Well, maybe Cleveland should start doubling him. Against them this year, he was 17-28 from the field while averaging 20 points and 12.5 rebounds.

In the last game in cleveland, Odom and Gasol combined for 46 points and 19 rebounds against ben wallace and company and that was the cavs only home loss of the season. Then again, Delonte West wasnt playing that game.;)

*side note- Delonte west is a solid NBA player and he is having a very good postseason. He is tough, smart and is able to hit the big shot when left open. I just scoff at the idea that he is any kind of impediment for kobe.

[quote=dalakhani]West did a very good job against Joe Johnson who is bigger than Kobe. While Johnson isn't Kobe he is an NBA allstar. I agree that stopping Kobe is not an option but West will make him work harder for his points than most and will also keep him honest at the other end. Kobe must have been sick the night Rashard Lewis gave him trouble.

2 games doesnt make a trend. The one game Odom was out of his mind. I dont expect that to happen again. Plus the one x factor that Cleveland has is if its big men are having trouble with Gasol they can have LeBron take care of him.

I would hate to see LA overlook Denver and miss out on Lebron opening a can of Whup Ass on Kobe. Change of the guard this year in June.

Explain that one to me. The Lakers have no one to matchup with Billups, the Nuggets are big with Anthony, K-Mart, and Nene in the frontcourt, and both their shooting guards are 6'6" so can matchup with Kobe. I'd think that Denver is one of the best matchups against LA. Do you have a reasoning for saying they match up horribly or did you just hear some sportscaster say that and are regurgitating it?

Youre right sniper...i just regurgitate this info i hear and i have no idea of what im typing.

The bolded quote is about the funniest on the thread.

THE LAKERS HAVE BEATEN THEM 10 STRAIGHT TIMES. Yes, Denver matches up really well with them.:)

Now, if you want me to educate you on WHY they have beaten them ten straight I will be happy to do that. or if you would like to WAGER on the series, we can do that as well.

let me know my good friend.

[quote=Cannon Shell]Delonte West is going to keep Kobe Bryant honest? Delonte West? DELONTE WEST?????? And he will make him work harder than MOST? Who is most? I think may be talking about the cousin of Most named SOME.

Delonte West is a solid NBA player and he is having a good playoffs. Lets not confuse him with being anything but a role player though.

No way Doodlebug from Digable Planets can contain Kobe.

Delonte = Doodlebug. The rebirth of tardface.

How has LA beaten them 10 straight times when Denver beat the Lakers 90-79 just this year? LA had won nine straight before that but I kinda think a loss breaks a streak.

Sorry...i regurgitated the wrong info. They had beaten them 9 straight and have beaten them now 10 of 11. Great match up.

A side note. On the game they lost, there were travel issues and they didnt get to the hotel until 4 a.m and were playing their 3 game in four nights...at denver no less.

You don't get excuses in the NBA. When the Lakers beat Denver the first time this season, Iverson was still there and Billups wasn't and the Nuggets had played the night before in LA and had to travel to Denver while the Lakers were already in Denver waiting on them.

I think that from a physical standpoint, the Nuggets have a chance to match up with the Lakers only because Bynum is not playing as big as he was before. But I don't think the Nuggets have the mental makeup to beat them. I was starting to think that maybe they had discovered what they needed to do but watching those last three games against the Mavs told me otherwise. They were too easily drawn into playing the kind of game the Mavs want to play and as Karl said, they started trying to win games with their offense instead of their defense. If they try to do that against LA, they will be beaten pretty easily.

First off they haven't beaten them 10 straight times. And even if they have won 10 of the last 11 how does that have any relevance when most of those were with Allen Iverson instead of Chauncey Billups which was a completely different team. There have been three games since Billups came and the home team has won all three and one of the Lakers wins came when K-Mart was out.

Hey, i see your point.

one hudred dollars straight up on the series? I will take the lakers and you can have all of those 6 foot 6 guys.

Deal?

This is the problem the lakers present for almost every team. In a half court game, the lakers will kill you with size and kobe. If you run with them, their depth and athleticism will kill you.

The nuggets dont have a single guy on that team that can hurt you with his back to the basket except for Nene once every ten games and even at his best he is still very average. Their interior defense is terrible. Kenyon martin is a self check on offense and isnt nearly the athlete he was when he first came out due to all of the injuries. This problem hasnt been exposed in the playoffs because neither the hornets nor the mavs have any good low post players. Someone is bound to bring up David West and he plays facing the basket. Neither of those teams have anyone in the same stratosphere as Gasol.

I love Billups. Advantage Denver there but its their only advantage. JR is the wildcard and if he plays well, it will go 6 games. If he doesnt they will be lucky to go 5.

I'd bet you whatever the odds are on Sportsbook minus the juice. There would be no point in my betting 100 to win 100 if I can bet 100 to win 140 on Sportsbook.

Deal. 100 to win 140?

We'll see what the odds are after the Lakers win tonight and set it accordingly and you can decide if you want to take the bet.

[quote=dalakhani]Please watch the games....West is a very good defender. Yes Delonte West.

Your money is good with me also...

Just have him send it straight to me.

I like that. No one is going to go broke and the 100 bucks is just for bragging rights and maybe a couple of drinks.

No excuses in the finals right?

and if i happen to lose (extremely doubtful) PM me a baby winner as a consolation.

Cheers all.

Yeah I might as well bet Jai Alai. I mean it can't be as fixed as the NBA.

I'd rather get kicked in the testicles 100 times than place a wager against the NBA's Golden Boy against The Denver Back Door Mauler.

I actually think this is a fair assessment.
It will be interesting to see how the Lakers deal
with Billups though. The Laker guards (other than Kobe who
I think can play 1-2 or 3) would not
start on any of the teams still left in the playoffs,
not even Orlando.
I also think Nene has the possibility of pushing
Gasol around. Never know who I am going to see
with Nene on the floor.

She is right on about Kenyon Martin imo.

This may be the worst job by referees in NBA history.

Yeah, let's go down to Lisa Salters, who's with the Magic bench, which apparently is furious at the referees for ONLY calling the Celtics for SEVEN MORE FOULS than the Magic! The nerve!

Foul count, Celtics: 28 Magic: 15
FT count, Celtics: 13 Magic: 31

It's a stone cold LOCK that Ron Jeremy still whines about the officiating.

Lakers are -280. I'd need +250 for it to be worth my while. I'll put up $50 against your $125. Anything less and I can just bet it on Sportsbook.

deal...just so we can talk trash my friend! :)

my 50 against your 125.

Nice try.

that was an HONEST slip snipe. I meant you are risking 50 against my 125. 2.5/1 you are the dog i am favored. I pay you 125 if you win, you pay me 50 if i win.

Deal?

Yup, deal.

cool. this should be fun.