The Lakers will repeat. Who else could win next year? The Celtic? Maybe. I'd love to see that matchup. I wanted it to be a Lakers Celtic matchup this year. Maybe I'll get lucky. And I can watch the Celtics go down next year.:)
The spurs? They picked up McDyess, Jefferson, and DeJuan Blair in the off-season. They now have a faster 3, and two solid backups at the 4. Plus Ginobili will be back.
+ The lakers will be complacent this season. Odom has his ring, Ariza took a walk, and you just brought crazy into your locker room. Kobe will still have the fight and Fisher is a consummate professional, rest of those guys... eh. Gasol and Bynum are too weak to handle Sheed and KG, hell, if Portland signs a solid big and teaches Odom how to play basketball they could beat up on LA.
I think the Portland Trail Blazers are worth watching..... they have a young team and could surprise everyone. If they do not win it all, they will be a threat to a lot of teams...
Shoulda, coulda, woulda... champions make the plays that count. The Magic failed in game 2 to close it out, the Lakers closed it out in OT. The Magic failed to shoot two free throws (pathetic), the Lakers closed them out.
Good call .... Champions make plays. The Lakers made plays, the Magic did not. Look at it this way. The LAKERS upgrade - Artest! The Magic downgraded - Vince Carter?? The Celtics upgrade - Wallace. The Cavs upgraded but Shaq will not be able to deliver.
Magic downgraded - Vince Carter??? VC a downgrade? 4 all-stars a downgrade?
The Magic have had the most productive offseason of any NBA team; with the Spurs being second and Raptors third. Their all-star PG is returning healthy, their bench is now as good or better than anyone (Bass, Barnes or Pietrus, Anderson, Gortat, JJ, AJ, and maybe Watson.
IF SVG can make the pieces fit; the Cavs finish third maybe fourth in the East, Celtics 2nd and Magic first.
So tired of everyone hyping the Shaq to Cleveland deal. Him and Anthony Parker can settle for a 2nd round exit this season. Witness Ferry locking up Varejo for 50+mil over the next 5 years.
if lakers keep the same players and stay healthy next season they have a great chance of repeating. i believe everyones' play will improve and be more awesome next season.
the economy is bad in california they can not afford to buy two years in a row. Koby can cry and talk the referees into making calls on the other team and let him get away on the other side for the same infraction like the hjurling of the elbows at Howard this year but I know Stern wont let it happen next year so there goes koby there goes the Lakers
The nuggets came from nowhere this year and did great. They are an upwardly-mobile team that new stars will want to play for. If they only had a tall guy like Gasol to get them more rebounds they would have been undefeatable in the playoffs.
Too many clowns without brains on the Nuggets team - some real talent, but honestly, they seemed like a bunch of little kids when they ran into the Lakers.
Lakers won't. They have done it now and won't be hungry enough. Celtics have a good chance if K.G. comes back 100% and everyone else stays healthy. Cav's won't. Still too much of a one man show. Magic might if they learn their lessons from this experience. They will definitely be hungry. Spurs won't. Too old. Mavs won't. Don't have killer instinct.
Seriously - everyone sure has short memories. The Celtics won over essentially the same Laker team last year and no doubt would have again with KG. Anyone out there think the Lakers go anywhere without Kobe? Well the Celtics came pretty close without KG. Pierce almost on a par with Bryant, KG and Rondo better than anything the Lakers have and Ray Allen is just icing on the Celtic cake that the Lakers had no answers for before and still don't.
Lakers won both games against the Celtics this year, before KG went out for the season. So to make a statement like this is a little bold. Just wait until next year and hopefully any doubt will be answered by the Lakers dismantling the Celtics in the Finals.
The Celtics won because Bynum was not in the lineup to give KG a hard time. Next year, the Lakers should sit Bynum on the bench when they go on the road to play at Memphis. Having a healthy Bynum would have made an even bigger difference in this years's playoffs plus last year it would have really helped against Boston. Losing KG was a tough loss for Boston, they got to feel LA's pain from last year.
the celtics r dunn! kg got 1 they aint hungry pierce is washed up allen chokes rondo is overrated!! lakers will repeat sucka!! go la artest will be all over pierce u know!!!!!
Artest will be out with a suspension before the finals. Sheed will help pick up the slack and Big Baby jump shot will keep gettin better. Pierce, Allen, Rhondo, a healthy Garnett, Sheed off the bench. Keep underestimating them and the Lakers will get a beatdown like they did in the finals in 08.
I think the Cavs are a great team in a position to actually significantly improve. Cavs should free up space with Wally and Big Ben, use them on better players to support the core of Lebron, Z, Varejao, Mo, Delonte. Cavs all the way in 2010.
Are you kidding? The Clippers could add Griffin, Shaq, LeBron and Jesus himself and still find a way to lose. These are the CLIPPERS we're talking about.
