From the desk of Swordsman Yen There's two teams that I believe have the best shot at dethroning the Lakers:
Sacramento Kings - They took the Lakers to overtime in Game 7 last year, and have emerged as their chief rival. A few made free throws in that game, and we would perhaps be talking about who has the best chance at dethroning Sacramento right now. The Kings have only got better since that time, and once again the Lakers will once again have to go through the league toughest homecourt if they want a fourth consecutive title.
San Antonio Spurs - And this isn't just because I'm a fan. The Spurs have definitely upgraded from last year, adding Manu Ginobili, who would've been in the hunt for Rookie of the Year had he not been injured earlier. Tony Parker (Jason who?) has emerged as a legitimate #2 scorer and gives the Spurs the 1-2 punch along with Duncan. The bench has definitely stepped up as of late, especially Malik Rose, who has filled in well for The Admiral. If they take this momentum in a possible first round skirmish with the Lakers, watch out.
The Lakers are looking at a very tough road this year. They will not have homecourt advantage in any series, and will possibly have the toughest road to the Finals with the top 3 teams in the league being in the same conference. The first round has expanded to a best of seven, so there would be little time for the Lakers to rest ailing players (i.e. Shaq and his big toe) even if they finish the series early. That being said, don't count the Lakers out. They're the champions until somebody beats them.
Spurs, Kings, and if they ever get their shit together and Artest gets his head on straight(he won't), the Pacers. But, as much as it pains me to say this, I think we are looking at four in a row...GO KINGS.
this year the kings will beat the lakers...4 in a row i don't think so there is to many good teams in the west this year...the kings will win hopefully on the west of course....i would like to see the sixers win the championship but that probably won't happen
With the Spurs completing a season sweep of the Lakers, I have to say they stand at least a fairly good chance of beating them in the playoffs. Plus there's the revenge factor-- the Spurs have been the Lakers' bitches the last few years in the playoffs. Not to mention that so many people have “asterisked” the title they won in '99.
But I agree with Yen. Until the champions are defeated in the playoffs, don't count 'em out. Everyone did that to Houston in '95, and we remember how they shocked the world.
“I know what you're thinking, 'cause right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here. ‘Why, oh, why, didn't I take the blue pill?’” --Cypher, The Matrix
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... San Antonio will NOT beat the Lakers 4 times in the Playoffs. Mentally, they do not have the strength. A season sweep of L.A. is meaningless. Aside from Duncan, the Spurs have no go-to guy. No, Parker isn't one.
... Sacramento is STILL an immature group, and they are a worse team now than they were last year. Their shot has come and gone. Webber is getting softer every year, Vlade is getting older every year. Perpetual bridesmaid.
... Nobody in this thread has brought up Dallas -- that's a mistake. If anyone will dethrone the Lake Show, it's this team. They are the deepest team in the league; they play ball just like the Kings with one exception: they're YOUNGER and BETTER.
... The Lakers are still the best team in basketball until proven otherwise.
"Now you're gonna see ... a PerfectPlex!!!"
Rest In Peace, Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig. You are missed.
The Lakers have the best one-two punch in all of basketball (it pains me to say that SOOOOOOOO much, since my basketball fandom is based soley on hating the Lakers). But beyond that, they have NO BENCH. Seriously, who the fuck is Mark Madsen and why is he in their starting five?
Meanwhile, the Kings have the deepest bench in all of basketball, and while the Lakers MAY have the best two players on the court, the Kings will have the best 3-9 players on the court, and when it finally gets whittled down to the Lakers and Kings, the Kings WILL PROVE SUPERIOR.
Originally posted by joecollinsSeriously, who the fuck is Mark Madsen and why is he in their starting five?
SOMEbody missed the package on SportsCenter about how Madsen starting = wins.
But really, all he's notable for is being, objectively, the worst dancer in recorded history. That clip of him from one of the Laker parades will live on in infamy.
Phil Jackson should pull a Bischoff and walk onto the court with a phalanx of cops.
"Chris Webber! I'm afraid that you're about to learn that lying is not the answer. Take him away, officers!"
And then in the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Webber could drive into the arena, thus distracting the Lakers and allowing Mike Bibby to hit a jump shot for the win.
"I have no intention of uttering my last words on the stage. Room service and a couple of depraved young women will do me quite nicely for an exit."-- Peter O'Toole
"I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head, and piss down your dead skull!" -- Jack Nicholson, in A Few Good Men
L.A.: You know that Sacramento beat you - in six - last year. You know that the only reason L.A. ended up sweeping the Nets was because Game 6 was handed to you on a silver platter by the officials, and then you finally got your shit together and played a game for the first time *all series* in Game 7. (I'll rephrase that in case it's not clear: Teams who don't bring their best each night and rely on the mediators to get ahead don't deserve to win.)
If the regular season ended today... where would the Lakers be headed for Round 1? Arco.
The Kings are pissed... and L.A. better be preparing for an unusually long offseason. This is the year.
"L.A.: You know that Sacramento beat you - in six - last year."
... It must have been a figment of my imagination to see Vlade tip the ball out to Horry for the Game 4-winning three.
It must have been a figment of my imagination to see the Kings brick free throw after free throw IN THEIR OWN BUILDING to lose Game 7.
"You know that the only reason L.A. ended up sweeping the Nets was because Game 6 was handed to you on a silver platter by the officials, and then you finally got your shit together and played a game for the first time *all series* in Game 7."
... And now let's play the tried-and-true game of "We hate team X because they won three Championships in a row, so let's not give them any credit; instead, let's just BLAME THE REFS FOR IT! Team X didn't 'deserve' to win, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, and WAAAAHHHHH let's all have ourselves a good cry!"
The Lakers won. The Kings choked. Can we move on, PLEASE? Everybody keeps saying, for the past two years plus, that this is the year the Lakers go down. They always SAY that, but it never actually happens. What do you say we wait until it happens before we start popping off about who "deserves" what, OK?
"Now you're gonna see ... a PerfectPlex!!!"
Rest In Peace, Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig. You are missed.
http://sports.espn.go.com/​ncb/​news/​story?​id=4162444 Not good if this is true about Floyd and the S.C. program. uhhhh, it should be "PAID" on the thread title. My spelling sucks today.