It's Official - Lakers playing Thunder in 1st Round

[Kilroy]

Personally I think this team needs to be tested... And the sooner the better for me.

I hope we play Dallas and Denver before we play Cleveland or Orlando.
If we don't, I think we'll be in for a rude awakening in the finals... One I have my doubts we'd recover from.

I'd rather us lose to a worthy team in the 2nd/3rd round than cake-walk into the finals and get blown out like we did against Boston a couple years ago.

Frankly, unless this team is pushed to it's limit and finds a way to overcome it in round 2 or 3, I really don't think we have a chance in the finals unless Cleveland specifically has some serious injury issues.

I just haven't seen anything real special from this team all year to allow me to think we're ready to handle a tough/physical Finals series. So I'm hoping I see it in the play-offs...

I believe last year we weren't ready either untill we overcame Denver and Houston.

[RocketPower23]

Personally I think this team needs to be tested... And the sooner the better for me.

I hope we play Dallas and Denver before we play Cleveland or Orlando.
If we don't, I think we'll be in for a rude awakening in the finals... One I have my doubts we'd recover from.

I'd rather us lose to a worthy team in the 2nd/3rd round than cake-walk into the finals and get blown out like we did against Boston a couple years ago.

Frankly, unless this team is pushed to it's limit and finds a way to overcome it in round 2 or 3, I really don't think we have a chance in the finals unless Cleveland specifically has some serious injury issues.

I just haven't seen anything real special from this team all year to allow me to think we're ready to handle a tough/physical Finals series. So I'm hoping I see it in the play-offs...

I believe last year we weren't ready either untill we overcame Denver and Houston.

Agreed. If we aren't good enough to beat the best in the West, then we don't deserve to be champs.

[Jakay]

Wouldn't be surprised to see it over in four. New playoff teams usually fall quick. Kinda like Portland did last year (two years ago?). Usually because they're not ready to face a defense that's so geared to taking them out of their game. A lot of Odom and Artest on Durrant should help that.

[garcia3]

question is, who the hell is going to guard Westbrook?? We have to prevent hom form going "Troy Hudson" on us

[The Skyhook]

Phil Jackson's mind games already setting in.

The star of the Thunder told The Oklahoman he felt insulted when Lakers Coach Phil Jackson publicly stated how often he got to the free-throw line this season, a hint Jackson obviously hoped would be digested by referees in the first round.

"That's disrespectful to me," said Durant, who tied LeBron James for a league high by averaging 10.2 free-throw attempts this season. "I work so hard, and obviously since he's not around he doesn't see how hard I work and how much I've gotten better through the season. It's kind of unfortunate for him to say that about me."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lak ... 9479.story

[dockingsched]

spoken like a true playoff rookie.

[blix]

Exactly. Welcome to the playoffs, Kevin. Phil's already in his head.

[The Skyhook]

Jackson was fined $35,000 for his comments about the refs. This is dumb as hell. Stu Jackson need to calm down with all these fines on Phil. Hes such a little bitch.

[iamworthy]

Jackson was fined $35,000 for his comments about the refs. This is dumb as hell. Stu Jackson need to calm down with all these fines on Phil. Hes such a little bitch.