The Clippers best hope is to avoid being last in their division, and 2nd or 3rd worst team in the league. If they even come close to the 8th playoff spot it will be miraculous.
Rockets almost beat LA without Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady and having their only true back-up center, Deke Mutumbo, end his career in the playoffs due to injury (too late to replace). So, Bwahahahaahahahahahhahaahaaa!
Where r all my Spurs fans at?? Remember no Ginoboli for the last two years. That's why La went all the way this year! We will be back next year! We will have a more improved Ginobili and new blood on the bench. Finley will be gone and so will a few others. We need to go after Arriza or Odom. They are free agents with LA. GO SPURS!!!!!!
thats what im talking about. With Ginobli Spurs are a much better team. Last two years he has had some crucial injuries and undergone surgery on his ankles. He will be back with a vengeance next year and we will make some changes on that bench. we need to go after Odom since he's a free agent!!!
Sorry, Spurs fans. Dirk and the Mavericks will stand in the way again and again. Duncan is old and even with Ginobli Dallas could walk smack you around. Cuban has also promised big changes to only improve the team, so I guess San Antonio will be first-round fodder AGAIN!
look for the heat to pick up a big name vet like amare stoutamire or chris bosh to help d-wade...all he needed was some help...couldn't do it all by himself. the nba draft will be interesting. a must watch event !
The Lakers will repeat. Who else could win next year? The Celtic? Maybe. I'd love to see that matchup. I wanted it to be a Lakers Celtic matchup this year. Maybe I'll get lucky. And I can watch the Celtics go down next year.:)
The spurs? They picked up McDyess, Jefferson, and DeJuan Blair in the off-season. They now have a faster 3, and two solid backups at the 4. Plus Ginobili will be back.
+ The lakers will be complacent this season. Odom has his ring, Ariza took a walk, and you just brought crazy into your locker room. Kobe will still have the fight and Fisher is a consummate professional, rest of those guys... eh. Gasol and Bynum are too weak to handle Sheed and KG, hell, if Portland signs a solid big and teaches Odom how to play basketball they could beat up on LA.
Lakers rule!!!!!!!!!!! Phil Jackson beat auerbach with 10 titles
OKC Thunder storms the finals in four straight.
bahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
I think the Portland Trail Blazers are worth watching..... they have a young team and could surprise everyone. If they do not win it all, they will be a threat to a lot of teams...
Longview, WA --- S Larson
ya P-Town
As a Laker fan i must say i would not enjoy a Lakers-Trailblazers contest, the matchups have not been good for the Lakers.
The magic blew this series and should have been up 3-1 rather than down 1-3.
Game 2? Lee's layups.
Game 4? Dwight's free throws.
Two simple changes that could have made the series completely different. With a healthy Nelson, they will will.
Shoulda, coulda, woulda... champions make the plays that count. The Magic failed in game 2 to close it out, the Lakers closed it out in OT. The Magic failed to shoot two free throws (pathetic), the Lakers closed them out.
Lakers are champs! Wooooot!
Good call .... Champions make plays. The Lakers made plays, the Magic did not. Look at it this way.
The LAKERS upgrade - Artest!
The Magic downgraded - Vince Carter??
The Celtics upgrade - Wallace.
The Cavs upgraded but Shaq will not be able to deliver.
Magic downgraded - Vince Carter??? VC a downgrade? 4 all-stars a downgrade?
The Magic have had the most productive offseason of any NBA team; with the Spurs being second and Raptors third. Their all-star PG is returning healthy, their bench is now as good or better than anyone (Bass, Barnes or Pietrus, Anderson, Gortat, JJ, AJ, and maybe Watson.
IF SVG can make the pieces fit; the Cavs finish third maybe fourth in the East, Celtics 2nd and Magic first.
So tired of everyone hyping the Shaq to Cleveland deal. Him and Anthony Parker can settle for a 2nd round exit this season. Witness Ferry locking up Varejo for 50+mil over the next 5 years.
if lakers keep the same players and stay healthy next season they have a great chance of repeating. i believe everyones' play will improve and be more awesome next season.
the economy is bad in california they can not afford to buy two years in a row. Koby can cry and talk the referees into making calls on the other team and let him get away on the other side for the same infraction like the hjurling of the elbows at Howard this year but I know Stern wont let it happen next year so there goes koby there goes the Lakers
The nuggets came from nowhere this year and did great. They are an upwardly-mobile team that new stars will want to play for. If they only had a tall guy like Gasol to get them more rebounds they would have been undefeatable in the playoffs.
Too many clowns without brains on the Nuggets team - some real talent, but honestly, they seemed like a bunch of little kids when they ran into the Lakers.
trust me.....if betting were allowed, I would bet anyone on this site.
Magic all the way in 2010... Young team that is just maturing as a world class force!
