DubaLakers wrote:I keep wondering how in the heck you guys are going to play, they aren't easy parts like Boston was. You almost want to run LBJ as a PF, he's going to be your best frontcourt defender.
What worked for Boston was their different offensive skills, but what might work for our guys is their similar ones - simply because all of them, including Bosh, are so versatile. Against the Celtics you knew that Ray Allen's thing was coming off screen after screen to get good looks (or spotting up as a floor-spacing threat), KG was still great but was mostly a defensive star by that point, and Pierce was like a somewhat toned-down variation on Kobe/Wade.
You had a better idea of where and when to double each of them than I think most teams will have for these guys. Not saying that makes them a better or more dangerous Big 3, but I can't wait to see the game plan to slow them down. All I can think of that will work well is zone, but any time that's brought out it's only a matter of minutes before they get comfortable and figure out how to work around it.
It'll probably take constantly shifting defensive looks unless you have at least two All-NBA defensive stoppers - and I'll be the first to admit the Lakers come closest with Artest and Barnes.
DubaLakers wrote:Gasol is if not the best, the second best PF behind Dirk. Bosh would be #3.
For all the criticism Bosh gets for his game, though, Dirk is even more extreme. Dude is basically a gigantic 2-guard. Definitely one of the greats, and probably the only guy worthy of max money this summer other than our Big 3, but I usually dock him a few points when ranking PFs just because I don't think he ever really lived up to his physical potential. Has had moments where I thought he started taking that step, and no doubt a great work ethic throughout his career, but I just think he could have been destroying guys in the post for years by now.
DubaLakers wrote:As far as you guys stopping us. Let me lay it out for you. Barnes on Wade, Artest on LBJ, Kobe on your PG (Arroyo?), Pau on Bosh, Bynum on Anthony. OR Fisher on Arroyo, Kobe on Wade, Artest on LBJ, Pau on Bosh, Bynum on Anthony.
Definitely would make us work for our points, but I think you also have to look at how those guys would contain you on the other side. Some might laugh about Bosh's defense, but he's far better than Beasley, and LBJ is at least as good as Q-Rich, Jamario Moon, and Shawn Marion, and with those lineups we've split the last four games with you guys, like dflash3 pointed out.
Plus, with our Big 3 being probably the fastest star players at each of their positions, we'll probably be playing to our strengths in the open court, which was a vulnerability for you guys in the playoffs against OKC, Phoenix, and even Boston when Rondo was pushing the ball. You have to admit, your legs are yet another year older now.
DubaLakers wrote:You guys are going to be good. I would guess just short of 60 wins, I'll guess 58, but championship? Not this year gentlemen. The Lakers were fortunate last year in that Game 7. Both sides were empty in the second half on a tough series and two day rest cross country trip. They won because they hit bigger shots and Artest played his best game as a Laker.
I'm betting on about 62, partially because we'll be resting the last few games of the season. I don't think that's too far-fetched considering we're taking the 47 win Heat from last year and swapping Beasley for Bosh, LBJ for Q-Rich, and Mike Miller for Dorell Wright. Yeah we lost J.O., but we went 13-3 with Joel Anthony starting in his place, and with the pickup of Big Z (whose offensive game is sadly probably better than J.O.'s at this point) I'd say it's an overall wash at center.
As for the championship, I honestly think it comes down to whoever gets home court. Not that either team is going to be bad on the road, it's just that both are going to be ridiculous at home. I'm penciling you guys in as favorites as a matter of policy for me (reigning champs always start as the favorites in my book, unless there's been a dramatic roster change), but I also think your window is a lot smaller than you might believe.
