Those of you looking for a quick conclusion to round one will be disappointed
Not because the Lakers are guaranteed to be locked in an epic, seven game struggle (though the Nuggets do present a challenge). We mean it literally. Their first round matchup with Denver, which begins at Staples Sunday afternoon at, appropriately enough, high noon, won't see Game 4 until April 28th, and Game 5 (assuming there's no sweep) until April 30th. Lord help us all if it goes the distance, in which case we'll be talking Lakers/Nuggets until May 4th, which is fairly ridiculous. Hopefully the talking heads pictured here, all predicting a relatively quick Lakers win in the series, are right.
Anyway, the LAL vs. Denver discussion begins today. The Lakers beat up on Denver during the regular season, winning all three games between the two teams, in part because they managed to hold the Nuggets to under 100 points in all but one. Still, make no mistake: Denver is a serious high flying act, and can put points on the board in a hurry. It's also worth noting that Pau Gasol didn't play in any of the three, and his performance could be a key, at least according to Sacto coach Reggie Theus. With that in mind, the Nuggets used last night's game in Memphis to start preparing for the Big Spaniard- though doubling Hakim Warrick isn't quite the same thing.
But they, or at least AI, won't be scared of LA. Even if they have the clear and obvious MVP.
Kareem talks to NBA.com. Not surprisingly, Andrew Bynum figures in the discussion. Does he figure into LA's playoff hopes?
Dirk admits the Mavs didn't want the Lakers in round one.
Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook are expected to announce at a 1 pm press conference that they're heading to the pros. Love won't hire an agent until shortly before the draft, a precaution against injury or sliding draft status. Smart move. Darren Collison could be back at UCLA next season.
Great Morning Fam! Get in that Huddle!
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Gorramit! Why must they stretch the first round out like that!!!!
So annoying NBA, so very very annoying.
It's not good for the players either, too much time between games ends up in sloppy play and increases the chances for an upset.
Posted by: J.W. Weatherman | April 17, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Will someone please tell me what the hellz is going on with Bynum?
Should I expect to see him during the Denver series or not?
Is it realistic to think we can bring him along during the intense Western Conf. playoff?
Someone please run an article and tell us what is up with Bynum.
DOOOOO BEEEE DOOOOO BEEEE DOOOOOOOOO
Posted by: Stranger in the Night | April 17, 2008 at 09:43 AM
5 and done. let's do this
Posted by: Edward | April 17, 2008 at 09:44 AM
DICK BAYLESS PREDICTS 1ST RD UPSET OF LAKERS ON 1ST TAKE THIS MORNING !!!!!!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Now I'm FIRED UP!!! I Never thought I'd HATE someone MORE than Ric Puker, but now, its ON !! lol
( not that I ever believe anything those 2 buttmunches say, but now that The Wire is over and I cant hate Marlo,Snoop and Chris, they'll do just fine !!! )
Ahem, G'Mornin KBros, G'Mornin Charles, G'Mornin Mamba24, G'Mornin..LAKER NATION !!!!!
Not to put undue pressure on anyone, but I figured since theres a lull in BBall activity for a min, in HONOR of my fellow riders on the 55 Game Bandwagon last fall,that bonehead Plaschke seems to think, no Laker fans thought possible, I've decided to vote for the KBros Blog, Laker Nations only 24/7 365 source of info, 57 times !!!!! as a tribute to the teams regular season wins. I'm currently at 22 and expect to grab some Corona's Fri night when I get some down time and reach my target goal by noon Sat. I challenge EACH AND EVERY POSTER HERE to submit a Bare Min of 57 VOTES!!!! between now and Midnight Sat... Lets Go People.. Milo and I will not rest until we complete ANNOY each and everyone of you about this !!!! lmaooooooooooo
LETS GO PEOPLE !!!!!! CHOP CHOP !!!!!
http://hardwoodparoxysm.blogspot.com/2008/04/nba-blogger-season-awards-2008.html
An online poll where you can vote for the K-Bros blog. Let's put them on the map.
(Any pay raises they get from this are all theirs.)
Once you get to the West, you'll notice the very last box has "other" add in LA Times Laker Blog on all categories that are applicable.
****This poll is only open until April 20, so get voting. Vote early and vote often.****
One more word..........."COOKIES" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: complex brotha | April 17, 2008 at 09:44 AM
I'm not worried about Denver, or the Utah/Rockets winner. They'll be hard fought but we'll win both in 5 or 6. Its the subsequent series that concern me.
