Andrew Bynum=No Championship

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Phil Jackson coached teams won several championships with Ron Harper and Brian Shaw as starting point guards. That alone tells anyone the importance of having a true point guard.

Ron Harper and Brian Shaw are a few notches up from what they are trotting out there now.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Ron Harper and Brian Shaw are a few notches up from what they are trotting out there now.

The point being that you don't need a traditional point guard. Neither one of them, especially Harper (still my second favorite NBA player ever) was a point guard. Same as you don't need a true center in that offense either. They won titles with Luc Longley.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

The point being that you don't need a traditional point guard. Neither one of them, especially Harper (still my second favorite NBA player ever) was a point guard. Same as you don't need a true center in that offense either. They won titles with Luc Longley.

True but both had a ball controlling star (Jordan and Kobe) which plays out fine on the offensive end. The other end of the court is an issue though.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

True but both had a ball controlling star (Jordan and Kobe) which plays out fine on the offensive end. The other end of the court is an issue though.

It might be. The problem will be that the Lakers don't have a superior talent advantage over the Cavs. Deron Williams killed them. Brooks is killing them now. Chris Paul kills them. Guys like Williams and Paul kill everyone though. In today's game, with the rules the way they are about touching guys, every team in the league has problems with quick point guards. Even the teams WITH quick point guards. Paul can't guard Williams and vice versa. So I don't think that the Lakers would be that much better with a better defensive guard. It wouldn't hurt of course but I don't know how much it would help. I think that what will help them is that fact that LeBron is a ball controlling star for Cleveland and not their point guards. I think that if they use a lineup that has Bryant and Ariza in the backcourt, that's their best lineup. Ariza has the athletic ability and length to stay in front of their point guards. Brown, Fisher, and Farmer can't do anything with them.

[Antitrust32]

I'm really not sure why everyone assumes its going to be a Lakers/Cavs matchup.

The way Denver is playing I see them beating the Lakers.

I also think the Cavs playoff record is going to be 12-0 heading to the finals and whoever plays them will be LUCKY to win 2 games.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I'm really not sure why everyone assumes its going to be a Lakers/Cavs matchup.

The way Denver is playing I see them beating the Lakers.

I also think the Cavs playoff record is going to be 12-0 heading to the finals and whoever plays them will be LUCKY to win 2 games.

Denver's chances of beating the lakers are slim and none and slim already left for the beach.

Denver matches up horribly with the lakers.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Denver's chances of beating the lakers are slim and none and slim already left for the beach.

Denver matches up horribly with the lakers.

we will see, my beautiful friend, we will see..

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Denver's chances of beating the lakers are slim and none and slim already left for the beach.

Denver matches up horribly with the lakers.

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?

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

It might be. The problem will be that the Lakers don't have a superior talent advantage over the Cavs. Deron Williams killed them. Brooks is killing them now. Chris Paul kills them. Guys like Williams and Paul kill everyone though. In today's game, with the rules the way they are about touching guys, every team in the league has problems with quick point guards. Even the teams WITH quick point guards. Paul can't guard Williams and vice versa. So I don't think that the Lakers would be that much better with a better defensive guard. It wouldn't hurt of course but I don't know how much it would help. I think that what will help them is that fact that LeBron is a ball controlling star for Cleveland and not their point guards. I think that if they use a lineup that has Bryant and Ariza in the backcourt, that's their best lineup. Ariza has the athletic ability and length to stay in front of their point guards. Brown, Fisher, and Farmer can't do anything with them.

That lineup is too big and gives them no spot up shooters. Ariza in the lineup with Bryant is fine but you need fisher, Sasha or Farmar prepared to shoot or else defenses can cheat over on kobe or in the paint with the floor so unbalanced.

lakers front line creates huge mismatches against Cleveland. Cleveland's best interior defender is Verejao and he is too small to guard Gasol or Bynum. Illguaskus is too slow.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

That lineup is too big and gives them no spot up shooters. Ariza in the lineup with Bryant is fine but you need fisher, Sasha or Farmar prepared to shoot or else defenses can cheat over on kobe or in the paint with the floor so unbalanced.

lakers front line creates huge mismatches against Cleveland. Cleveland's best interior defender is Verejao and he is too small to guard Gasol or Bynum. Illguaskus is too slow.

Verejao is too small to guard Gasol or Byum? Is Ben Wallace too small too?

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Verejao is too small to guard Gasol or Byum? Is Ben Wallace too small too?

Ben Wallace is about 9X as strong as mop head.
Verejao is much more of a pest on D. He has mobility
and size, physical strength in the low post is not his
game.

Anyway,
Cleveland helps out so well its going to take a really
good offensive effort to beat them. imo Cleveland
has really faced some rotten teams. Atlanta was
playing without a number of good players here and there.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Verejao is too small to guard Gasol or Byum? Is Ben Wallace too small too?

Ben Wallace is just too old. Surely you are not trying to throw the name "ben wallace" out there like it still means something are you? He is a body at this point...an extra 6 fouls that can give minutes and maybe snag some boards. His days of being mentioned as a top interior defender are well behind him.

Regardless of how "soft" he is or whatever knocks people want to throw at him, make no mistake that Pau Gasol is one of the top five post players in the game and in his prime and there isnt a player on Cleveland that can guard him one on one. You can't double him and kobe.