I would not discount the Mavs. They have been quietly getting better and building momentum.

The past has no bearing on what could happen. The core is there and they are still made from a few years ago. Jkidd can still play, is smart and they are good half court team.

Injury aside, I'll put the Mav's-Magic in the finals with the Mav's winning.

If I were a betting man, I'd have to put my money on the Lakers.

Cavs are too hard for me to pin down. Shaq's being able to be Shaq is the key.

Cavs-Lakers final would be my pick for starphucking ratings booster. IM sure Stern and the NBA owners feel the same! Shaq Kobe for who gets the 5th ring first is a nice story. Leborn on the microscope is good to watch. If he wears his arband to a certain tilt does that indicate he is leaving? He changes socks does it mean anything? Does he get emotional and pledge his love for cavs on TV in attention whore manner or keep his composure. This an also some basketball for him to play!!!!

The real season starts now.

bitty41 wrote:Damn the West is tough Laker I think will win that series simply because of their experience but come 2nd round things could get dicey.

I'm getting strange vibes about the Laker/Oaky series. If the Lakers are going to win they really have to hammer the Thunder in the first two games in LA, IMO, and it starts with game one.

I'm rooting for the young'uns to shock the NBA. A lot of earthquakes and volcano action going on- we're going to see/feel one in the NBA, now.

Pretty sure that Nostradamus said that a body of water in the West shall be shaken by a great storm.
Lakers beware of the Thunder.

Paladin55 wrote:I'm getting strange vibes about the Laker/Oaky series. If the Lakers are going to win they really have to hammer the Thunder in the first two games in LA, IMO, and it starts with game one.

I'm rooting for the young'uns to shock the NBA. A lot of earthquakes and volcano action going on- we're going to see/feel one in the NBA, now.

Pretty sure that Nostradamus said that a body of water in the West shall be shaken by a great storm.
Lakers beware of the Thunder.

"Playing with urgency" is not the Lakers style. Most people know about the fabled "Laker lightswitch". They'll coast for the first few games and then play JUST hard enough to beat them.

They got the talent but not the chemistry enough.

Did I say JR smith has "Transformers" tatoos on his neck?

Pharzeone wrote:

Nalod wrote:Denver is all about Billups being able to control the idiots. JR Smith and Kmart are morons immune to Billups Jedi Mind tricks. Melo and Nene buy into it.

They got the talent but not the chemistry enough.

Did I say JR smith has "Transformers" tatoos on his neck?

Smith and Kmart are big playoff contributors and when they are going it is very hard to contain them. When Melo sat out both were able to carry the team. As someone who follows the Lakers and root for them sometimes I am terrified that the Nuggets will pull it off this year.

I don't claim to know the guy personally but JR Smith seems like a complete moron. I wouldn't even compare him to Nate (who I think just lacks some common sense at times) whereas I think JR Smith is genuinely stupid.
And has Kenyon Martin found the popcorn culprit? Talk about overacting a guy that is scheduled to make 35 million dollars in the next two years has conniption over his some leather interior being ruined.

K22 wrote:

Paladin55 wrote:I'm getting strange vibes about the Laker/Oaky series. If the Lakers are going to win they really have to hammer the Thunder in the first two games in LA, IMO, and it starts with game one.

I'm rooting for the young'uns to shock the NBA. A lot of earthquakes and volcano action going on- we're going to see/feel one in the NBA, now.

Pretty sure that Nostradamus said that a body of water in the West shall be shaken by a great storm.
Lakers beware of the Thunder.

"Playing with urgency" is not the Lakers style. Most people know about the fabled "Laker lightswitch". They'll coast for the first few games and then play JUST hard enough to beat them.

I'm looking more at how the early games will affect the confidence of the Thunder and their belief that they can topple the Lakers. The Lakers are not in their best shape physically- if the Thunder show nothing in LA against a damaged Laker team, how will that influence their play later on?