I like how Phil Jackson is already trying to get the officials attention talking about Durant going to the line too much.

Artest will pick it up in the playoffs just like Ariza did last year

A good point brought up... Ariza really started playing his best ball at the very end of the year and in the playoffs. LA can only hope Artest makes important shots and the hustle plays Ariza did throughout the playoffs.

I would expect the entire Laker team to pick it up. Only problem with that is IMO their real problem is their lack of depth (IMO, their bench has been mismanaged) and the fact that they don't have great chemistry together. Even when they're all playing well, they don't seem to fit that well together.

Artest will still be productive in the playoffs, but he's a downgrade compared to Ariza.

krazie45 wrote:

3reppom wrote: The Lakers will win it in six, but Westbrook and Durant will both have monster series. The Lakers don't have anyone who can guard either of those guys, but the fact that the Thunder really only have a two men bench and that both of them play the same position is gonna kill them. Oh and they don't have a Center.

The Thunder have been secretly and patiently waiting for the playoffs to unleash the force that is BJ Mullens....

You mean D League Mullens

3reppom wrote:

krazie45 wrote:

3reppom wrote: The Lakers will win it in six, but Westbrook and Durant will both have monster series. The Lakers don't have anyone who can guard either of those guys, but the fact that the Thunder really only have a two men bench and that both of them play the same position is gonna kill them. Oh and they don't have a Center.

The Thunder have been secretly and patiently waiting for the playoffs to unleash the force that is BJ Mullens....

You mean D League Mullens

Somebody's sarcasm detection meter is broken...

wes_mantooth wrote: LA in six.

This.

3reppom wrote: The Lakers will win it in six, but Westbrook and Durant will both have monster series. The Lakers don't have anyone who can guard either of those guys, but the fact that the Thunder really only have a two men bench and that both of them play the same position is gonna kill them. Oh and they don't have a Center.

And the Lakers bench is something special?

Unless Bynum comes back fully healthy, he won't be a big factor. That pushes Odom into the starting lineup and makes the Lakers bench very weak.

Kobe is heavily dinged up and its starting to show. LAL will need some big time performances from Gasol, Odom and Artest as they are weak at the PG spot.

Lakers will never make it to the finals this year. Ain't happenin. The Thunder may as well do them a favor and put Laker fans out of their misery early.

Thunder in 5.

devil1197 wrote:

3reppom wrote: The Lakers will win it in six, but Westbrook and Durant will both have monster series. The Lakers don't have anyone who can guard either of those guys, but the fact that the Thunder really only have a two men bench and that both of them play the same position is gonna kill them. Oh and they don't have a Center.

And the Lakers bench is something special?

Unless Bynum comes back fully healthy, he won't be a big factor. That pushes Odom into the starting lineup and makes the Lakers bench very weak.

Kobe is heavily dinged up and its starting to show. LAL will need some big time performances from Gasol, Odom and Artest as they are weak at the PG spot.

The lakers have talent on the bench, much more of it than the Thunder do, and on the off chance they come to play on any given day that is a disaster for OKC. The lakers can count on 25 to 30 points a game from their bench every night, but there is always the chance that they can get 35 or 40. The Thunder are happy to get 20 a night from the bench.

krazie45 wrote:

3reppom wrote:

krazie45 wrote:

3reppom wrote: The Lakers will win it in six, but Westbrook and Durant will both have monster series. The Lakers don't have anyone who can guard either of those guys, but the fact that the Thunder really only have a two men bench and that both of them play the same position is gonna kill them. Oh and they don't have a Center.

The Thunder have been secretly and patiently waiting for the playoffs to unleash the force that is BJ Mullens....

You mean D League Mullens

Somebody's sarcasm detection meter is broken...

for the record responding to sarcasm with sarcasm doesn't imply that I can't detect sarcasm

The real difference in this series is at the big man position and Pau Gasol should have a field day on OKC's big men. On the contrary, Westbrook should own the PG position.

