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United States4471 Posts
Denver only had only one Allstar this year (Billups). If you're talking about those who were Allstars in the past, you've got Billups and Melo, but who's the third? KMart? He was an Allstar once back in 03-04, so he hardly counts.
They're definitely a Cinderella Story in light of their inability to advance past the first round in years, and the fact that no one predicted them as making it to the Finals before the playoffs started. They would be the very definition of a "came out of nowhere" team.
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On May 23 2009 07:20 Ace wrote:Show nested quote +On May 23 2009 06:37 tonight wrote:On May 23 2009 05:54 Ace wrote:On May 23 2009 05:46 tonight wrote:
Cleveland had it much easier don't shit yourself. no they didn't genius. New Orleans had 5 banged up starters vs Detroit who still had their core. The non defensive Mavs who had trouble with Tony Parker as the only legit threat on a hobbled Spurs team vs the Atlanta Hawks with only Marvin Williams being their only "problem". Get your head on straight Denver had the easiest path of any team. Taking that shit pretty defensively. Piston had their "core", but that doesn't account for how bad they really were the last 2months+ of the season into the playoffs. Yes, NO had banged up players, but they were still a better team then DET no doubt about that. The Mavs were playing great leading into the playoffs and into the playoffs. Their defense has always been a problem. The Hawks just can never play consistently aside from the few win streak spurts they'd have. Them being young and emotional played into it too. There's plenty of doubt because it's flat out wrong. New Orleans had Chris Paul banged up, Peja with no back, a banged up David West and 1 legged Tyson Chandler. What do they have left? The Mavs were playing ok - not great. They had a hell of a time with Tony Parker and as usual their defense was the culprit. The Hawks - sure they have their problems (and I think Josh Smith is overrated) but they are a better team than Dallas.
My point was is that NO was playing better in the playoffs then Detroit regardless of who was "banged up". I don't care that they lost a game by 50points either.
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United States4471 Posts
On May 23 2009 05:53 MYM.Testie wrote:
Hmmmm Pau is playing fine and he's the big reason they won game one + kobe's 4th quarter play&free throws. He killed them on the boards. He's just shooting bricks for free throws. And I only caught the 2nd half of last game but Lamar at least contributed.
Gasol is doing fine.
Gasol is getting the numbers, but he's not scoring in the post like he should be. Both him and Bynum have a significant height advantage against the Nuggets' frontline, but neither have been able to do more than get tip-ins and garbage buckets off of rebounds. Gasol should be able to score over both Nene and KMart, which would force the Nuggets to eventually double-team him and create opportunities for other Lakers' players.
Instead, Kobe has become the most effective post threat in this series for the Lakers, and that become nullified once Melo switches onto him. The Lakers were supposed to have an advantage in their post-up offense, but Gasol and Bynum's inability to use their height advantages have taken that away for the most part. By doing so, they're letting Denver get away with having two smaller bigs on the court, who are both quicker and more athletic than their Lakers counterparts. On one end, the Nuggets bigs are able to use their speed advantage, but on the other the Lakers bigs aren't making full use of their size advantage.
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Kobe's gotta take it upon himself to shut Carmelo down. I think he needs to do what he's done with LeBron, basically sacrifice his offense to shut down Carmelo on defense.
If you remember the Clevland games... Kobe and LeBron played each other to a standstill. The rest of the Lakers though manhandled the rest of Clevland.
Ariza has been guarding Melo most of the time, I think they need to switch up and rely on the rest of the team and just neutralize Carmelo
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United States4471 Posts
On May 23 2009 08:15 Xeris wrote:
Kobe's gotta take it upon himself to shut Carmelo down. I think he needs to do what he's done with LeBron, basically sacrifice his offense to shut down Carmelo on defense.
If you remember the Clevland games... Kobe and LeBron played each other to a standstill. The rest of the Lakers though manhandled the rest of Clevland.
Ariza has been guarding Melo most of the time, I think they need to switch up and rely on the rest of the team and just neutralize Carmelo
Even though Kobe already did it a lot, I think it's more important that he stops Billups than Melo. Against Melo, the Lakers at least have Ariza. Against Billups they have... Fisher, Farmar, and Brown. I think Billups is more important to Denver than Melo, because he does more things for the Nuggets on offense than just score. He's their best ballhandler and decision-maker, and he can create offense for everyone else. Melo still doesn't create very well for others, and is more of a finisher than playmaker.
