OT: Who in the West scares you? Your rankings?

[Dexmor]

With the deadline over (sorry if this has been brought up and I put OT so maybe people discuss the topic instead of getting mad I posted a thread) and so many teams looking different now and with the West being the deepest the league has ever seen how would you rank the West and what teams really scare you in the playoffs?

My rankings for teams that scare me the most for the Lakers

1.Lakers- There second best player is a dominate Center who is out until March or so, Kobe has 9 fingers and they still have the best record. Is there really any doubt? I know this is a list for the Lakers to play but I just felt like giving them a paragraph.

2.Mavs- They scare me. Jason Kidd wants a championship so bad and Dirk was able to win the mvp without Kidd there and them and the Suns are really the only 2 teams with 2 top 10 superstars on there team. Kidd brings them toughness and they were pretty good without toughness so they will be hard.

3.Spurs- Thank god they are getting old but they really are. Besides Parker all of there key players are in the 30's and some in there late 30's but this year (next year I expect a fall off) they will be very tough if we face them.

4.Jazz- They are tough. Boozer and Deron make an awesome 1-2 punch and AK's D can not be overlooked. That Korver trade made them very complete. Almost the Pistons of the West.

5.Warriors-They might not even make the playoffs but a team that can score that much is very dangerous because Kobe can go off for 60 but they will keep scoring like it's nothing. Also Monta Ellis is scary good.

6.Nuggets-Iverson and Melo and they have Marcus Camby? That is just not fair. Linus is becoming a star and Kmart if healthy can shut down anybody on any given night.

7.Hornets-Chris Paul is so good he could have a record breaking series. He could have on of those series were he averages 27 14 and 7 steals. He imo is like Wade a couple years ago.

8.Suns-I am hoping we get to play them because we would kill them now in a series. Them getting Shaq helps them vs us but with Bynum there it will only kill Shaq's confidence because the youngster will destroy him even in the playoffs even if Shaq is healthy and well rested. Also if something were to happen to Bell with Marion gone Kobe will have a field day playing them.

[That Nicka]

Spurs

thats all...

I expect the final playoff bracket to look like this:

Lakers
Spurs
Jazz
Suns
Mavs
Hornets
Nuggets
Warriors

Lakers beat: Warrios in first round; Suns 2nd round; Spurs WCF

[Tommy Trojan]

Tell you one thing according to few websites, which include SI.com and a handful of others plus Vegas have put us the favorites in the NBA.

If you wan to make any kind of a bet on the championships this year than Lakers are the favorites by the odd makers.

Regardless what anyone or any web site says I say we look the best right now.

[DreamOn]

^ we may look the best right now. but as we all know its going into the playoffs when you want to be playing your best ball. That doesnt mean we wont come playoff time. But its all alittle premature. I dont ever hear alot about the Spurs this time of year, but come playoffs they always seem to be the team to beat (well since 2004).

The Spurs are the one team that always seem to fly under the radar and just get the job done. We should set our goals and expectations to beat them come playoff time. Beat them at their own game stay humble and grind.

All of those other team that were mentioned by "Star" just dont make me think Champions.

[rand0m]

Mainly the Spurs for me. Although they look old, tired, and more beatable than ever, you can't count on them NOT turning it up like they usually do in the playoffs. Plus, TD is the only big I see giving our front line any real problems.

The Suns could steal a couple games from us if Shaq is 100% and stays out of foul trouble. But ultimately, drew and pau should wear them down.

The Mavs don't scare me. They don't look nearly as good as last year (so far) and we all know what happened. As for Kidd, I was always more scared of a healthy Harris anyway. As far as I remember, Harris always gave us more problems. We'll just have to see if Kidd makes this team any better than it is.

Jazz - very rounded but lack strength in the middle. I'm sure we will be able to exploit this fairly easily. Their overall defense however is better than many of the other playoff teams which may slow LAL down in other areas.

Hornets - similar to the Jazz but without the playoff experience. I feel how far this team goes is up to Peja and how well he is shooting.

