Does anyone beat the Lakers these next 3 years?

Yeah i am pretty surprised to see Dallas at 2 also. Dallas messed this offseason up pretty bad. They had another crappy draft, and they let Brandon Bass go, and picked up Drew Gooden. Ok, so you let a young guy go, and then hire an old worn down version of the guy you let go? I like the Marion move, but the Matrix is not enough to balance out that team. Dallas needed a big rebounder, they should have tried to make a move for kendrick perkins, and kept Bass, or drafted Dajuan Blair out of Pitt. Dallas also needs a guy that can cut to the basket and score, or jump shoot off the screen ala rip hamilton. They didn't address their needs, they will be deeper, but they are going to get crushed on the glass this upcoming season. And don't get me started on their first round pick. I am confident that Donny Nelson would draft the sasquatch if they could find him, as long as he didnt reside in the U.S. He keeps looking for that international steal like Dirk was, and it just aint gonna happen.

 

Gooden is only 27.

A lot of old dudes in the NBA if he's old.

The Matrix is a near 10 board a game guy for his career.

 

They'll miss Ariza more than they think.

 

Not sure what you mean.

Dec. 25th: 95-83 Lakers in LA
Feb. 5th: 110-109 Lakers in Boston

Garnett played and they appeared to be at full strength in both games.

 

the 4 out of 6 games in the Finals didn't go quite as well.

I think the Lakers are a better and more equipped team now. Just saying that it's a mental hurdle until they beat them when it actually matters.

 

you cant pull the celtics at full strength card in the finals when the lakers didnt have their whole roster. goes both ways.

its a terrible tool to use anyways since the teams are different now.

 

if you're of the belief that the Lakers are better without Bynum on the floor (like I am), then it doesn't matter much that he was injured in 2008.

I like the Celtics a lot in the matchup just in that Rondo is going to work Fisher up and down the court.

It does hurt that the C's don't have Posey anymore, but Allen has always done a good job guarding Kobe.

 

IIRC, Ariza was hurt that year too and the Lakers are definitely better, on both sides of the ball, with him on the floor. :thumb:

 

Odom makes Bynum (his role) more important. He will start, but he gives you a quality body with six fouls in the second half as a reserve. No doubt the Lakers are better with him. Hes young and has only gotten better.

That series had the Lakers using Radmanovic and Vujacic for most of the game - in spots that are now filled by Artest and Odom. Thats getting better...

 

I'm too lazy to look at it, but I'd bet their record without him is about the same as the record with him.

It's moot, because as you said, using the 2008 vs. 2010 thing is a bad comparison, but I just think it's a mental hurdle they need to climb.