From Yahoo Sports playoff assessment this AM.:
The Lakers' pressing question is - when will Andrew Bynum return? If he does eventually return, he’ll need time to regain some rhythm and adjust to playing with Gasol. Trying to do that in the playoffs won’t be easy. So, are the Lakers better off without Bynum? No. At the least, he’ll provide a little shot-blocking and rebounding, and six fouls to offer should Los Angeles meet up with Tim Duncan or Shaquille O’Neal. But the last couple of months have proved that while Bynum would still be a welcome addition to the Lakers’ rotation, he isn’t a necessity."
What do we think, blogmates? Can we go all the way without him? If not, can we integrate him in time to play smoothly against the well-oiled Spurs or Celtics machines?
Posted by: Jay Jay | April 17, 2008 at 09:52 AM
ENVER, no "d" fense is already desperate:
KMart on Kobe? Advantage Lakers. Mismatches everywhere and we haven't even jumped it up yet.
GO Lakers!
Posted by: Vman | April 17, 2008 at 09:52 AM
I love the first round timing. More time for our two pieces to get stronger.
Conspiracy theory: we won't hear any more updates on AB17 or Ariza until at least May (2nd round). His plan for rd. 1 will be to talk only about the current staff (the one that ended the season and nothing more. PJ is going to put the clamps on the info until we are told they are suiting up. It will be the total surprise, Hollywood, made for drama (wouldn't surprise me if its a TNT game) factor........and this is complete wishful thinking on my part. Go with it!
LET's GO LAKERS!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 17, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Good Morning, Laker Nation!
I'm not intimidated by Denver in the slightest. (How can you be scared of a team called "The Nuggets"? They may as well be called "The Crumbles".) I'm not over-looking them. I just think we should punish them. Personally, I think Ronny Turiaf should clock Carmelo Anthony, drag him to his car and personally drive him to Denver jail to serve out his DUI.
If the first round does seem dragged out, I'm fine with it. It just increases the possibility that we'll see Andrew Bynum back by the second round.
Andrew! Get some Dit Da Jow! Not tomorrow. TODAY!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 17, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Not one to put the cart before a horse?...let's hold up on the sweep discussions.
Remember that the Suns were supposed to sweep us in 06. That said, I think if we do what we do, (play D hint hint lol)...we can own them.
This is the big boys time. Time for the real lakers...the playoffs.
Go Lakers!
P.S. How's the injury/healing processes going? Any word on when Drew will be back?
Posted by: Faith | April 17, 2008 at 09:56 AM
P.P.S.
Pau's going to need a cup...assuming Reggie Nut-cracker is still in a Nuggets uniform lol. Is he? Can't remember lol.
Posted by: Faith | April 17, 2008 at 09:57 AM
The longer the rounds take, the more it favors the Lakers. Since it takes so long for their "on paper" injuries to heal, time they will have. It would really be nice to see the whole team available on the court together. So, as much as I hate it, take your time.
Mark
Posted by: markythearky | April 17, 2008 at 09:58 AM
i hope the lakers play good defense, instead of thinking they can score at will, and then their defense slips for the next round. Come back Drew, we need you. meanwhile, kob and pau will do their thing
Posted by: greek dude | April 17, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Faith
I believe that should be Nut Cupper?
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 10:02 AM
This is how I've got the first round of the West shaking out:
Lakers over Nuggets in 5
Jazz over Rockets in 5
Mavericks over Hornets in 6
Suns over Spurs in 6
Anyone else wanna post their picks...
Posted by: Xodus | April 17, 2008 at 10:06 AM
the good part is drew has 3 extra days to rest than normal, but the lakers will need him more later on in the playoffs. All we need is his length on the defensive end, and we are set.
Posted by: greek dude | April 17, 2008 at 10:07 AM
The length of the first round is definitely annoying but like Jon K. said, it does increase the chances that we'll have Bynum back in the second round when we'll have a tough series against Utah.
Posted by: Xodus | April 17, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Complex Brotha"but now that The Wire is over and I cant hate Marlo,Snoop
and Chris, they'll do just fine !!! )"
Hate Snoop come on bro. Snoop was what made the show.
I love her to "death" LOL!
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 17, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I'd take Denver over Golden State any day of the week!
Posted by: The Outlaw | April 17, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Lakers...Nuggets...It's on now, folks. Welcome to your 2007-08 NBA Playoffs Round 1. Predictions?
