On a serious note....

[TruSkool]

It doesn't seem like the Lakers are physically and mentally "ready" to make a great playoff push.
we are most likely to face the blazers or spurs in the first round, which should be a difficult matchup itself...
if we progress, utah, denver, dallas etc await us...i think all of these teams are much, much hungrier than the lakers at this point...
and if we make a farther push...i dont see us beating the cavs in the finals, atleast not right now.

like another poster said, this particular team doesnt have a "switch" that the 00-04 team had. their bench just isnt that good, and on a final note....other teams are out for blood, and the lakers are willingly giving it without retaliation.

call me panicky, but this is the freakin truth at this point, and YES, our record IS inflated this year.

[daddyfivestar]

Panicky

[Joe Kleazy]

To be quite honest I would agree with most of what is being said about the lakers, to deny the way that we are playing would be extremely homerish. NOW saying that I do feel like after making the finals two years in a row and having the team level of talent that there is a extreme period of bordem with the regular season. On a young or even up and coming team that could play out to be way more dangerous than our own.

When the lights are turned on and the games mean much more and we are able to focus in on our opponents, I have no doubt that we will step up for the task. Injuries will come more into play than our attitudes this postseason.

I applaud and respect what cleveland is doing BUT they haven't accomplished anywhere near what we have and with them being a legit team in this league, they will seem to be prepared to roll us. Similar to what happened last season. The only difference is that I think they may have a better shot to actually make the finals this year, which still is not gauranteed no matter what the so-called experts ( remember us being crowned over boston and CLE last year ).

This team WILL NOT be bored in the playoffs since at this point in the careers of our stars, thats all that they are playing for. I do see some adversity but to be honest WE NEED THAT! No better example of what made us better last year was the fight we got from houston.

Teams will amp up for us and to be where we need to be regardless of who we play in the finals we will need to go through it. The only thing we should be worried about it injuries.

Lastly this offseason needs to be FULL HEALING MODE FOR THE WHOLE TEAM. I am not so sure that if we pull this out again this year that we can afford coming into next season beat up and not rested.

Its nothing wrong with being frustrated with what you're seeing out there now, but be realistic and know the heart of your team. SH** is gonna turn around. Dont let the trolls influence your decisions in times of frustration.

[H00PDREAMS]

Are Pau, Kobe and Bynum playing Olympic basketball this summer? I hear old mush mouth Bron is backing out and whining the hole way. If you're not going to play just say that you aren't. You knew the rules before you signed up. WTF!? Team USA don't need quitters.

I hope they rest as much as possible either way and I hope Kobe takes care of those gnarly fingers.