I get the feeling that Kobe is just getting tired. Both is offense and defense seem to be slipping a bit, and I don't think it's a coincidence that it's coinciding with his teammates (other than Gasol) not producing and the Lakers coming off of a tiring 7-game series. Kobe has been so effective when attacking the basket, he needs to keep doing it.
It was pointed out in an ESPN article, but the Lakers don't need to give Kobe screens against Denver. He can beat any person they put on him 1on1, bringing over a screener just adds a second defender, and Denver's entire roster is pretty mobile (including their bigs).
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another strong first qtr for the cavs...
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cavs 43-20, lebron isnt even on the court, what a rape
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On May 23 2009 08:43 XaI)CyRiC wrote:Show nested quote +On May 23 2009 08:15 Xeris wrote:
Kobe's gotta take it upon himself to shut Carmelo down. I think he needs to do what he's done with LeBron, basically sacrifice his offense to shut down Carmelo on defense.
If you remember the Clevland games... Kobe and LeBron played each other to a standstill. The rest of the Lakers though manhandled the rest of Clevland.
Ariza has been guarding Melo most of the time, I think they need to switch up and rely on the rest of the team and just neutralize Carmelo Even though Kobe already did it a lot, I think it's more important that he stops Billups than Melo. Against Melo, the Lakers at least have Ariza. Against Billups they have... Fisher, Farmar, and Brown. I think Billups is more important to Denver than Melo, because he does more things for the Nuggets on offense than just score. He's their best ballhandler and decision-maker, and he can create offense for everyone else. Melo still doesn't create very well for others, and is more of a finisher than playmaker. I get the feeling that Kobe is just getting tired. Both is offense and defense seem to be slipping a bit, and I don't think it's a coincidence that it's coinciding with his teammates (other than Gasol) not producing and the Lakers coming off of a tiring 7-game series. Kobe has been so effective when attacking the basket, he needs to keep doing it. It was pointed out in an ESPN article, but the Lakers don't need to give Kobe screens against Denver. He can beat any person they put on him 1on1, bringing over a screener just adds a second defender, and Denver's entire roster is pretty mobile (including their bigs).
uh, why can't Ariza guard billups? I'd 100% rather Kobe stop Carmelo. Billups can get you 25-30 tops... Melo can get 50. Who would you rather stop? Plus, Ariza can guard Billups just as easily.
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ariza's not a great on ball defender
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exactly why he shouldn't be guarding Carmelo. Billups is slow as fuck so Ariza will have a much easier time staying with him. Carmelo = fast + strong, too much for Ariza... Billups = strong.
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on another note: just 12 point defecit... Orlando gogo!
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United States4471 Posts
On May 23 2009 10:56 Xeris wrote:
exactly why he shouldn't be guarding Carmelo. Billups is slow as fuck so Ariza will have a much easier time staying with him. Carmelo = fast + strong, too much for Ariza... Billups = strong.
I think the Lakers would prefer that Kobe not be the one who gets beat up trying to guard Melo. As to Ariza guarding Billups, I think Billups is a tougher guard for him because he uses savvy veteran tricks to get shots and get fouled. Kobe is much better equipped to guarding a guy like Billups than Ariza is, while neither can really guard Melo because they're not big/strong enough.
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hmm I dunno, I still think Kobe would be good... or even Odom.
actually now that I think about it, I think a good strategy vs Denver would be to play really big
Bynum Gasol Odom Ariza and Kobe playing the point. You could stick Odom on Melo (Odom is strong, large, and quick... so Carmelo couldn't easily shoot over him, overpower him, or get by him), Kobe (or Ariza) could stick Billups. Then their guys like Nene, Anderson can be guarded by Gasol/Bynum and stick the other (Ariza or Kobe) on another Denver small. That's a good strategy IMO.
IF Denver goes small, then obviously they change it. But IMO going big might be a very good idea against Denver.
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although Orlando is cutting into the lead, they're not moving the ball.. people going 1on1 isn't good
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oh my...history has a way of repeating itself
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clevland getting a lot of lucky breaks, Orlando missing some gimme's , but I guess that's what you get. live by the 3, die by the 3
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stop hating on the cavs it's annoying, you nub.
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EPT