Lakers in 5. The loosey-goosey Nugs will win the first one on their home floor and we'll take the rest with our Tenacious D!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcJwz7wu8_s
I think a sweep is a bit of a tall order, and I don't think extending a series out to 7 games just to get injured players back is the best idea as the longer a series goes, the more mentally fatiguing it can be and also the greater chance another player could tweak an ankle or blow out a knee.
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | April 17, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Did Norm Nixon know something when he said "we can't count on Drew for the playoffs" 3 weeks ago? He went on to say, if he's not practicing (then), he won't be back.
Norm knows recovery time. It's been over 3 months and counting. Realistically, he'd have to start "contact" practices in 2 - 3 weeks.
Posted by: Vman | April 17, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Faith, the NutCracker got traded to 76ers.
Posted by: lakergirl1980 | April 17, 2008 at 10:22 AM
The Lakers play defense. Denver doesn't.
Take care of the ball, and play good D, we'll win it in 5.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | April 17, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Lakers over Nuggets in 5. And Kobe for MVP.
This is a bit off-base in terms of the discussion, but did anybody else find it odd how Jon Barry was kissing Chris Paul's butt ("Look at that move. Wow! This guy can get to any spot on the floor!") during the 3rd quarter of the Hornets/Mavs game? Barry was probably trying to influence a few MVP votes (Paul is Barry's guy), but the whole time he was doing his whole "Can you believe that pass!?" schtick, Jason Kidd kept going down to the other end and scoring on Paul. I kept thinking to myself, What about Paul's lack of defense does Barry not get? (Yes, this is a moot point, since Kobe's got the MVP locked up, just thought I'd mention it.)
Posted by: greenpaz | April 17, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Bill Simmons on ESPN.com has come up with his own set of standards by which to judge an MVP.
He then goes on to completely contradict himself and chooses KG as his MVP despite the fact that he doesn't fulfill Simmons' own standards for the trophy.
How do these people get writing jobs? How does his editor let that article get on the web? The idiocy of the media astounds me sometimes.
Posted by: J.W. Weatherman | April 17, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Jay Jay,
I think we could go all the way, all the way to the finals. But if Detroit or Boston is waiting for us, then I think we'll definitely have some issues if AB or TA aren't there. Boston with KG, and Detroit with 'Sheed and their bigs would be a pill that would definitely be easier to swallow if AB was guarding our paint. We don't necessarily need him for offense, we got plenty of that, but we need that defensive presence, that stopper, clogging up the middle, and I just don't see Pau as that, as much as I love having him. But who knows? Maybe the Wizards or Cavs will pull off the improbable and get in the Finals somehow...
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | April 17, 2008 at 10:32 AM
J.W. Weatherman,
Writing is easy: Speel corect, Make cents, and then press enter.
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 10:34 AM
The Hornets/Paul are good, but Vegas knows not to bet on the regular NBA season because of the way players "pace" themselves. The new season reveals all.
Paul is another MVP candidate that probably won't make it out of the first round. Regardless, BScott is a miracle worker.
Posted by: Vman | April 17, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Eventhough the schedule is stretched out this long, I feel that this will benefit the Lakers. More healing time for our injured players. Bynum will most certainly be back before the finals, Ariza might make an appearance, DFish's foot will heal, and it gives our young players valuable time with the coaching staff on how to play and win in the playoffs. PJ is going to have a lot of time in between games to figure out ways to blow out Denver. Coaching staff will spend the extra days working on our defense which is the key to winning it all. Our offense is unmatched, so extra work on defense will enhance the chances of us winning it all.
Our bench is going to be the key, since we might be doing the same as the season where most of our starters are sitting down on the 4th due to a huge lead.
Even if we sweep (IMO), the extra day in between games is huge.
Lakers will bring the Trophy back in LA.
Let's start this bandwagon Mamba24.
"LAKERS 2007-2008 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS BANDWAGON"
Peace!!!!
Juno
Posted by: Juno | April 17, 2008 at 10:34 AM
1st Round
Lakers over Nuggets in 4
Rockets over Jazz in 7
Mavericks over Hornets in 6
Spurs over Suns in 6
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 17, 2008 at 10:36 AM
1st Round
Lakers over Nuggets in 4
Rockets over Jazz in 7
Mavericks over Hornets in 6
Spurs over Suns in 6
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 17, 2008 at 10:36 AM
" Hate Snoop come on bro. Snoop was what made the show.
