[flamesbball84]

barring an absolutely epic collapse by the magic in the 4th, it's lakers vs. magic. who are you picking to win it?

[flamesbball84]

i'm going lakers in 7 - they aren't as good as they were last year, but this magic squad isn't as good as last year's celtics team either.

Starters
fisher vs. alston - push, although fisher has the playoff and big game experience, but he's not nearly as good as he used to be.
kobe vs. anyone the magic plays at shooting guard - kobe by miles
turkoglu vs. ariza - ariza can play, but i give a very slim edge to turkoglu.
gasol vs. lewis - two totally different players. gasol will own lewis down low, but can gasol defend on the perimeter? it's a push for me because you can't really compare the two
bynum vs. howard - bynum is a promising young C, but not anywhere near howard's level

bench
Odom, Brown, Farmar, Vujacic, Walton vs.
Gortat, Pietrus, Johnson, Redick
Big edge to the Lakers here. Odom has all-star level talent, no other bench player in the series comes close to that right now. Gortat is solid, but he hasn't been getting much playing time the past few games, so his impact may end up being minimal unless Howard gets in foul trouble. Pietrus is the second best player off the bench for both teams. However, after those three players, the talent and experience level leans heavily in favor of the Lakers.

[g-webb1994]

A 1995 flashback for the Magic, they get in the Finals, only to get quickly dispatched in four games.

Maybe they can send some 14 year old girls over to the Lakers hotel to distract Kobe.

[ToTheLeft]

To do it shuk style, with some more detail

I'll rate each guy out of 10 based on how he matches up with the other team

ORL LA

Rafer (7) > Fisher (5)
(Fish is past his prime, and I've heard Lakers fans call him a cancer for the team... and watching them I have to agree..)
Lee (5) > Kobe (10)
(Kobe is the best player in the league when it comes to getting his shots and making them, especially when it matters. Courtney is just a rookie, but does play solid defense.)
Hedo (8) > Ariza (6)
(Ariza finally meets his match with a guy who is just quick enough to keep up with him, and has a size advantage. Trevor will be able to D Hedo up better than the small guards that CLE ran at him, but with the pick and rolls and everything the Magic use, he will get his shots.)
Rashard (9) > Gasol (8)
(Rashard will run Pau all over the floor, but Gasol can post up on Rashard)
Howard (10) > Bynum (6)
(Bynum has a history of foul problems... Dwight has a history of going strong and getting fouled... I sense a matchup problem.)

Benches

Pietrus >> Vujacic
Johnson < Farmar
Gortat < Odom (but not by much)
In the battle of college ball superstar white boys JJ > Adam Morrison

Which makes the bench a virtual push... I mean the Lakers have a couple more guys who come off the bench, but they're next to irrelevant. (Luke Walton is not a matchup problem...)

39 is higher than 35 (back to my oh so scientific ratings), so the Magic win, in 6.

[ToTheLeft]

Cavs players postgame:

We did EVERYTHING against them, tried EVERYTHING against them, and lost. We want to see how the Lakers can do against them.

[flamesbball84]

Howard gets in foul trouble too, it's not just limited to Bynum...

[flamesbball84]

Cavs players postgame:

We did EVERYTHING against them, tried EVERYTHING against them, and lost. We want to see how the Lakers can do against them.

Well the Lakers are a flat out better team the the Cavs are. I think game 6 from both the eastern and west conference finals indicates that pretty well.

[flamesbball84]

TTL, you do realize that adam morrison isn't even on the active roster for the Lakers, right? meanwhile, Luke Walton and Shannon Brown are averaging 29.3 combined minutes in the playoffs. That's 29.3 more minutes than Adam Morrison.

Odom only a little better than Gortat? Gortat is averaging just 11.4 minutes a game, take away the game when Howard was suspended, and it's only 9.8 minutes a game, basically, not mmuch time to make a significant impact. Meanwhile, Lamar Odom is averaging 31.4 minutes a game in the playoffs and is generally making a significant impact, although he did struggle against the Nuggets and Rockets some, but both of those teams have really good defensive players at the forward that can matchup well with him - Rockets had Battier and Artest, Nuggets had Kenyon Martin - and even Martin had trouble guarding him in games 5 and 6. The Magic don't have that level of a defensive player that can matchup with Odom both inside AND outside. It's not close, Odom has all-star caliber talent when he brings it. Gortat's not even close to that level yet.

