Game 1 Tonight:
Series Prediction: Nuggets in (6)
While Kobe v. LeBron would be one helluva Finals match-up, I don't see Phillip getting his crew there this time around.
Chauncey Billups is going to be a serious problem for Derek Fisher this series. Fisher had enough problems with second year PG Aaron Brooks last time around, and if Brooks didn't play at stretches like a second year player, the Lakers might be fishing right now. However, in his 7th straight conference finals appearance, Mr. Bigshot is no Aaron Brooks, and he will consistently dominate Fisher, Farmer, and whoever the hell else the Lakers roll out there to try to slow him down, all series long.
On the interior, while the Laker frontline looks great on paper, they were outplayed twice by a Yao Ming-less frontline -featuring Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, and Carl Landry. The physicality of the Nuggets front line, lead by Kenyon Martin, Nene, and the Birdman, is going to be a problem for Pau, Lamar, and Bynum - none of whom care much for mixing it up.
Kobe is going to play great, and probably win (2) games on his own, but I don't think the rest of his squad matches up well enough to help him win two more. Anthony will be good, not great, but good enough to move on, and face his buddy LeBron in the Finals.
Showing posts with label Lakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lakers. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
23 and 1...Cavs Lose First Game at Home
Sometimes a loss is just a loss. Doesn't mean the Cavaliers are fatally flawed, doesn't mean they can't compete with the best in the NBA, doesn't even mean they couldn't beat the Lakers in a Seven Game Series. Sometimes its just ugly and your team looses. Despite a 20 point effort from Z, the bigs got outplayed Sunday by Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Does it mean the Cavaliers need to add another big? I don't think so. If the other Cavalier bigs had their best game of the season and still got dominated I would say they do. But Ben had his worst game maybe ever, Varejeo was at best average, and Hickson was a complete non-factor. I would venture to guess all three won't have they type of outing in the same game ever again. I would also bet my house that Lamar Odom doesn't get 28 and 17 ever again in his life.
****************************************************************************
While I did watch the ABC feed for the national perspective, I did miss hearing Uncle Austin. And while usually I will give you my favorite AC line of the game, this time the line of the game comes from the man made famous by fighting the shin of Alonzo Mourning, Jeff Van Gundy. While commenting on a story by Mike Breen that while Z was rehabing he got back in shape by playing Danny Ferry in one on one games JVG had the following to say:
"That had to be one of the slowest games of one on one ever played. Danny Ferry even in his younger days was slow. I can only imagine how slow he is now."
Agreed Jeff. However, I must add this about Ferry as a player. As more and more of this season goes by, I feel better and better about Danny Ferry "for three" the basketball player. While still doesn't mean I think GM Wayne Embry should have traded Ron Harper for him, I do think Owner Dan Gilbert made the absolute right choice in hiring him.
*****************************************************************************
Wally Szcerbiak - Speaking of Danny Ferry I have done a complete 180 in regards to my stance on a particular tradable commodity by the name of Walter Scerbiak. Previously, he was the only guy I was willing to move on the Cavaliers roster, if you were going to trade anybody. Now I'm gonna say you gotta keep Wally. He has been shooting the ball well of late, and if he can bring that stroke into the playoffs...look out Cleveland. To be fair to Wally, it was just last year this time he joined the team, and now that he is about a year in, he is playing his best basketball as a Cavaliers...kinda makes sense really.
****************************************************************************
While I did watch the ABC feed for the national perspective, I did miss hearing Uncle Austin. And while usually I will give you my favorite AC line of the game, this time the line of the game comes from the man made famous by fighting the shin of Alonzo Mourning, Jeff Van Gundy. While commenting on a story by Mike Breen that while Z was rehabing he got back in shape by playing Danny Ferry in one on one games JVG had the following to say:
"That had to be one of the slowest games of one on one ever played. Danny Ferry even in his younger days was slow. I can only imagine how slow he is now."
Agreed Jeff. However, I must add this about Ferry as a player. As more and more of this season goes by, I feel better and better about Danny Ferry "for three" the basketball player. While still doesn't mean I think GM Wayne Embry should have traded Ron Harper for him, I do think Owner Dan Gilbert made the absolute right choice in hiring him.
*****************************************************************************
Wally Szcerbiak - Speaking of Danny Ferry I have done a complete 180 in regards to my stance on a particular tradable commodity by the name of Walter Scerbiak. Previously, he was the only guy I was willing to move on the Cavaliers roster, if you were going to trade anybody. Now I'm gonna say you gotta keep Wally. He has been shooting the ball well of late, and if he can bring that stroke into the playoffs...look out Cleveland. To be fair to Wally, it was just last year this time he joined the team, and now that he is about a year in, he is playing his best basketball as a Cavaliers...kinda makes sense really.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
LeBron v. Kobe...Tip-off at 3:30
On ESPN this morning Jon Barry said the following in regards to the impact of the MVP race on today's Cavaliers - Lakers match-up:
"If Kobe Bryant goes in, with his Lakers, stops this streak (Cavs undefeated at home) they sweep Cleveland, Kobe is the leader in the club house, it is his MVP race to lose."
Barry did go on to pick the Cavaliers to win, inferring that the Lakers win at Boston over the weekend took a lot out of LA. While noting that, it should also be noted - when referring to a possibly sweep of the Cavaliers - that Kobe won the first game in LA while LeBron was down two starters. Delonte West and Z did not play. Now I can already hear the Kobe honks, honking it up if Cleveland does win saying they won without Bynum, but the way I look at it, today, both teams are down (1) starter - so its even. Let's tip it up.
I am expecting a performance today similar to the one that LeBron and D-Wade had going on a Sunday in Cleveland a couple years ago, except ratcheted up a bit. The scalpers are feeling it too. Reports are that the cheapest way you can get into the Q today is for upwards of $150 for a loudville ticket. Should be fun. Go Cavs.
"If Kobe Bryant goes in, with his Lakers, stops this streak (Cavs undefeated at home) they sweep Cleveland, Kobe is the leader in the club house, it is his MVP race to lose."
Barry did go on to pick the Cavaliers to win, inferring that the Lakers win at Boston over the weekend took a lot out of LA. While noting that, it should also be noted - when referring to a possibly sweep of the Cavaliers - that Kobe won the first game in LA while LeBron was down two starters. Delonte West and Z did not play. Now I can already hear the Kobe honks, honking it up if Cleveland does win saying they won without Bynum, but the way I look at it, today, both teams are down (1) starter - so its even. Let's tip it up.
I am expecting a performance today similar to the one that LeBron and D-Wade had going on a Sunday in Cleveland a couple years ago, except ratcheted up a bit. The scalpers are feeling it too. Reports are that the cheapest way you can get into the Q today is for upwards of $150 for a loudville ticket. Should be fun. Go Cavs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