I love her to "death" LOL!" - Mamba24
No Doubt Mamba, but the way their charecters were so ruthless,evil and cutthroat on the show. You LOVED to Hate em!!! lol plus, she NEVER liked Micheal and I did because he had all the kids backs for a min...Its Kinda like Kobe Haters.. They HATE Kobe, but cant stop watching his every move. lol
Posted by: complex brotha | April 17, 2008 at 10:37 AM
bozz man,
I feel our biggest problem will be the Celtics. That is counting my chicks way before the Hen and Cock have even met...
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Celts in 4
Pistons in 5
Orlando in 5
Wizards in 7
Lakers in 4
Mavs in 7
Spurs in 7
Jazz in 6
Posted by: d | April 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Mamba24,
Great picks man, but I must respectfully disagree with the Hou-Utah one, I think Utah is a sleeping giant and could be our biggest challenge in the West, maybe even the whole playoffs. As I posted in a previous thread, they have such a good mix of size, speed and shooting that it actually makes me a tad nervous, but still not nervous enough that we'll lose. Love the 1st round sweep though!
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | April 17, 2008 at 10:43 AM
My west predictions because everyone ... er... no one asked for them:
LA over Denv in 6
Rockets over Jazz in 7
Spurs over Phx in 7
NO over Dallas in 7
Oh yeah, the first round will take till Labor Day.
Posted by: HmrHed | April 17, 2008 at 10:44 AM
complex brotha,
at the same comp at work and have reached my voting limit with IE and Firefox. Thanks for the link.
Your Simple Brova,
Charles
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM
LOL Charles. Gud poynt.
Posted by: J.W. Weatherman | April 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM
1st Round
Lakers over Nuggets in 5
Jazz over Rockets in 6
Mavericks over Hornets in 7
Suns over Spurs in 7
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 17, 2008 at 10:46 AM
No doubt, there will be extra creamy nouget fans here soon talkin trash...
Prepare for it NOW...
Get your Melo-DUI jabs ready, your "thug ball" talk ready, and everything else to denigrate the Nuggets (although I find refs. to hip hop and thugs a lil' prejudicial!)
The funniest of all will be when we raise a point that at least Coby Karl can be on the winning end of a playoff series so George can be happy about that!
Posted by: Korey | April 17, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I'll keep track of the first round predictions.
Get your predictions in by noon tomorrow. I'll keep a list and bring it out accordingly.
First round in the west only. No more than one prediction per poster. Winner will get nothing, but kudos from Laker Nation. If more than one blogger has the same teams predicted, the tie breaker is closest to number of games.
Posted by: HmrHed | April 17, 2008 at 10:51 AM
bozz,
I agree about Utah. They're flying under the radar. It'll be a great matchup when we play them in the second round.
Posted by: Xodus | April 17, 2008 at 10:52 AM
AK/BK,
Can we expect to get your first round picks?
Posted by: Xodus | April 17, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Lakers in 6
I wonder if Coby Karl will give inputs(game plans) to his father George or vice versa. But it will be a struggle without Bynum. In the end, the Lakers will survive.
Posted by: Botsoy | April 17, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Vman, (V-Diddy)
I am in the mind set that AB and TA are back next year. Icing if they would make it for the playoffs.
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Charles,
I sit every day, fingers crossed, that the Celtics will stumble somehow. While a LAL-BOS match-up would be rating heaven, and while I do want us to win against the best, Boston is a little scary. I mean come on, have you seen the amount of veins that pop out of KG's neck when he gets all revved up? As a partial Wolves fan, I'm in their market, I've seen what he can do on a daily basis, and it spooks me a little. Still think we can take 'em...
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | April 17, 2008 at 10:57 AM
J.W. Weatherman
Thanks for your reply!
Posted by: Charles | April 17, 2008 at 10:59 AM
MY PREDICTION FOR THE WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS ROUND
LAKERS VS. DENVER
LAKERS in 5
HORNETS VS. MAVS
MAVS IN 6
UTAH VS ROCKETS
UTAH IN 5
SPURS VS SUNS
SUNS IN 7
Juno
Posted by: | April 17, 2008 at 11:04 AM
I hope the first round takes a month. More time for Bynum to heal.
Go Lakers!
Wes
Posted by: | April 17, 2008 at 11:06 AM
My predictions (1st round):
LA in 5
NO in 6
Utah in 5
Suns (ugh) in 7
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | April 17, 2008 at 11:13 AM