Lakers not playing with any kind of urgency. That's the only problem. Difficult to get motivated for 82 relatively meaningless games.
All the Lakers need to worry about is being healthy. The Nuggets are the only other Western contender and trust me, a Lakers/Nuggets series isn't even going 7 games.
It might help in the finals though (Wink added to avoid our old arguments.) At the moment - Artest doesn't seem like much of an upgrade to Ariza - but we'll see if he turns it on during the playoffs like Ariza did. If I were a Lakers fan, I'd be at least slightly concerned about chemistry going South if Artest isn't happy about touches and box scores.
I don't agree. Artest has played some sick games on the defensive end this season. A little bit more consistency and he'd be a contender for DPY. And that is the exact reason he was signed. He'll be ready for the Playoffs when things slow down a bit. As for home court against Cavs, yeah I agree. But we won't need it when we beat the crap out of Atlanta in the Finals. That's right. I called it.
Hopefully he can cover some speedy guards because I watched a couple of games where they seemed totally helpless against a quick scoring point.
That's not going to happen. We'll get crushed by the Brooks and Pauls of the world no matter what. We just need Artest to slow down the Melos, LeBrons and Durants of the League. Kobe will cancell out whatever any point guards this league has to offer.
Speaking of which - do the Cavs have anyone that can slow down Kobe if they make it that far? Does Lebron cover him when they play?
It'll be Moon or Parker for three quarters and then James in the fourth. They won't be the guys who decide this though. Don't get me wrong, one of them would get the MVP, but it's Mo or Gasol or Shaq or Bynum or Odom or Jamison that make the difference. Unless Kobe goes off for 60 or something sick like that.
Must I say the heat are actually hot, and if we win a series in the playoffs (which we are) we will keep Dwyane. Next year after Bosh or Amare comes down south we will be back in contention and the world will be in order.
I really do hope so. But if NY or Chicago get a Chris Bosh or Amare and the Heat get nothing, and they Chicago/NY offers him a huge contract, I am sure he will consider it. My hope is that we get some big guy to go with Beasley and a good enough point guard, is that too much to ask?
I agree with Duck - winning a playoff series won't have much bearing on where he ends up - I agree with you that the right offer could get him away from Miami, but it sure seems like Miami is his preference and Bosh wants to go there I think so that's the most likely scenario.
Bulls and Knicks can't offer him more then half of what Heat can. Remember in Miami there's no income tax. There is no way Wade is leaving. I could see Bosh signing there.
Indeed. I think Knicks have blown it completely. Not being able to trade that Curry contract is such a bummer for them. I think they'll end up with maybe JJ and Boozer or something like that. The two guys out there who are dumb enough to think money before winning. I think that's the best they can do. Bosh stays or signs with Bulls/Miami. James and Wade will definitely stay or hook up in Miami. Amare stays or signs with Bulls/Miami. Dirk, Kobe, Pierce, Yao, those guys aren't even opting out. Knicks are going to suck for a very long time.
Perhaps, but I think the average Knicks fan would rather have Joe Johnson and Boozer than their current shower.
Certainly. But if they sign those two to long deals at close to the max, they're pretty much stuck with being a 6-8 seed for the next six years. That's not what Walsh had in mind.
True. But really, they bet the house on attracting one of a possible two guys (Wade and LeBron) and one was already a long-shot to begin with for tax reasons. So I'm guessing they realize that they might end up having to settle for the second tier. Oh and great sig BTW.
The key will be to not overpay. If they can do that they could be alright waiting for the Durants and CP3s out there. I know