Nuggets - what can I say? Camby and Kmart are overrated. Ivy and Melo rarely truly gel and are mediocre on defense. The team itself lacks real chemistry and relies too often on individuals stepping up in crunch time. They have the talent to beat anyone on any given night, but I can't see them making real noise in the playoffs.

GSW - similar to the Nuggets. Sure they score like mad and beat the top teams on occasion, but if they aren't shooting well their defense is not quite good enough to hold off legit playoff teams in a 7 game series. LAL has the ability run with this team but can also slow it down and punish them inside.

[Danny Darko]

Team Star. you never know when another thread is going to pop up! *theme from jaws*

Spurs of course would be the answer, but if they battle hard for second with their schedule I'll think they are worn out by playoff time. If they pull a Houston Rockets of Hakeem's era and finish like 4th/5th... then they will have something in the tank.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Its gonna be a tough tough playoffs for everyone.

[Minhee]

The Warriors scares me always for obvious reasons. All I hear everyday is how Baron will shoot 60% against us and Stephen Jackson is lights out from the 3 point line while Monta Ellis is the future hall of famer. So really, the Warriors simply the thought of losing to them is a living nightmare for me.

Spurs obviously but who isn't afraid of them?

Mavs scares me too because of Kidd. Dirk will no longer be a choker thanks to JK.

Suns - just because Nash, Amare, Shaq will be dangerous. That team is built for the playoffs and they will be scary. Don't read much into their 30 point blowout. When the Heat won their championship, they had their share of getting blown out but any Shaq teams wins when it matters.

I think thats all I am afraid of.

[rand0m]

All I hear everyday is how Baron will shoot 60% against us and Stephen Jackson is lights out from the 3
point line while Monta Ellis is the future hall of famer.

Baron and Capt Jack lights out / 60% against LAL in a series? I'd put money against it, especially with Drew back and healthy.

any Shaq teams wins when it matters.

In the east against a choke artist and not as of late. I truly believe we can decisively beat them even with Shaq being the best he can be at 36.

[TommyTheCat]

spurs and if the suns can get it together w/ a motivated shaq.

no worries about the soft interior of dallas

lakers health is more of a concern to me than other teams

[brandonkb8]

the only team that scares me is the spurs!

[diturral]

jazz

[Sofa King]

They all are a bunch of pussy teams to me. I don't scare easily.

The 90's Bulls scared me. When the Lakers faced the Bulls in the early 90s, I was like crap, summabitch.

[hermes]

Its gonna be a tough tough playoffs for everyone.

anybody could catch fire and win a series in the west
spurs would be the team i am most worried about too
but we can't take any teams lightly since its so close in the west

[snaquille oatmeal]

The Warriors scares me always for obvious reasons. All I hear everyday is how Baron will shoot 60% against us and Stephen Jackson is lights out from the 3 point line while Monta Ellis is the future hall of famer. So really, the Warriors simply the thought of losing to them is a living nightmare for me.

Spurs obviously but who isn't afraid of them?

Mavs scares me too because of Kidd. Dirk will no longer be a choker thanks to JK.

Suns - just because Nash, Amare, Shaq will be dangerous. That team is built for the playoffs and they will be scary. Don't read much into their 30 point blowout. When the Heat won their championship, they had their share of getting blown out but any Shaq teams wins when it matters.

I think thats all I am afraid of.

you gotta move and leave your Warriors loving roomates behind you.

[bynumsbreakout]

-= original quote snipped =-

you gotta move and leave your Warriors loving roomates behind you.

I live in the bay area for school and all of my friends are W's fans. I personally love it since we have straight owned them the last couple of years. They won't even watch the games with me anymore.

Anyway, the only western team I am really scared of is the spurs. Ginobli and Parker always torch us. Would love to have someone else knock them out for us.

[Kobe_for_3]

if we are healthy and playing our game we will beat anyone, but i dont want to play the Spurs.

[The Laker Kid]

I was gonna say ROCKETS but since Yao is out, I'd say the Spurs.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

Warriors play no D. I dont think they will make the playoffs.

[Chubby Chaser]

Not really scared of any team. But out of all the bunch, the spurs would be the most challenging.