[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I think you're way off on how hard it will be for the Lakers. They are healthy finally and the only team that is going to give them a series is the Cavs. They'll beat them 4-2.

What's going to be to their advantage is that they will probably win both early round series in 5-6 games. But while it may only be five games against Utah, their physical style will take more out of them than a seven game series would against the Mavs or Suns. Utah sucks big time on the road but at home they are very tough and though the Lakers are far superior talent wise, the matchup might not be so great for them. Okur will force Bynum to have to come away from the basket and then they have nobody that can stop Williams from getting to the basket. If I were Phil, I'd be most concerned with Utah than with any team in the West. Then you are looking at Portland or Houston. Portland gives them fits up there. I think the last time the Lakers won in Portland, Nixon was president. It's been a nightmare for a couple of years. The Lakers handle them pretty well at home though. The advantage against Portland is that the Blazers will be drawn into an uptempo game against them much like Michigan St was against UNC and they can't beat the Lakers more than twice that way. If they get Houston, while they again are far superior talent wise, the Rockets like to slow the games down to a walk and like the Jazz, they possess a physical challenge that you don't really want to see. I don't see any team in the West having a chance to beat the Lakers at all but I think the worst matchups for them come in the first two rounds and could wear them down just enough to give Cleveland the edge.