Chad Ford said in his daily blog...

[DubaLakers]

"It would be a MAJOR UPSET if Lebron didn't win the title this year," said Chad Ford in his live blog yesterday.

I just happened to be on ESPN checking my bracket because I'm still alive, I picked DUKE to win it all , and I see Chad Ford's live blog. He's been an ESPN NBA analyst for quite a while now, so he's somebody.

That quote just irritates me. Is CLE the favorite, it appears so yes, they haven't hit a speed bump all year and they are deep. But major upset ? Kobe "The Sandman" (Mariano Rivera) " Bryant, our seen everything done everything HOF coach, the best starting 5 in the NBA, invaluable experience, the defending champs, and it would be a MAJOR UPSET if CLE didn't win the title?

CLE: Mike Brown the coach that doesn't diagram his own plays in the huddle; he steps out and lets his assistant do it, I've never seen anything like that. Yes they have Crabby the MVP that can do no wrong and puts up BIG stats nightly, but do they really have anyone else on that team that scares you as a LAL fan ? West might get a jab step jumper off, or Jamison might do one of his super quick post moves, but really they are a team that hits wide open jumpers because of Crabby's penetration. Will they still be able to get those wide open looks in the upcoming playoffs?

CLE lost to ORL last season because they were overconfident, no one besides Lebron could get a shot off, they couldn't figure out why they had a hand in their face for the first time all season. The big question is will it be the same story once again or is it going to be different ? They recieved Jamison for free, and now they are playing defense and they have more experience.

It would be so fantastic if history repeated itself and CLE became like the old DAL Mavs coasting thru the regular season, and getting slammed in the playoffs, but I don't see that happening as awesome as that would be to see Crabby crushed again as she injects another cycle into the vein with tears streaming down her face.

Sure the LAL aren't playing as well as they should, but other than pride and competition, there isn't much to play for, we're slotted. I'm not overly concerned. I think the Lakes will be strong in the playoffs once they start, and all will be right again in LA. I expect CLE to go thru more of a gaunlet than the Lakes and the finals are going to be brilliant more than likely against the Cavs, but 2 games a year isn't enough to get a good test, and I look forward to a 7 game series to decide who indeed is the better team.

Until then... Go Lakers

[Sedale Threatt]

I've reached the same point with LeBron as I did with Shaq, and Jordan before him -- it's not going to be a matter of "if" he wins a championship, but how many.

I'm not saying it's going to happen this year. Cleveland looked good last year, too, and fell apart in the postseason. But as long as he has a solid team around him, and they keep getting HCA, I wouldn't count on that happening every year.

In other words: It's only a matter of time.

[Magicontinues]

They are one of the teams that can match up and actually stifle our size with Shaq, Ilgauskas , and Varejo. They are a great team, they are my biggest worry this year, beyond getting by Denver.

[DubaLakers]

DEN really needs Martin back to test us I would think, otherwise DAL may be our toughest foe in the West. DAL just got Jet back.

[TonyMontana]

Im not saying that LeCry isnt a great player or the Crabs arent a good team, BUT LeCry has failed at every chance of proving himself as a leader at the big dance and he has Lefailed. Who knows he might win the title this year but Kobe and the Lakers have something to say about that.

[magic1fan]

i agree completely and i have been saying it all year. alot of us bought into the hype that we were so super deep and no team can match up with us,but i have always believed that cleveland,denver,and orlando are way deeper. not to take anything away from my lakers because i still think we are going to win it all if healthy,but just look at what lebron is working with? they have a better point guard than us. they have better spot up shooters than us. they have two seven footers just like us. bynum can't handle shaq,and gasol alone can't handle big z. they have a guy in jamison that can do the samethings odom can except for maybe bring the ball up,but jamison can get you 20+points and 10+ rebounds on any given night. they play great defense with or without lebron. they have a guy in lebron that can get to the line at will,and is rarely called for a foul or anyother violation. put any superstar in that situation and they can flourish,but when you put a top 3 player in there they are bound to be a great team. cleveland has done a great job of assembling talent around lebron,now it's on him to bring them to the promised land.

[DubaLakers]

nice add magic.

Jamison hopefully will have trouble getting off vs. our triple towers. As long as the LAL don't leave stupid head mr. guarantee Mo Williams open, I like our chances.

