ROUND 1

[TruSkool]

i know for sure some of you wont like to jump about 8 games and talk about this, but facts are facts, and as of today...we, the lakers, face the dallas mavericks in the 1st round.
we've played 3 regular seasons and hold a 3-0 record, beating them by 7 points in all 3 games (106-99) (107-100) (114-107)
what do you guys think of our 1st round matchup?
personally, i think the lakers need to bring their A game, because i've had the mavs as underdogs to win it all.
what u all think?

[vinnycorleone]

no. lakers will sweep or win in 5.

we have owned the mavs for the last 3 years. they don't have anyone to guard kobe.

[fareweatherfan]

Underdogs to win at all??? April fools???

I'm not being dismissive of the Mavs or this thread when I say this, Lakers will most likely sweep the Mavs, 5 games tops.

Don't make too much of our current struggles. Mentally we are already done with the regular season, and it shows.

[TylersLakers]

The Mavs can make it interesting.. but the most interesting they'll make it is 6 games.

Lakers win in 6, if they're playing the way they're playing right now. Lakers sweep if they play how they're capable of playing.

[TylersLakers]

Underdogs to win at all??? April fools???

I'm not being dismissive of the Mavs or this thread when I say this, Lakers will most likely sweep the Mavs, 5 games tops.

Don't make too much of our current struggles. Mentally we are already done with the regular season, and it shows.

I doubt that very much. It's very tough to just "flick the switch" after playing so crappy. They need some sort of confidence, some sort of momentum. Last year, I remember we lost to a couple crappy teams around April 1st. After that, we picked it up. Hopefully we can do the same right now. Because we'll be gone in the 2nd round if we don't.

[Kilroy]

I don't like to get ahead of myself at all...

But I honestly think the only way we lose a geme to the mavs is if we come out sleeping in game 1...

We've shown we don't really even need to play our best ball against the Mavs to win.

The thing is though, the races below WCC are all pretty tight... I don't think we can bet ont playing the Mavs just yet. Only thing we can be pretty sure of is that we won't be playing the Suns...

I really don't think there's a team in the West that can beat us even on their best night unless we aren't playing that well. We have to beat ourselves... Which we do from time to time...

Biggest issues at this point are Kobe has to step it up and we have to find a way to get comfortable with Bynum back in the lineup immediately... The last one is on the Coaching staff mostly, I think...

[hermes]

Underdogs to win at all??? April fools???

I'm not being dismissive of the Mavs or this thread when I say this, Lakers will most likely sweep the Mavs, 5 games tops.

Don't make too much of our current struggles. Mentally we are already done with the regular season, and it shows.

I doubt that very much. It's very tough to just "flick the switch" after playing so crappy. They need some sort of confidence, some sort of momentum. Last year, I remember we lost to a couple crappy teams around April 1st. After that, we picked it up. Hopefully we can do the same right now. Because we'll be gone in the 2nd round if we don't.

yes it's tough to flick the switch but that doesn't appear to be stopping them from giving it a try

the focus and intensity has left this team, and i hope they can get it back soon
maybe bynum will bring it with him

[SALMIEN]

If we play the way we did last 2 games and kobe have those off shooting nights , mavs in 5

[fareweatherfan]

Underdogs to win at all??? April fools???

I'm not being dismissive of the Mavs or this thread when I say this, Lakers will most likely sweep the Mavs, 5 games tops.

Don't make too much of our current struggles. Mentally we are already done with the regular season, and it shows.

I doubt that very much. It's very tough to just "flick the switch" after playing so crappy. They need some sort of confidence, some sort of momentum. Last year, I remember we lost to a couple crappy teams around April 1st. After that, we picked it up. Hopefully we can do the same right now. Because we'll be gone in the 2nd round if we don't.

Guys, relax. This team has NOTHING to play for right now. They will indeed get focused soon to go into the playoffs with momentum...every PJ team does. But short of having momentum going into the playoffs, we have NOTHING to play for.

We clearly have zero interest in trying to take home court from the Cavs. We have enough time to get focused for the playoffs. Relax.

[slifersd]

I think one of the biggest reason this team is struggling right now is the fact that Bynum is injured. When AB went down in February, everyone thought our record will start to slide, but it didn't. And the reason it didn't slide was because Kobe, Gasol and Odom took on extra responsibilities on both ends of the floor to cover for AB's absence. After playing more minutes, getting more touches and having to work more for their shots for two months, the guys are burnt out. Combine that with a lackluster bench, and it really shouldn't be surprising that we are not playing well. Once Bynum comes back, we will be just as good again.

[kobeaki]

Underdogs to win at all??? April fools???

I'm not being dismissive of the Mavs or this thread when I say this, Lakers will most likely sweep the Mavs, 5 games tops.

Don't make too much of our current struggles. Mentally we are already done with the regular season, and it shows.

I doubt that very much. It's very tough to just "flick the switch" after playing so crappy. They need some sort of confidence, some sort of momentum. Last year, I remember we lost to a couple crappy teams around April 1st. After that, we picked it up. Hopefully we can do the same right now. Because we'll be gone in the 2nd round if we don't.

Guys, relax. This team has NOTHING to play for right now. They will indeed get focused soon to go into the playoffs with momentum...every PJ team does. But short of having momentum going into the playoffs, we have NOTHING to play for.

We clearly have zero interest in trying to take home court from the Cavs. We have enough time to get focused for the playoffs. Relax.

+1000....

look guys, ya'll need stop acting like wall street with yr constant manic depressive-ness...this team aint got shizz to play for right now, and a lull at this point in the season is way ok, part of being a pro sport player is knowing when and how to choose yr battles...and while this squad hasnt proven much of anything this year, they have proven that they can get it up for the big games...

but all this paranoia that is not helping, this board or anything else...

smoke a fatty already...how do you know this isnt all just a ruse to fool the nba and lull them into sleep?

it is as plausible and proveable as all the other doomsday crap going on around here

[lakersfanatic]

the post season brings out a whole different type of mentality for each team...the mavs will be difficult even though they're 8th place. We match up well against them but with AB.. we'll be better off especially on the rebounding.

[KObe Bryant]

I predict it in 5 games but I'm still hoping for only 4 games. To be able to rest for the next rounds.

[TruSkool]

i would say lakers in 6, but i seriously wouldnt be surprised if the mavs stole it from us...dirk plays phenomenal basketball in los angeles.
also, id be more comfortable taking on the nuggets, rockets, and blazers in the 1st round.(possibly even the hornets)

[fareweatherfan]

i would say lakers in 6, but i seriously wouldnt be surprised if the mavs stole it from us...dirk plays phenomenal basketball in los angeles.
also, id be more comfortable taking on the nuggets, rockets, and blazers in the 1st round.(possibly even the hornets)

[EiRON]

Sweep, Kobe will dominate.

[Jajwanda]

A focused Laker team will handle them silly. They don't have the ability to beat us 4 out of 7 games with 4 in L.A.