Championship 2008: the only acceptable option for Lakers?

Lost Angel · Post #1 » by **Lost Angel** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:18 am

is anything besides a title this season acceptable to you?

i think we should at least make the Western Conference Finals.

ChocolateThundr · Post #2 » by **ChocolateThundr** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:22 am

Im expecting getting past 1st round.

kobynum show · Post #3 » by **kobynum show** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:22 am

nothing besides a title is ever acceptable.

rhp1990 · Post #4 » by **rhp1990** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:24 am

ChocolateThundr wrote:Im expecting getting past 1st round.

+1

Triangle Theory · Post #5 » by **Triangle Theory** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:24 am

kobynum show wrote:nothing besides a title is ever acceptable.

I'd be stoked with the WCF.

slifersd · Post #6 » by **slifersd** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:34 am

Depends on the recovery of Bynum. If Bynum comes back at full strength, I would be satisfied with the WCF; if not, second round of the playoffs would make me happy. Remember, there are a lot of talented teams in the west that has geled together for many years.

Post #7 » by **crazyeights** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:39 am

It's interesting going from a few months ago to just hoping we'd make the playoffs to now being asked this.

So yeah I keep that in mind before demanding a championship. I think next year we have to be in strong contention, but this year we just have to be gelling and getting healthy.

The most important thing in my mind for this season is experience, both in the playoffs and together as a unit.

I think we're definitely talented enough to win a championship, but mentally is a completely different story. One step at a time.

Post #8 » by **dockingsched** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 7:05 am

only a loss to the spurs would be acceptable for me. the suns/mavs/hornets/warriors/nuggets/jazz/rockets/blazers should not beat this roster.

Lost Angel · Post #9 » by **Lost Angel** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 8:01 am

dude your post count is siiiiiiiiiiick ^^^^

tnayrbrocks · Post #10 » by **tnayrbrocks** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 8:26 am

on paper, this laker roster is the best in the entire league imo. that said, i would be pretty dissapointed if they didn't win it all or at least got to the finals.

EHL · Post #11 » by **EHL** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 8:43 am

Barring any more major injuries, my predictions;

1) Gasol gels instantly, is rolling within a couple weeks max.
2) Bynum gets back in early March, takes a few weeks to get going physically, starts jelling with Gasol by early April.
3) Lakers make playoffs as a 3rd seed, winning 57-60 games.
4) Lakers go 16-6 in the playoffs en route to NBA championship, defeating the Boston Celtics in 6 games.

Yes, it can and will happen.

Post #12 » by **Slava** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 8:48 am

If we are solid enough to get to the WCFs I don't see any chemistry problems with winning it all. I have high expectations for this team right now and I'm pretty sure when you;re playing for Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant wearing P&G, nothing less than a championship will cut the deal.

Jajwanda · Post #13 » by **Jajwanda** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 10:05 am

Crushing Boston will take fantastic offensive execution.

This season depends on the 3-4 spots gelling with Bynum returning hopefully at full strength.

I really want to punch Boston in the mouth just like the Giants did in the SB. I hate that city's sports teams with a passion.

bobobolas1 · Post #14 » by **bobobolas1** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 10:22 am

EHL wrote:Barring any more major injuries, my predictions;

1) Gasol gels instantly, is rolling within a couple weeks max.
2) Bynum gets back in early March, takes a few weeks to get going physically, starts jelling with Gasol by early April.
3) Lakers make playoffs as a 3rd seed, winning 57-60 games.
4) Lakers go 16-6 in the playoffs en route to NBA championship, defeating the Boston Celtics in 6 games.

Yes, it can and will happen.

Ok, having the core healty and 100%. thats from the point we have to start.

with that said, and being the first year of the dinasty, lets say it would be ok if we play the conference finals. We will win in the 1st a team that wont be mavs-suns-spurs, and then we will win one of them and then, fall in the finals vs another of them. Thats clear, but of course, id like to get the ring.

hermes · Post #15 » by **hermes** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 3:47 pm

ChocolateThundr wrote:Im expecting getting past 1st round.

ya lets not get carried away

Erik Eleven · Post #16 » by **Erik Eleven** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:15 pm

66-16, sweep the west, sweep the finals against LBJ and the Cavs because the Celtics will get injured due to excessively heavy minutes played their stars. Kobe MVP and finals MVP.

Seriously, though. If we lose the WCF against the Spurs this year, I'd call it a huge success. Look at the future this team has. Look at the age of this roster. The collective heart needed for a championship is acquired via losing a big series. I think that'll maybe happen this year, then we have a realistic shot at starting a four-peat, maybe even five, depending on Kobe's decline and Bynum's development.

Tommy Trojan · Post #17 » by **Tommy Trojan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:20 pm

The Spur's always bring their A game during the playoffs. I think we will have a harder matchup's coming out of the West than winning the championship all together.

Lost Angel · Post #18 » by **Lost Angel** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:58 pm

i think we can beat San Antonio and have thought so before we even got Gasol.

its Phoenix that only worries me now.

and those pesky Celtics

Tesla · Post #19 » by **Tesla** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 5:02 pm

I'll take getting past the 1st round this year. It takes a lot to win a championship, a lot of luck with injuries, chemistry, and luck in general.

Next year, (if healthy, and the generally the same squad) finals/championship should be the expectations.

Don't get me wrong though, a championship should always be the goal for the team every year.

Post #20 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 5:22 pm

I'd be really comfortable with a second round or WCF appearance from this season. I think there are a few too many second-half factors to consider, such as Gasol's integration into the offense and the recovery of Bynum.

The Lakers are, at present, set up to face Utah in the first round. If they manage to gel reasonably quickly, they have a legitimate shot at passing Utah and getting the homecourt and are, of course, only a game back from Dallas in the third seed and only 2.5 games back from Phoenix atop the East.

So their first round matchup is fairly open. If it's Utah, that's a winnable series, though it'll be tough.

If they take the third seed, they're set up to face the Spurs, which would not be a kind introduction to the playoffs.

If they manage to win the West somehow, which is possible although I'd suggest unlikely, then they are set up to face Golden State, maybe Portland or even Denver, any of which would be reasonably favorable and winnable matchups.

So, assuming relative health from here on out and a reasonably quick integration of Gasol into the offense, the Lakers have a very clear and legit shot at the second round, which would be satisfying with or without Bynum. They then have a fairly legitimate shot at making the WCFs and a chance to actually make the Finals as well, which would certainly be nice, especially if it was against Boston.

But I think that if we're being reasonable, that anything from the 2nd round forward would be a really nice achievement and a good foundation achievement on which to build for next year.