[The Skyhook]

I believed that the Cavs were good until they fell apart at the hands of the Orlando Magic. Since then I have been pretty cautious of believing that a team is really that good. When it comes down to the big moment that is when it truly matters.

Remember people said the Lakers didn't have that good of a chance in the Finals because Orlando beat us 2 games to none in the regular season. The way people were talking about Orlando you figured they would sweep the Lakers. I'll admit that I was a little worried before game 1 about the Magic but after game 1 I knew the Lakers had it in the bag. They came out in game 1 with a big statement game.

I have a hard time believing the hype of all these teams being so good. The Nuggets looked pretty damn good last month but now they are falling off. If the Mavs want to come at the Lakers and give them a hard time thats ok because I know the Lakers will step up to the challenge.

The Lakers are going to give us headaches when we watch them throughout the playoffs and so many posters are going to say we can't win it if we play like this but somehow the Lakers are going to awaken and bring it to their opponents. Our opponents aren't going to know what hit them because thats how the Lakers plays. They relax too much but when they finally see that its time to stop screwing around they get the job done.

This season already feels like its lasted too long. I want it to end and I want to see Drew and Luke back both healthy. Once they playoffs starts then we can asses how good a team really is but only when they play us.

[Free Rider]

Cleveland has been the best team all year and they've been playing far better than we have over the last couple of months so I can understand why Ford considers them the favorites. I know they were also the best team in the regular season last year but this year with the Shaq and Jamison trades they've addressed the weaknesses that gave them such a mismatch with Orlando . Also, Orlando has become a much more conventional team without Hedo. Shaq can body up on Howard and at least slow him down while Jamison can match up with Lewis.

Meanwhile we've failed to address our one major weaknesses that makes us so vulnerable: our point guard play. With all due respect to Fisher, we should have made a trade before the deadline to replace him as a starter. He can't guard anyone anymore and he can no longer shoot. He shooting around 38% this year and has been a hole on defense. We're basically play 4 on 5 whenever he's on the court. Farmer hasn't been all that much better this year so we can't even rely on our back-up. If we end up losing the title this year, this will most likely be the reason why.

[LakerZombie]

If we lose this year it will be because we defeated ourselves.

The Cavs now have a roster that yes does rival ours. But we still have the experience on what it takes to get it done in the big show.

First we coasted thru the regular season losing games we had no business losing (again) while the Cavs steamrolled thru IMO a weaker Eastern conference. Just look at the current Eastern playoff bound teams and their wins / losses vs the West wins / losses.

Second we consistently forget to MOVE the ball and start with throwing the ball down low to our bigs. It drives me nuts how oblivious the team is to that.

Third ....injuries, which can't really be helped.


Basically we're our own worst enemy. Cavs have nothing to lose, minus Lebron leaving of course but should they lose again and Lebron doesnt leave its no big deal. Next season will be the same thing Lebron and company racking up WINS while all the media proclaims THIS will be their year.

I'm reminded of last years playoffs.....where the Cavs true to form steam rolled thru to the ECF, and then fell apart.

If the lakers played in the East they would probably do the same, but have the experience to keep it rollin right into the finals

[TonyMontana]

SO we came this far and we are about to get H.C.A the best record in the W/C. We were only a few games behind the Cavs for the best record, and its really not a big deal. Kobe got hurt, Pau got hurt, Bynum is hurt but he will be back in the lineup in a few days. I agree with most of you guys but I think some of you guys dont have faith in your team because of the way the Cavs have been playing.

True they are a good team but a lot can happen during the playoffs as we WITNESSED last year. All I can say is lets worry about the W/C for right now and hope we get to the finals and then we take it one game at a time. The Christmass game was a JOKE and the next game we did give them hell and we got jacked at the end. Its nobodies fault but our teams. But if I know P.J and Kobe, Lamar, Artest and sorry arse Fish I know that come playoff time this team will step it up and defend our title.

Me, Im not too concerned about it, NOT ONE BIT. Even when this team was down and out in 05 06 and 07 I still had faith in my team no matter who we played and now Im still not concerned.

[LakerZombie]

I have faith in the team. Not just faith but people doubted us last year even in those close playoff battles prior to the finals but we pulled through. We DO have what it takes.

I just grow weary of our bad habits we seem to repeat lol