You think Rafer, a 7, is better than Ariza and Bynum, who you both gave a 6? And Pau Gasol, a third-team All-NBA pick this year is only one point higher than Rafer (8 to 7), just as good as a guy that didn't even make an All-NBA team (Hedo), and worse than a guy that didn't even make an All-NBA team (Rashard)? Gasol got more points than Carmelo, Parker, Billups, and Shaq to have the most votes on the third-team and was just 24 points shy of Brandon Roy who got second-team. That's elite territory right there, territory Alston, Turkoglu, and Lewis have yet to reach. Jeff Van Gundy has gone on record to say that he believes Gasol should have been a second-team pick, and I have to say Jeff Van Gundy is a pretty intelligent basketball mind. Rashard isn't on that level. Honestly, is this a joke? You honestly expect anyone with anyone with even a minimal amount of basketball IQ to believe those ratings?

Here's how I rate the players in the series:
1 - Kobe
2 - Howard
3 - Gasol
4 - Turkoglu
5 - Lewis
6 - Odom
7 - Ariza
8 - Bynum
9 - Pietrus
10 - Alston
11 - Lee
12 - Gortat
13 - Walton
14 - Farmar
15 - Brown
16 - Johnson
17 - Vujacic
* Redick would be ranked 16th, but he only played one game in the conference finals, so I don't even know if he'll be playing any.

[ToTheLeft]

TTL, you do realize that adam morrison isn't even on the active roster for the Lakers, right? meanwhile, Luke Walton and Shannon Brown are averaging 29.3 combined minutes in the playoffs. That's 29.3 more minutes than Adam Morrison.

Odom only a little better than Gortat? Gortat is averaging just 11.4 minutes a game, take away the game when Howard was suspended, and it's only 9.8 minutes a game, basically, not mmuch time to make a significant impact. Meanwhile, Lamar Odom is averaging 31.4 minutes a game in the playoffs and is generally making a significant impact, although he did struggle against the Nuggets and Rockets some, but both of those teams have really good defensive players at the forward that can matchup well with him - Rockets had Battier and Artest, Nuggets had Kenyon Martin - and even Martin had trouble guarding him in games 5 and 6. The Magic don't have that level of a defensive player that can matchup with Odom both inside AND outside. It's not close, Odom has all-star caliber talent when he brings it. Gortat's not even close to that level yet.

You think Rafer, a 7, is better than Ariza and Bynum, who you both gave a 6? And Pau Gasol, a third-team All-NBA pick this year is only one point higher than Rafer (8 to 7), just as good as a guy that didn't even make an All-NBA team (Hedo), and worse than a guy that didn't even make an All-NBA team (Rashard)? Gasol got more points than Carmelo, Parker, Billups, and Shaq to have the most votes on the third-team and was just 24 points shy of Brandon Roy who got second-team. That's elite territory right there, territory Alston, Turkoglu, and Lewis have yet to reach. Jeff Van Gundy has gone on record to say that he believes Gasol should have been a second-team pick, and I have to say Jeff Van Gundy is a pretty intelligent basketball mind. Rashard isn't on that level. Honestly, is this a joke? You honestly expect anyone with anyone with even a minimal amount of basketball IQ to believe those ratings?

Here's how I rate the players in the series:
1 - Kobe
2 - Howard
3 - Gasol
4 - Turkoglu
5 - Lewis
6 - Odom
7 - Ariza
8 - Bynum
9 - Pietrus
10 - Alston
11 - Lee
12 - Gortat
13 - Walton
14 - Farmar
15 - Brown
16 - Johnson
17 - Vujacic
* Redick would be ranked 16th, but he only played one game in the conference finals, so I don't even know if he'll be playing any.

I was joking about the Adam Morrison thing, but glad it got your panties in a wad.

And Gortat is a solid player... and Odom is past his "All-Star" prime. he plays more minutes, sure, and he shows up sometimes, but he won't be able to keep up with Rashard, and wouldn't sniff the basket against D12.

In the regular season, Odom had a whopping FOUR points and 8 boards while fouling out in the game in Orlando... and had a pretty good game at staples with 17 points... so he's what... Big Baby Davis with more rebounds and less energy? Not too worried about that. "When he brings it" we'll see how far he takes it.

As far as the rest of the Lakers bench goes, i just meant it wasn't a matchup problem... Farmar is better than johnson is better than brown, and Walton doesn' match up well against anyone.

And judging by what Jameer did in the regular season to the Lakers, yeah, Rafer is a 7. Jameer would be a 10. They couldn't stop him... Fish is old and washed up and can't D up anyone.

And I can tell you follow basketball well since you let All-NBA team's determine who the best players in a matchup are. (sarcasm, since you probably won't get the joke). I don't care who had votes for what....

