 2-1 against us, that means it cannot be a season series sweep.

A sweep is what the Celtics did to the Lakers this year, only you don't have to win by an average of 15 points against a team like Boston did against LA.

Post #88 » by **wetsthebed** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 8:58 am

Day in the Life wrote:Lol, it's amazing how overconfident Celtics fans are. Really...sweep em in the Finals? Just like how the Wizards beat you guys twice?

I think it's a little more amazing how overconfident Lakers fans are. The Celtics have been the best team in the league all season, the Lakers trade for a borderline all star and are suddenly the clear favorite to win the championship.

Day in the Life · Post #89 » by **Day in the Life** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 9:09 am

When the hell did I say the Lakers were the favorites to win the championship? They're clearly favorites to come out of the west.

theGreatRC · Post #90 » by **theGreatRC** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 9:21 am

Celts in 4

wireonfire · Post #91 » by **wireonfire** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 9:44 am

Egregious Blunder wrote:my opinion

fisher >= rondo (Laker slight advantage)
kobe >> allen (big Laker advantage)
odom <= pierce (slight Celtic advantage)
Gasol < Garnett (Celtic advantage)
Bynum >= Perkins (slight Laker advantage)

key bench players

Ariza, Farmar, VladRad > Posey, house, TA, powe

advantage Lakers

Bynum > or >> Perkins

EdSkae · Post #92 » by **EdSkae** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:45 am

floyd wrote:Everyone keeps bashing Wallace. This is pretty clearly a financial deal. I'd imagine the owners had a big say.

Ok it's a financial deal. But Wallace said Kwame Brown was the largest expiring deal. I do beleive Ratliff has a larger expiring deal and the Grizzlies could have made a better deal with the Twolves.

The trade makes the Lakers contenders to come out of the west. I would love to see the Celtics & Lakers meet in the finals again.

Vincent 666 · Post #93 » by **Vincent 666** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:56 am

The Lakers had one of the best records in the league (playing one of the toughest schedules) when they were healthy BEFORE Gasol.

They had the best record in the West the game after Bynum was injured and the 3rd best record in the league. Again, this was without Gasol.

Now they added a 20 and 10 guy for basically nothing.

Anyone who doesnt think the Lakers are serious contenders is delusional.

And to top it off, the core of Kobe Bynum Gasol and Odom is young so its not going to be one or even 2 year thing.

Banks2Pierce · Post #94 » by **Banks2Pierce** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 11:30 am

LOL at comments like "clearly favorites to come out of the west" or that they would handle the spurs.

sam_I_am · Post #95 » by **sam_I_am** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 12:03 pm

return2glory wrote:Remember one thing guys. I said when Bynum comes back, not now.

Bynum is one of the best big young centers in the league. Perkins shut him down in the 2 games but Bynum is still a very good player. The fact that the Lakers got a borderline all star in Gasol without giving up Odom makes the Lakers a better team than they were yesterday.

Either way you look at it, this trades makes the Lakers better than they were. They added Gasol, who is in his prime without giving up much.

Now that I can agree with.

The Lakers just got better. They are now on par with Denver and Utah and they will scare some teams. And with Kobe able to carry them on his back they may upset somebody in the West.

But they are not the best team in the NBA now. They still have a front court that is defensively a liability.

sam_I_am · Post #96 » by **sam_I_am** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 12:10 pm

Vincent 666 wrote:The Lakers had one of the best records in the league (playing one of the toughest schedules) when they were healthy BEFORE Gasol.

They had the best record in the West the game after Bynum was injured and the 3rd best record in the league. Again, this was without Gasol.

Now they added a 20 and 10 guy for basically nothing.

Anyone who doesnt think the Lakers are serious contenders is delusional.

And to top it off, the core of Kobe Bynum Gasol and Odom is young so its not going to be one or even 2 year thing.

You don't just "add" a 20/10 guy to a roster like the Lakers. If Gasol gets 20/10 it won't add on top of LA's current averages.

He will have to play 30+ minutes and that will take away from Odom and Bynum. He is a defensive liability since his injuries and that will hurt the team.

That being said, you gotta love the trade from LA viewpoint. Their future draft picks were never going to help. Bynum and Crittendon were never going to take them to next level. And prior to his injuries Gasol was one of the top 3 international players (including TEAM USA rosters) in the world. His game was not quite as great in NBA but he can still be a factor.

Now the Lakers will have 5 guys out there who are veterans, who know how to play basketball and now how to work it around. If Kobe plays unselfishly for 3 1/2 quarters they will definitely be a factor and will be a fun team to watch.

I just don't think you can win a title with a 20 year old Bynum and Pao Gasol as the backbone of your defense.

bill murray has game · Post #97 » by **bill murray has game** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 2:07 pm

I just have two quick points.

Pau Gasol can play and the Laker's just got a lot better.

Come playoff time I'll take Rondo over Fish everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. He is a freaking force on the basketball court.

EvadedHavoc · Post #98 » by **EvadedHavoc** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 2:15 pm

bill murray has game wrote:I just have two quick points.

Pau Gasol can play and the Laker's just got a lot better.

Come playoff time I'll take Rondo over Fish everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. He is a freaking force on the basketball court.

We'll have to see how Rondo improves come Playoff Time.

Fencer reregistered · Post #99 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 2:37 pm

Egregious Blunder wrote:kobe >> allen (big Laker advantage)
Gasol < Garnett (Celtic advantage)

You lost me at Kobe + Gasol > Garnett + Allen

I don't think I'll read the rest of the thread.

Rasheeed!!! · Post #100 » by **Rasheeed!!!** » Sat Feb 2, 2008 2:55 pm

This thread is very amusing. Neither team is a clear cut favorite to go to the Finals.