Lakers won't. They have done it now and won't be hungry enough. Celtics have a good chance if K.G. comes back 100% and everyone else stays healthy. Cav's won't. Still too much of a one man show. Magic might if they learn their lessons from this experience. They will definitely be hungry. Spurs won't. Too old. Mavs won't. Don't have killer instinct.
Basketball is the worst sport next to soccer.
agree. it may be even worse than soccer. they should at least raise the rim to 15 feet and make each team co-ed.
why because ALL YOU play is JUMPROPE..........
Seriously - everyone sure has short memories. The Celtics won over essentially the same Laker team last year and no doubt would have again with KG. Anyone out there think the Lakers go anywhere without Kobe? Well the Celtics came pretty close without KG. Pierce almost on a par with Bryant, KG and Rondo better than anything the Lakers have and Ray Allen is just icing on the Celtic cake that the Lakers had no answers for before and still don't.
essentially but NOT the same. got rid of radmonovic and kwame brown. that made a huge difference.
Beg to differ: they added Bynum and Ariza. Would like to see them meet again in 2010 and see if your Celtics can back up your lip service.
Lakers won both games against the Celtics this year, before KG went out for the season. So to make a statement like this is a little bold. Just wait until next year and hopefully any doubt will be answered by the Lakers dismantling the Celtics in the Finals.
Rondo is a THUG,,,,,,,,,, glad KOBE POINTED HIS FINGER AT HIM AND TOLD HIM TOWATCH IT ..............
Bynum is the DIFFERENCE,,,,,,,,,,, next year he will be a MONSTER
The Celtics won because Bynum was not in the lineup to give KG a hard time. Next year, the Lakers should sit Bynum on the bench when they go on the road to play at Memphis. Having a healthy Bynum would have made an even bigger difference in this years's playoffs plus last year it would have really helped against Boston. Losing KG was a tough loss for Boston, they got to feel LA's pain from last year.
the celtics r dunn! kg got 1 they aint hungry pierce is washed up allen chokes rondo is overrated!! lakers will repeat sucka!! go la artest will be all over pierce u know!!!!!
Artest will be out with a suspension before the finals. Sheed will help pick up the slack and Big Baby jump shot will keep gettin better. Pierce, Allen, Rhondo, a healthy Garnett, Sheed off the bench. Keep underestimating them and the Lakers will get a beatdown like they did in the finals in 08.
Where do you put Ariza in your match-ups?
Lakers have the best chance - watch for Portland to charge strong but still another year away
Celtics too old - it showed
Cavs - not enough weapons, pitiful offense
Magic - need a bigger Jameer Nelson who is a scoring threat - should repeat out of the East
I think the Cavs are a great team in a position to actually significantly improve. Cavs should free up space with Wally and Big Ben, use them on better players to support the core of Lebron, Z, Varejao, Mo, Delonte. Cavs all the way in 2010.
Z is gonna fall asleep in court waiting for Lebron to pass the ball, zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
The Clippers will surprise everybody next year. When they add Blake Griffin, they will become an elite team.
Are you kidding? The Clippers could add Griffin, Shaq, LeBron and Jesus himself and still find a way to lose. These are the CLIPPERS we're talking about.
Bahahahahahahaha!!!! Well put, SkippyBob.
OMG, the Donald Sterling Clips??? Loool, it must be the medication . . . .
Elite Team??? LOL... Blame it on the Alcohol!
The Clippers best hope is to avoid being last in their division, and 2nd or 3rd worst team in the league. If they even come close to the 8th playoff spot it will be miraculous.
Rockets almost beat LA without Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady and having their only true back-up center, Deke Mutumbo, end his career in the playoffs due to injury (too late to replace). So, Bwahahahaahahahahahhahaahaaa!
With Ginobili back and perhaps a few offseason acquisitions, the Spurs will be in the mix again.
Where r all my Spurs fans at?? Remember no Ginoboli for the last two years. That's why La went all the way this year! We will be back next year! We will have a more improved Ginobili and new blood on the bench. Finley will be gone and so will a few others. We need to go after Arriza or Odom. They are free agents with LA. GO SPURS!!!!!!
thats what im talking about. With Ginobli Spurs are a much better team. Last two years he has had some crucial injuries and undergone surgery on his ankles. He will be back with a vengeance next year and we will make some changes on that bench. we need to go after Odom since he's a free agent!!!
Sorry, Spurs fans. Dirk and the Mavericks will stand in the way again and again. Duncan is old and even with Ginobli Dallas could walk smack you around. Cuban has also promised big changes to only improve the team, so I guess San Antonio will be first-round fodder AGAIN!
GO MAVS!!!
The problem with the Spurs is that they are just too old, that is also a problem for the Celtics.
These Ginobili story is played out. It's about time the Spurs overhaul their team.
lets go drinking!
look for the heat to pick up a big name vet like amare stoutamire or chris bosh to help d-wade...all he needed was some help...couldn't do it all by himself. the nba draft will be interesting. a must watch event !