Are the Lakers starting to really scare anyone else? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

SaltwaterChaffy · 03-27-2004, 01:33 AM

They just put back to back whoopings on the T-wolves and Kings, two of the top teams in the league. I think it's safe to say that they've "flipped the switch."

rakesh.s · 03-27-2004, 01:43 AM

minnesota just got leveled

i want to see a lakers vs mavs game or lakers vs grizz game at this point to see how those two teams hold up but the big game is coming up on thursday against the rockets

kobe has been making some ridiculous shots(left handed 15 ft jumper..are you kidding me?.. and that step back fadeaway over hoiberg today)

it's gonna suck if they run the table

mavsfanforever · 03-27-2004, 01:55 AM

Lakers, I am scared of the Magic right now.

To be frank, I think it is either Lakers or Spurs that will get out of the WCF. I have to give props to Popovich for building a team around Duncan(something that Nellie has not done around Dirk).

Also I am not sure if west will win the championship this season. The way detroit is playing and the pacers have been playing it will probably be the best playoffs ever.

MavsFanFinley · 03-27-2004, 02:07 AM

People forgot what the Lakers team was like when all were healthy. We're only seeing what they were doing early in the season.

This shouldn't be surprising anyone.

grndmstr_c · 03-27-2004, 04:07 AM

Malone's passing is so important to that team. I wasn't sure if what we saw early in the season was just their collective experience overpowering a lot of other teams that were equally talented but hadn't yet had a chance to gel, but what they're doing at this point sure makes it look like they're just a damn good team. I'll be interested to see how their bench holds up in the playoffs, but I don't think there can be any question that they having the best starting 4+1 in the NBA.

Shaq Attack2 · 03-27-2004, 05:00 AM

What MFF said.

OutletPass · 03-27-2004, 05:23 AM

No surprise at all. But it will be a surprise if they all stay healthy, happy and out of jail through the playoffs. With 4 great players and a cast of wannabes, that is one fragile team.

Having said that, I expect Shaq to go absolutely nuts in the playoffs.
The Big Man has just been waiting for this one, IMO.

samoan-maverick · 03-27-2004, 12:13 PM

I soooooooooooooo scared. [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

JUST BRING IT FFFFFFFFFFLAKERS

MavsFanatik33 · 03-28-2004, 12:36 AM

You bet they are starting to scare me, they are blowing out good teams and just look so sharp. If they play even close to this in the playoffs, a new dynasty could be underway. They just are all working as a team, it's almost perfect....

FreshJive · 03-28-2004, 01:40 AM

F 'em

ddh33 · 03-29-2004, 12:42 AM

Yep, they look like they're getting hungry...

What is interesting to me is just how important that Karl Malone is to that team. His passing, rebounding, scoring, defense, and leadership (especially) are really making the difference for this team.

WayOutWest · 03-29-2004, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: ddh33
Yep, they look like they're getting hungry...

What is interesting to me is just how important that Karl Malone is to that team. His passing, rebounding, scoring, defense, and leadership (especially) are really making the difference for this team.

No doubt. Now if only he could use one of his famous elbows to take out Devean George for the rest of the year, I'd be on cloud 9!

Drbio · 03-29-2004, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: FreshJive
F 'em

Word!

mavsman55 · 04-03-2004, 09:14 AM

They were so underrated by the media for a while for losing so many games... but any team would lose that many games if 3 of their 4 best players were out with an injury or recovering from one... mavsfanfinley had a good point - they've gotten their chemistry back that they had early on in the season as a healthy team and are now a bigger threat than everybody imagined. With 4 hall-of-famers on one team, you're bound to blow out a few teams. I see them coming out of the WCF this year.. unless Dallas has something to say about it.

GO MAVS!

mavsfanforever · 04-04-2004, 06:24 PM

Spurs were not scared today and beat the LA at LA.

WayOutWest · 04-05-2004, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: mavsfanforever
Spurs were not scared today and beat the LA at LA.

I hear ya!

I posted this on another board before the game:
"Color me a pessimist (sic?) but the teams the Lakers have beaten durring this impressive run have either been marginal teams or good teams that are struggling. I think even the T-Wolves were stumbling when the played the Lakers. I'm really looking forward to this matchup, both teams are playing well and there should be no excuses. The Spurs have something to prove vs the Lakers this year and I hope the Lakers haven't forgotten what happened last year.

IMO the remaining games the could be trouble for LA and put a kybosh on their quest for the best record in the west will be Sonics, Spurs, Blazers and Griz. Playing up at Arco will be tough as well but Kobe loves those types of games plus the Webber deal is still a disaster."

The game vs the Spurs was a legit test for the Lakers and they couldn't pull out the win. I think the loss should be chalked up to unispired defense. The Spurs are a great defensive team so you should expect tough shooting nights and having to work for almost every shot but when the Lakers don't step up their D for the ENTIRE game then it makes beating the Spurs alot more difficult. If the Lakers would have played steady defense instead of in spurts they would have been in a much better position to win.

Some of the plays the Lakers ran had me scratching my head. There was a play in the 4th when after a Laker time out Kobe jacks up a three point shot fading to his right...WTF? Shaq and Malone were starting to come to life in the paint and Kobe tried to play hero one too many times for the Lakers. Kobe needs to stay within the offense against teams like SA. That bastard!

Simon2 · 04-05-2004, 01:11 PM

After watching the Lakers Spurs game yesterday, I was surprised to see how much Gary Payton's game has deteriorated. Parker just ran rings around the guy. Payton has slowed down so much. I hope Jackson doesn't come around and start Fisher. Payton coming off the bench will be scarier than Payton as a starter.

ddh33 · 04-05-2004, 01:15 PM

I still think a lot of it ends up depending on matchups.

I think San Antonio matches up really well with LA.
I think Dallas matches up well with San Antonio.

Right now, it's still too early to make my predictions. I think it will all depend on who draws who.

But LA and SA are starting to seperate themselves - and the media will play that up, but there is no guarantee that either of those teams win...