Haters have been prophesying doom for our Lakers next year, but if Phil Jackson is back to his old form, I feel the Lakers are a cinch for the playoffs. Caught the old '94 Chicago Bulls Conference Semifinal game 3 against the Knicks on NBA TV, the infamous Pouting Pippen game. With Jordan into his first retirement, the Bulls not only made the playoffs but even gave eventual Finalist New York a hard time before succumbing. What was exceptional about this was the Chicago roster. Consider this: C- Bill Cartwright PF - Horace Grant SF - Scottie Pippen SG - Pete Myers ("The Man who Replaced Jordan") PG - BJ Armstrong Reserves - Luc Longley (rookie), Bill Wennington, Scott Williams, Toni Kukoc (rookie), Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Jojo English This roster was not inspiring on paper, yet they were in the thick of the Conference semifinals. Compare this to our roster: Mihm, Brown, Odom, Bryant, McKie, George, Cook, Walton, Jones, Medvedenko, Bynum, Vujacic (and also Profit, Wafer, and Parker). I say this year's Lakers' talent level is not worse than that Chicago team. If Divac were able to play this year, I dare say we're even deeper. If Phil Jackson can get that Chicago team to the playoffs, he can do it with our Lakers. But note, his 94 Bulls were a very good defensive and rebounding team, and BJ Armstrong led the league in 3-ball percentage. So, if Phil is still the same good old Phil who can light a fire under our Lakers' butts and get them to play good defense and good triangle offense, and squeeze good performances from up and down our bench, we can look forward to more winning days. Laker faithful, believe.
don't count on it. They'll make the playoff's tho but the West is just 2 tough for tehm to do that much damage.
I ain't a doubter, but reality says otherwise. The talent in the West this year is much tougher than what the Bulls faced back in 1994 in the EC. You just can't compare it. Realisticly, the Lakers would be lucky to even make the playoffs this year.
I think i disagree with that Lakers have a good chance to go into the playoffs n <strike>wtf</strike> are you guys saying "west is packed" actually "east has more competition" who does the west have? I say western-conference playoff teams will be: (No order) West: Spurs Suns Kings Dallas Lakers Rockets Denver Memphis??
^^ Sorry, but the Rockets are going to be a better team than the lakers. They have 2 proven stars, and got further than the lakers last year, and improved upon that roster in the off-season. Denver could probably be better than the lakers this year, if they kept up the run they had under Coach Karl at the end of last year. In addition to those teams, the Warriors are going to be good, after the Baron Davis trade they went, what 18-11? Something fairly good, and they have some good young players along with a certified star in Davis. We'll just have to wait and see how things end up. The lakers have some potential, but it mainly rests on Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom, in addition to how they mesh with Kobe. I mean we all know kobe bryant is a spectacular individual basketball player, nobody will deny that, we'll see how things come together this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">I think i disagree with that Lakers have a good chance to go into the playoffs n <strike>wtf</strike> are you guys saying "west is packed" actually "east has more competition" who does the west have? I say western-conference playoff teams will be: (No order) West: Spurs Suns Kings Dallas Lakers Rockets Denver Memphis??</div> Add to your short list the Sonics, TWolves, Jazz, Warriors, & Clippers. Also no need to curse on this site to get your point a cross. Both conferences are going to be tough, there is a lot of parity in the league.
As much i like the Wolves i really dont think they have a chance of making it into the Playoffs I see them in a re-building stage once again as for the jazz, warriors and clippers: No..they will most likely be lottery-bound just because they dont have a solid line-up Clippers and Warriors will improve no matter what because of their good off-season and warriors(Baron Davis) As for Sonics: I see them having a good chance for the playoffs
yeah, Sonics and Twolves could make the playoffs too. Though I'm not sure how things will mesh in Seattle with a non-proven coach so to speak, and some of their depth gone. As for the Wolves, if KG couldn't make it into the playoffs last year with two Allstar caliber players (Spree, Sam) how is he supposed to make it without them? I mean I know he's KG and all, but there isn't really anyone on that team besides him, and wally lol. My prediction for the West and East look like this- in order: West East 1.Spurs Detroit 2.Dallas Indiana 3.Suns Miami 4.Rockets Nets 5.Kings Cavaliers 6.Denver Wizards 7.Lakers Sixers 8.Sonics Celtics
Wizards and Celtics in the Playoffs? lol i dont think so Wizards lost a lot of key players i see them having a slight if any chance at getting the 8th seed and Celtics; as much as i like them i dont see them going into the Playoffs this year They have problems within their chemistry like they have a great team; a great bunch of young guys and they should be set for the future I think the Lakers have a better chance of going into the playoffs than the wolves
^^You mention that those teams don't have strong frontlines, but neither do the lakers. The warriors frontline is stronger than the lakers, and they were really coming on last year. I'd be interested to know why you think the east is stronger than the west, and what you think the east will turn out to like come play off time. The sonics have lost a coach, and maybe a couple players, but they were easily in the playoffs last year.
