So yeah, not trying to get too ahead of myself, but last night's game (even though we lost) pretty much showed me that barring any catastrophe like Game 4 of the Finals or mid-season deals, the west isn't anything to worry about. SAS - needed everything going their way including officials just to squeak by a 1 point win NOH - beat us once this season, but we usually own them, CP3 and West won't have career games on the same night everyday HOU - destroyed them when they were healthy, other than that they're never healthy DEN - not a challenge PHX - not a challenge DAL - not a challenge POR - good talent but too young UTH - not a good team, too many injuries So that leaves the East. Cleveland, Orlando, and Boston. How do we match up with those teams? I know Shape discussed the Magic and how they're a bad matchup for us, what about Cleveland? How do we match up? Boston has been struggling lately, but I know they're just going through a slump. They actually seem like the best matchup for us, believe it or not, at least IMO.
LeBron is a bad matchup for every team. In the playoffs he can play 45 min a game. Now he has a great team around him. I think they are going to win the east. Celtics are very good and very dangerous, I just think they lost their edge a little. They've gotten older, lost some depth, and already have a championship that they were clawing for last year. But you can never take them for granted, they'll cold-cock ya. Orlando relies to heavily on the 3 pt shot. It will be their downfall when it comes down to playoff basketball. Howard is a man-beast, but not good enough yet to dominate a series with the top teams.
Cavs lose today in OT against the Bulls. Lebron missed like 13 shots in a row, didn't score in the 4th, had 8 turnovers. Hopefully we have the same success.
Tyrus Thomas made that happen. His help defense was ridiculous. I've never seen Tyrus play this good of defense before. Also, don't sleep on the Spurs. Spurs are the real deal, and could definitely knock out the Lakers.
The Cavs don't worry me at all. I think their record is a product of a very weak schedule. Plus, they're not that great of a road team. If we have homecourt advantage against them, I think we'd win the series. The only guy they have that worries me anyways is LeBrick, and if we can make him a jumpshooter, they have no chance. We already proved we could beat the Celtics. I don't think they can take us as long as we have a healthy Andrew Bynum. He'll prevent any of their bigs from having career days, which was our issue in the Finals. We could stop Leon Powe or Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis. Bynum neutralizes them and makes them a non-factor. Plus, the Celtics don't have the depth they had last year, forcing their aging stars to play more minutes than they might be able to. The Magic honestly scare the crap out of me. As much as I love Bynum, I don't know how well he matches up with Howard. Plus, I'm relatively sure Jameer Nelson would torch Fisher/Farmar, seeing as how neither of them are worth a damn on defense. Hedo also creates a match up issue because of how versatile he is...same with Rashard Lewis. That team, in general, creates all sorts of match up issues, and if there's a team I'm worried of, it's them.
The Celtics will always be dangerous so long as they are the defending champions. With the Cavs, I feel like, if no one else gets off, and you make LeBron just shoot jumpers the whole game, then they are no concern. Not to mention the road issues they have. Orlando is scary, but if they are missing, then they have a hard time to score. I like how Andrew has the height to keep up with Dwight Howard, Dwight was never my main concern when we face Orlando. The main issue is how we match up with Rashard and Hedo. Pau isn't fast enough to guard either, only the height. Vlad doesn't have the defensive to keep up with them. Luke is undersized against both, and they don't hesitate to shoot over shorter guys. I think come game time, we'll see Andrew on Dwight, Pau on Rashard, unless Orlando starts a different power forward. Ariza or Kobe on Hedo, either one works. WHoever is left between the two I just mentioned on Bogans or whoever there two guard is at the time. And Fisher/Farmar on Jameer (brrrr).
I think you respect Boston too much DW. They may be dangerous, but if they don't get some depth and get it soon, their big three is going to be VERY tired come the playoffs, and that doesn't bode well for them if they get stuck playing an athletic team like the Hawks.
I used my overplayed and standard champions dribble. Talk to me on AIM and you can find out how I really feel about Boston
Of the Western teams... i think the closest team to us are the Nuggets (w/ Melo)... Of the 3 eastern teams, i think we'd have the most problem with the Cavs simply because we don't know how we'll matchup to them although Delonte West being injured will only help us LOL We already beat Boston (so has a lot of other weaker teams) Orlando beat us because our bigs sucked that game, yes we don't matchup well against them but i think we should be able to beat him.
I think Kobe has more brick games in a season than LBJ does. And if ever LBJ has an off game... he still manages to get his # of dimes. hehe LBJ's jumper has drastically improved this season... And making him a jumpshooter is easier said than done. He is stronger than most/some PF's in this league IMO. Bynum vs. Howard would be the key to the game. BUT, after how i saw Bynum playing neck and neck against Duncan wowed me... If he could manage something like that against Orlando then we get the W. Me too
That's because Kobe takes more jump shots than LeBrick. Drastically improved but still not very good. He's still, at best, a mediocre jump shooter. Howard is much more powerful around the rim than Duncan. I was impressed by his defense on Duncan too, don't get me wrong, but Howard is a completely different beast.
LeBron's jumper has not drastically improved, it is up just a couple of percentage points (though his 3-point shooting has actually regressed). He is simply a bit better in most aspects of his game and is having another superb season of course. I'm just not sure about the Cavs over an 82 game season though, I'll have to see more of Orlando before I make up my mind on them too. Right now the Lakers should have the veteran savvy and talent to defeat any opponent in a series.