Who was the coach of the year? MVP? What did we just do with them? Yeah. Exactly. So I don't care how many NBA Third Team votes someone got, it's about matchups. But whatever, listen to Jeff Van Gundy. He picked the Cavs and Celtics. See where that got him?

I was rating the matchups, not the players overall. But you clearly don't read, you just pick things you want to whine... I mean debate, about.

[ToTheLeft]

And Reddick didn't play because he wouldn't have had anyone to guard. He was too small for LeBron, and the 2 guard was guarding LeBron all series (Pietrus and Lee)

[ToTheLeft]

Also, I am a Magic homer and a Laker hater, so take that for what it's worth.

[Sly Fox]

A 1995 flashback for the Magic, they get in the Finals, only to get quickly dispatched in four games.

Maybe they can send some 14 year old girls over to the Lakers hotel to distract Kobe.

Nice reset ... Dreeeeeeeam Shake.

[dompennix]

I say Lakers in 6

[ToTheLeft]

I say Lakers in 6

Why does everyone think the Lakers will win in Orlando in game 6? Lakers in 7 makes sense, closing out in Staples. But Lakers in 6 just sounds like you didn't want to say 7 cuz that seemed too long, but 5 seemed too short, so you picked 6.

I think if you want to call it a close series, it has to be either Lakers in 7 (Lakers winning every home game) or Magic in 6 (Magic steal one).

Eh, I guess that came across harsh... but the point stands... do you think the Lakers are going to win in Orlando?

[dompennix]

I say Lakers in 6

Why does everyone think the Lakers will win in Orlando in game 6? Lakers in 7 makes sense, closing out in Staples. But Lakers in 6 just sounds like you didn't want to say 7 cuz that seemed too long, but 5 seemed too short, so you picked 6.

I think if you want to call it a close series, it has to be either Lakers in 7 (Lakers winning every home game) or Magic in 6 (Magic steal one).

Eh, I guess that came across harsh... but the point stands... do you think the Lakers are going to win in Orlando?

I honestly think that the Lakers can end it in Orlando. I see Orlando winning 2 but no more. I would have Orlando winning in 7 if Jameer Nelson was playing

[flamesbball84]

People think LA can win at Orlando because Lakers are a pretty good team and the Magic aren't invincible at home. Lakers can play defense with the best of them when they want to, just rewatch the game 6 destruction of the Nuggets, which is a better TEAM than Cleveland. Lakers only lost by 3 in Orlando, and that was with Jameer scoring 27. Take away Jameer and the result of that game is almost assuredly a different story.

[flamesbball84]

I say Lakers in 6

Why does everyone think the Lakers will win in Orlando in game 6? Lakers in 7 makes sense, closing out in Staples. But Lakers in 6 just sounds like you didn't want to say 7 cuz that seemed too long, but 5 seemed too short, so you picked 6.

I think if you want to call it a close series, it has to be either Lakers in 7 (Lakers winning every home game) or Magic in 6 (Magic steal one).

Eh, I guess that came across harsh... but the point stands... do you think the Lakers are going to win in Orlando?

I honestly think that the Lakers can end it in Orlando. I see Orlando winning 2 but no more. I would have Orlando winning in 7 if Jameer Nelson was playing

Actually, Jameer might play, but I would imagine after setting out for so long he won't be anywhere near the all-star level he was at before he got injured.

[flamesbball84]

Who was the coach of the year? MVP? What did we just do with them? Yeah. Exactly. So I don't care how many NBA Third Team votes someone got, it's about matchups. But whatever, listen to Jeff Van Gundy. He picked the Cavs and Celtics. See where that got him?

Well I concede. You obviously know more about basketball than Jeff Van Gundy - a man who has coached 748 NBA games as a head coach, an overall record of 430-318, a playoff record of 44-44, went to the eastern conference finals twice, went to the nba finals once, and went to the playoffs in 8 of the 9 full seasons he coached.

But let me ask you this, what has being a Magic fan gotten you? How many NBA titles have they gotten?

[flames1971]

Who wins?

MAGIC!

Why?

DWIGHT HOWARD!!!!!!!

[Th3rd]

Who wins?

MAGIC!

Why?

DWIGHT HOWARD!!!!!!!

you do realize that a Lakers fan can come in and say the same thing watch

who wins?

LAKERS!

Why?

KOBE BRYANT!!!!!!!!

and hey my reason is even more valid then yours hahaha


ill say if the magic get stars in their eyes from being in the finals the Lake show takes them out in 5, if the Magic keep their heads on their shoulders Lakers in 7. Kobe is hungry to finally win another championship

[ToTheLeft]

Who was the coach of the year? MVP? What did we just do with them? Yeah. Exactly. So I don't care how many NBA Third Team votes someone got, it's about matchups. But whatever, listen to Jeff Van Gundy. He picked the Cavs and Celtics. See where that got him?