Warriors better line-up than Lakers? Lakers have a medicore line-up not the best but its not bad either plus they have Phil whom i believe is one of the best coaches in the league so that gives them an advantage and i think the East has competition In the west it'll be between Suns and the Spurs and maybe the Rockets & Kings East: Heat..Pistons..i want to know how Nets will do with RJ back...Pacers..Cavs...Philly...
^^ FRONTLINE as in frontcourt, not line-up. We'll have to wait and see how the two teams do during the season to determine that. Let's see in the west Dallas is better than Philly, Cavs, and Nets, same with Houston. I think that the as for the top 3 teams in each division, I agree the east is probably stronger. I think that Spurs-Suns-whoever, is weaker that Heat-Pistons-Pacers, as a whole, but the Spurs are the best team in the league right now.
Spurs/Suns/Kings i think Heat/pistons/Pacers NBA Finals will most likely be: Heat vs Spurs Which i have no idea who will top Both have good teams and i disagree with all the people saying "Spurs are unstoppable" because thers shaq Spurs: Mohammad/Duncan/Finley/Ginnoboli/Parker and bench of: Horry/Bowen Heat: Shaq/Haslem/Walkers/Wade/William Bench: Posey and ZO Seems okay it'll be a good match-up
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">yeah, Sonics and Twolves could make the playoffs too. Though I'm not sure how things will mesh in Seattle with a non-proven coach so to speak, and some of their depth gone. As for the Wolves, if KG couldn't make it into the playoffs last year with two Allstar caliber players (Spree, Sam) how is he supposed to make it without them? I mean I know he's KG and all, but there isn't really anyone on that team besides him, and wally lol. My prediction for the West and East look like this- in order: West East 1.Spurs Detroit 2.Dallas Indiana 3.Suns Miami 4.Rockets Nets 5.Kings Cavaliers 6.Denver Wizards 7.Lakers Sixers 8.Sonics Celtics</div>I think you have both the Suns and Dallas too high. Phoenix lost too big parts of their offense last year in Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson. They replace one with Jim Jackson, but he's slowly running out of gas and is really no more then a spot up jump shooter nowadays. The Suns are a lot weaker then they were this past season. Beyond that, teams will have gotten a year to figure them out and won't be nearly as succeptible to get 110 pts racked up on em. With Dallas, they lost Finley. That was a big part of their offense. They're going to really need Marquis Daniels to finally step up and have a breakout year. Last year, he didn't have quite the year people expected, and if Dallas is looking to be good, they're going to not only need a big year out of him, but out of Stackhouse and Howard as well. If those three don't come up and turns in to the Dirk show every night, Dallas won't be winning to many games that way. I can see the Lakers potentially squeaking their way into the top 4, but it's not likely. Denver is going to be very good next year. George Karl will keep that team motivated and he won't let Carmelo take a game off every now and then. He's going to get the most out of all his players every night, which is something that wasn't happening before he got there. If you want proof of that, just look at their turnaround pre George Karl and afterwards. Something like 24-3 after they got him I believe. They're going to be very good next year if the players continue to buy into his system. The other team you can't overlook is the Warriors. 18-10 with BDiddy last year and he's back this year. Throw in there JRich, Troy Murphy, a healthy Mickael Pietrus, and Mike Dunleavy, that's a very good looking team on paper. If they can turn it around and keep up their good play from last year, they could be the sleeper in the Western conference this year. Beyond them, you still have the Jazz, TWolves, and Memphis. To say the least, the West is deep this year. I'm not sure if Phoenix or Dallas will be good enough this year to get that high.
Kareem's back, worked out Andrew Bynum and was pleased that Bynum's not that "raw" and already has "got some sophistication to his basketball game." Tex Winter will be back as consultant. Laker faithful, BELIEVE!