But what intrigues me the most about this series is Durant's playoff debut. I don't think anyone has a realistic expectation of the Thunder winning this series, but a good three or four game performance from Durant could really propel him into elite player status. And by elite, I'm talking about putting him with the likes of LBJ, Kobe, D. Wade, Melo. The defensive play from Ron Artest could heavily swing this series.

LA is a funky team right now, though. Was their end-of-season slump ultimately due to apathy considering they locked up the number one seed? That's basically what the Cavs did once they gained home-court advantage for the entire playoffs. And there's no shame in that. I fully believe resting your players in an 82-game season is a smart move when preparing for the playoffs.

But LA is old and Kobe hasn't been Kobe at all lately. Physically, I think he's pretty beat. It'll take an incredibly strong mental and physical performance from him to even make the Finals.

It may be fun to pick OKC to give the Lakers six games, but I have a hard time seeing Kobe, Jackson, Gasol falling to the youngest team (I think?) in the league, many of whom are experiencing the playoffs for the first time.

goldengonzo wrote: The real difference in this series is at the big man position and Pau Gasol should have a field day on OKC's big men. On the contrary, Westbrook should own the PG position.

Bynum will be back for Game 1 also.

Don't disrespect the Durantula

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5091485

Lakers in five.

I hope Durant drops 40 a night on the Lakers now after Jackson's comments.

Zen master? LOL, calling Durant out is a BAD move.

he is getting in durants head

I don't think he's getting in his head.. I think he just pissed him off.

Phil has been doing this every year and durant took the bait. Phils knows exactly what he is doing.

also his comments are aimed at the refs. Phil is in postseason swag mode

I like how Durant handled that, but NOBODY of interest is shaking because Durant might be mad. Go ahead young fella, get into that state of mind. It's the post season now, you should have that frame of mind. Kill or be killed.

LOL there is no spin that can be put on this. Phil Jackson, while a good coach, is the single most overrated coach in the history of the sports probably. He's not getting in Durant's head, he's just lighting a fire. Chances are it won't come back to haunt him, but just because it doesn't, it doesn't mean it wasn't a bonehead thing to say.

They're the 8th seed.
They're hot, you're cold.
Durant is gearing up for his first playoff taste.
He's been playing lights out all year.
You're the DEFENDING CHAMP Lakers.

Do you think they need any more motivation? No. But this guy decides to complain to the officials before they series even starts--or maybe even use his pull to try and send them some bullshit message. If Artest gets away with rape on Durant in this series, watch the rumors flyyyyyyyyyy.

Yea, Phil Jackson, who will have to put any more rings on his dick, is overrated and is a "bonehead" for "calling out" a 21 year old who's about to be in the play-offs for a first time. Yea, so overrated.

SQ_Crazies wrote: LOL there is no spin that can be put on this. Phil Jackson, while a good coach, is the single most overrated coach in the history of the sports probably. He's not getting in Durant's head, he's just lighting a fire. Chances are it won't come back to haunt him, but just because it doesn't, it doesn't mean it wasn't a bonehead thing to say.

They're the 8th seed.
They're hot, you're cold.
Durant is gearing up for his first playoff taste.
He's been playing lights out all year.
You're the DEFENDING CHAMP Lakers.

Do you think they need any more motivation? No. But this guy decides to complain to the officials before they series even starts--or maybe even use his pull to try and send them some bullshit message. If Artest gets away with rape on Durant in this series, watch the rumors flyyyyyyyyyy.

the fuck are u talking about, Phil does this every year you act like this is new

Most overrated coach in the history of sports? Wow. I'd love to know what makes you feel that way. I can see somebody like Hawkins or Nelson, but saying Phil Jackson. Why? Because he had some of the best players? He didn't have to manage x's/o's as much as others, but in professional sports, if you can't manage MONSTER ego's.. you'll burn. But that's just my tiny rant, I'd like to hear why you think he's the most overrated in history in all sports. He's not getting in Durant's head, and Durant isn't going to become this mad killer now. He said what he said. By Sat/Sun, or whenever they play, that will be a distant memory.