Does anyone beat the Lakers these next 3 years?

Discussion in 'OTHER SPORTS Forum' started by islstl, Aug 2, 2009.

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  1. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    They just signed Odom, the final piece to the puzzle.

    Who challenges them?

    I don't see anyone coming that close if they stay away from injury.

    Bryant, Artest, Gasol, Odom, Bynum on the court at the same time. Good grief.

    No one under 6'7".

    It will be interesting to see what combo they start games off with. I assume Odom will be coming off the bench to spell Artest at the #3. Unless they plan to use Artest at the #2, in which this will be the starting lineup.

    I can't remember how Houston used Artest.
     
    islstl, Aug 2, 2009
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  2. TigerBait3

    TigerBait3 Guest

    Odom will more than likely be coming off the bench for Bynum.

    The Spurs should be a tough team to beat this year, but they are on the decline.
     
    TigerBait3, Aug 2, 2009
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  3. DownOnTheBayou

    DownOnTheBayou Say My Name!

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    Considering the fact that the NBA is at an all-time low, i would say no.

    There's not much talent in the league, and the Lakers pretty much have an all-star team compared to the rest of the league.

    This Lakers team might be the latest "dynasty" so to speak, but not even close to one of the all-time greatest teams.
     
    DownOnTheBayou, Aug 2, 2009
    #3
  4. clair

    clair Rockets

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    1. Celtics (the team the Lakers never beat when they were full-strength)

    Rondo
    Allen
    Pierce
    Garnett
    Wallace

    2. Dallas (the best offseason in the NBA)

    Kidd
    Terry
    Howard
    Dirk
    Dampier

    With Marion off the bench to match Odom and this kid named JJ Barrea who is a major spark plug off their bench

    3. Spurs

    Parker
    Manu
    Jefferson
    Duncan
    McDyess

    With Ratliff off the bench to give them 6 extra fouls on the bigs

    4. Orlando (the Finals team from last year, who is going to be much better)

    Nelson (who will be 100% healthy)
    Carter
    Lewis
    Bass
    Howard

    5. Cleveland

    Williams
    West
    Bron
    Varajao
    Shaq

    With Anthony Parker and their normals off the bench.

    All of the above are going to be far improved from last season's team. The Lakers in no way waltzed through the playoffs, so if you believe like I do that Artest for Ariza swap doesn't make them a ton better, and you add another year of wear onto Kobe and Fisher, then there is plenty of competition on there in what the other dude said was a "down" NBA -- which couldn't be farther from the truth in my opinion. We usually enter the season with only 2-3 legit teams who can win it. This year, there's the teams above plus a few others if you add upstart teams like the Heat and Bulls, etc... or maybe even the Hornets out west.



    The lineup will be Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol and Bynum. They need someone on the floor who doesn't expect to score 20 a game to prevent chaos.
     
    clair, Aug 2, 2009
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  5. LSUMASTERMIND

    LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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    Yes, this team will implode with Ron Artest.
     
    LSUMASTERMIND, Aug 3, 2009
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  6. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    I think Artest is past his days of off the wall shenanigans and chicanery.

    So is there a potential for a chemistry clash, however?

    You can have too much talent.

    I think Boston has to worry as much as anyone with adding another scorer like Sheed. He wants the ball too.
     
    islstl, Aug 3, 2009
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  7. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Clair, I was surprised to see Dallas as your #2 pick.

    The lineup is the same as last seasons. Why the love? Just because of the added depth?
     
    islstl, Aug 3, 2009
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  8. clair

    clair Rockets

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    The Rockets did an all-world job of covering up and not letting his shenanigans be made public.

    The Rockets were real close to trading him at the trade deadline, but they had to keep him, because 3 days before the deadline is when McGrady said he was out for the season.

    But don't worry, a zebra's stripes don't change colors and in LA, these things will be a lot harder to hide.

    RealGM: Basketball Wiretap Archives: Artest Made A Habit Of Walking Around In Underwear

    Almost missing Game 7 and taking the bus in your underwear?

    Dude's still perfectly crazy.
     
    clair, Aug 3, 2009
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  9. clair

    clair Rockets

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    My list wasn't in any particular order -- if it were, Orlando would probably be #1.

    But, I thought Dallas was a very underrated team last year and they added a lot of versatile scorers like Shawn Marion, Tim Thomas, and Drew Gooden to what I already considered a team that matched up decently with the Lakers. I think they will be a big player this year.
     
    clair, Aug 3, 2009
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  10. LSUMASTERMIND

    LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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    Sheed will lay down on the Celtics, just as he did the Pistons. I love Sheed, i think he is one of the best, but he became a cancer and Im glad he is gone. This dude would show up to games high. Game 6 of the ECF against the Celts, Sheed showed up high as a kite.
     
    LSUMASTERMIND, Aug 3, 2009
    #10
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