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classof62-64 · Freshman Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 50

Out here on the left coast, the star struck SoCal fans are already awarding the Lakers with the 2013 NBA championship. I'm probably biased by being a long time Laker hater, but it seems to me that a team that was clearly-out played in the second round of the playoffs has:

Added a real good 38 yo point guard in place of an OK, but younger, point guard;

Exchanged a real good center for a slightly better center; and,

Gotten a year older across the remainder of the team.

I think they are a little better, but still won't be able to get by the Thunder.

Any thoughts from a non-starstruck East Coast perspective?

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject:

Hands down favorites to win it, IMO. And that f'n sucks. But at least this trade was fair, compared to the Gasol-for-a bag of potato chips deal a few years ago.
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Chris20 · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject:

Disagree strongly.....They got better, but not where they needed to. They have no answer for the athleticism of Durant and Westbrook, let alone Lebron and Wade. They waltz to the West Finals...and won't get by OKC.

Kobe is not what he was. Nash can't guard ANYONE, certainly not Westbrook. And Howard is overrated. Very good on defense, will help offset Nash's complete incompetence. Orlando was never close to a championship team with Howard. Sure, he never had a Kobe....but this will be Kobe's 17th season. 17Th!!!

I think the Heat are in their own class, with OKC behind them, also in their own class. Then LAL, SA, BOS, maybe a couple others.

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 4:09 pm Post subject:

Great! And you forgot Gasol. We shall see.
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Stop waiting for UMass to do something big and help UMass do something big. - Shades

Chris20 · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:44 pm Post subject:

Gasol is still very good. But they SUCK on the wings. Artest and Jamison and Jodie Meeks aren't going to cut it against the dominant wings in the league.

Heat is clear favorite to me. Even before Ray Allen joined up.

eXelwood · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:07 pm Post subject:

I am a Celts fan but ...This sets them up well for the post Kobie era, they need to use Gasol's conract to pick up another young star and they have a foundation that will carry them for 5 years.

Chris20 · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:13 pm Post subject:

Another thing about next year....Howard's health is very much in question. And looking ahead further....a guy Howard's size with back surgery is scary as hell....a lot like we talk about with Cady and his feet.

One thing that is downright scary....Nash and a healthy Howard running the pick and roll. Look out below...

LS71 · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

I recently saw The Three Stooges movie on blu-ray.

Several of the cast members surprised me (Larry David, Jane Lynch and Sofia Vergara to name three), but Dwight had a cameo in it as did Troy Brown and Jerod Mayo. Cool

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classof62-64 · Freshman Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 50

I'd like to say told you so - but the injuries really clouded the picture.

A few things did stand out.

When they did have everyone healthy (relatively) they were capable of beating the bottom dwellers, but couldn't match up against the top tier teams.

Nash still has it offensively, but is a huge liability on defense - and not likely to improve next year. Against teams with top flight point guards this really showed up - to the point where Kobe had to take a lot of the defensive load (good luck with that next year).

Howard may not have fully recovered from his back surgery, but that doesn't excuse the frequent no shows. He also seems to have the most inconsequencial double-doubles in the history of the NBA - pulls down 20 pts. and 20 rbs. and his team still gets out-rebounded and loses?????

All in all a great year. I enjoyed the anguish of the Laker fans (particularly their many band wagoners) imensly. It helpd soften the Celtics disappointing season. Now to just hope some brain dead GM doesn't give up the store for a rapidly breaking down Gasol.

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:30 am Post subject:

I certainly did not think Howard would turn into a complete cancer. That team should have done so much more, it's pretty pathetic.
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Stop waiting for UMass to do something big and help UMass do something big. - Shades