Well I concede. You obviously know more about basketball than Jeff Van Gundy - a man who has coached 748 NBA games as a head coach, an overall record of 430-318, a playoff record of 44-44, went to the eastern conference finals twice, went to the nba finals once, and went to the playoffs in 8 of the 9 full seasons he coached.

But let me ask you this, what has being a Magic fan gotten you? How many NBA titles have they gotten?

Wow, sorry that I don't bandwagon and pick a team that wins all the time, and stick with the area I'm from. What an idiotic thing to say.
I am a Bucs, Rays, Magic, and Lightning fan. See a trend, bandwagonshuk? Or do I need to teach you geography too?

And Jeff Van Gundy was a good coach, sure, but that doesn't mean I have to take everything he says about basketball as gospel... especially since he was wrong, many, many times as an analyst. He and Jon Barry give some of the worst commentary since Emmitt Smith.

[flamesbball84]

Who was the coach of the year? MVP? What did we just do with them? Yeah. Exactly. So I don't care how many NBA Third Team votes someone got, it's about matchups. But whatever, listen to Jeff Van Gundy. He picked the Cavs and Celtics. See where that got him?

Well I concede. You obviously know more about basketball than Jeff Van Gundy - a man who has coached 748 NBA games as a head coach, an overall record of 430-318, a playoff record of 44-44, went to the eastern conference finals twice, went to the nba finals once, and went to the playoffs in 8 of the 9 full seasons he coached.

But let me ask you this, what has being a Magic fan gotten you? How many NBA titles have they gotten?

Wow, sorry that I don't bandwagon and pick a team that wins all the time, and stick with the area I'm from. What an idiotic thing to say.
I am a Bucs, Rays, Magic, and Lightning fan. See a trend, bandwagonshuk? Or do I need to teach you geography too?

And Jeff Van Gundy was a good coach, sure, but that doesn't mean I have to take everything he says about basketball as gospel... especially since he was wrong, many, many times as an analyst. He and Jon Barry give some of the worst commentary since Emmitt Smith.

No need to teach me geography. The fact of the matter is that the Magic haven't gotten any NBA titles, the Bucs are a terrible franchise and the last NFL team to go winless, the Rays have had one good year, and the Lightning only have one championship. Wow that sure is a lofty history to be proud of.

And I'm sure you have a flawless record picking games and playoff matchups and making basketball analysis. Actually, I think you should contact TNT or ESPN, they probably have a spot for you since you are such a basketball expert...

[ToTheLeft]

Well I concede. You obviously know more about basketball than Jeff Van Gundy - a man who has coached 748 NBA games as a head coach, an overall record of 430-318, a playoff record of 44-44, went to the eastern conference finals twice, went to the nba finals once, and went to the playoffs in 8 of the 9 full seasons he coached.

But let me ask you this, what has being a Magic fan gotten you? How many NBA titles have they gotten?

Wow, sorry that I don't bandwagon and pick a team that wins all the time, and stick with the area I'm from. What an idiotic thing to say.
I am a Bucs, Rays, Magic, and Lightning fan. See a trend, bandwagonshuk? Or do I need to teach you geography too?

And Jeff Van Gundy was a good coach, sure, but that doesn't mean I have to take everything he says about basketball as gospel... especially since he was wrong, many, many times as an analyst. He and Jon Barry give some of the worst commentary since Emmitt Smith.

And I'm sure you ahve a flawless record picking games and playoff matchups and making basketball analysis...

I don't get paid for it, and people don't follow what I say as if it were gospel.

And who is your NBA team, shukwagon?

[flamesbball84]

Wow, sorry that I don't bandwagon and pick a team that wins all the time, and stick with the area I'm from. What an idiotic thing to say.
I am a Bucs, Rays, Magic, and Lightning fan. See a trend, bandwagonshuk? Or do I need to teach you geography too?

And Jeff Van Gundy was a good coach, sure, but that doesn't mean I have to take everything he says about basketball as gospel... especially since he was wrong, many, many times as an analyst. He and Jon Barry give some of the worst commentary since Emmitt Smith.

And I'm sure you ahve a flawless record picking games and playoff matchups and making basketball analysis...

I don't get paid for it, and people don't follow what I say as if it were gospel.

And who is your NBA team, shukwagon?

Celtics and Bobcats. What do you have to say about that, totheloser?

[ToTheLeft]

Makes me wonder what kind of crazy bandwagon homer you are... but whatever. Have fun with the Celtics this offseason... hope the fishing is good, you did get a head start.