"Chris Duhon signs with Orlando Magic"

No.  This is not "breaking" news to everyone out there.  He's a solid point-guard in the NBA that has proven he can be a viable veteran backup PG on a winning team for sure.  Orlando decided to cash in on his improved 3pt shot and ability to run an offense.  He would help Dwight get the ball as well as Jameer.  Jameer is still the better scorer, but as a backup it's a great pickup.  Thought I would post this real quick.

SOURCE:  NBA TV ANNOUNCERS + NBA NEWS HEADLINES TICKER

Contract:  $15 million over 4 years reportedly

"The 2010 Free Agency BoNaNzA - July 6th"

The big 3 right...  

So we are experiencing this 2010 Free Agency people have talked about for literally not just 1 year, but teams that have almost planned for this time beginning 2 years ago.  Lebron is still doing his thang', I mean he is Lebron and would never just sign right away without letting the public waste their time trying to figure out exactly where he ends up... Cleveland maybe, but this big3 not signing yet is interesting....

Joe Johnson is no longer a candidate when talking about those elite wing players, as he has signed the MAX deal with his beloved "good but not great" Atlanta Hawks for a reportedly $119 million over 6 years.  His commitment to Atlanta seems to be a good thing, as it has stirred up some rumblings of Shaq possibly intrigued of going to Atlanta... this could result in Horford sliding to PF where he belongs, and Josh Smith out of place unless he can become a 6th man which is unlikely (personally I'd trade him) though they will likely start him at PF if they don't trade him.  

Amare Stoudemire has just signed a huge deal with the Knicks, assumed to be $100 million over 5 years, coming out to that beautiful, yet disgustingly overpaid sound of $20 million per year.  It's almost ironic: he's so one dimensional in scoring and rebounding, it was exposed in the playoffs, but teams don't care and D'Antoni and Amare are back together, hopefully luring Lebron or Wade or hell, even Bosh over....

When it comes to great wing players, the Kobes, the Lebrons, the Dwayne Wades, they are a rare commodity.  Even that next tier of guard or forward that is not quite their level but still a near or a all-star caliber player that is worth that $10 million a year (still a buttload) but that's not quite max-level money....

John Salmons is a great example.  Traded to Milwaukee last season he scored 20ppg for them and helped lead them to the playoffs and a solid 7 game series against the Atlanta Hawks.  He used his Player Option (PO) to Opt Out of his $5.8 million final year of his old deal and re-signed with the Bucks for an extremely respectable 5 years $39 million.  The Bucks weren't done, and likely are not done, as they signed Drew Gooden a 5 year, $32 million deal. That's roughly $8 million a year and what I call that "2nd tier wing-man".  There are not a ton of them either, and that is why they can make this much money.  

Rudy Gay signed an extension with the Memphis Grizzlies (who traded for him on draft night 4 years ago) and is going to make a weak $81.6 million over 5 years contract.  Not bad for a 24 year old signing his first big contract... (or way too extreme, but I think everyone in the NBA is on a scale making way to much.... greedy, but I'll get over myself).  Rudy is happy with his setting with young OJ Mayo balling along with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr.  They were a borderline playoff team till the last 10 games or so.

Those were the solid young player signings that have been huge so far, with far more to come.  Many other veteran extensions and the likes have been confirmed, but I'll give my info on them as I go.  I can't forget to bring up the EXTREMELY solid signing of Steve Blake to the Los Angeles Lakers for 4 years and 16 million.  Talk about that one PG that always plays on winning teams... Denver, to Portland, to LA.... Lakers!  The guy is the definition of professional veteran and the guy is a perfect fit for the triangle.  He shoots the 3 at an incredible rate, while also still has ingrained those PG skills and is always on the Top 10 of assists:turnover ratio (that's a good thing, hah).  It shows he's smart, he'll shoot the right shots and pass when needed.  Solid pick LA.  And remember, these are all just amounts, assuming the Lakers FUll MLE is most likely what the souce will be.  But, it is possible the Clippers sign Blake to the same contract with their space and trade him to the Lakers for Shannon Brown, and this would then FREE UP THE FULL MLE for the Lakers to use.  That would be a HUGE piece right there, and is roughly 5 years and 34 million dollars or somewhere in that ballpark.

With big-men, sometimes they get paid just for being big.  

Speaking of overpaid big-men:  Samuel Dalembert(also has a trade kicker that turns his $11 million this year into like $13 mil) was traded to the Kings for Spencer Hawes (the young UW product and face-up big, with some post-game) along with veteran (and contract) Andres Nocioni, who can only bring positive energy to the locker room.  With Drue Holiday and Evan Turner playing solid in summer league action, this Philly franchise could pull another trade off that really puts them in a good position to be a playoff contender and legit matchup with such quick young guards in Drue Holiday, Lou Williams, and Evan Turner, and then the amazing forwards in Andre Igguodala and Thaddeus Young, and of course PF/C Elton Brand is still not done people... he's still a solid player when healthy.  

Now let me remember the veterans that cashed in huuuuuuge. Cuban signed Dirk Nowitzki to a 4 year deal worth at least $80 million.  Can't say that's bad for a 31 year old? And of course the player that I like lease most on this planet, Paul Pierce signs a 4 year, $61 million deal. I'm sure he's worth that $15 million in years 3 and 4 of the contract....  as long as he isn't in a wheelchair I'm good.  


That keeps up pretty up to date on the huge signings that have happened so far.  Here are the few others and my quick response:

• -Phoenix Suns sign Hakim Warrick to a 4 year deal worth $18 million.
• -Phoenix suns sign Channing Frye to a 5 year, $30 million deal.

*(Why is it that I feel like Frye is barely worth more than Warrick?  I guess if your tall and shoot 3's you can make $6 million a year.  Smart by Frye, to sign a PO contract last year and leave to Phoenix.  Good fit too.  They overpaid him by $2 million a year in my opinion.  Hakim Warrick on the other hand I would say is a fair deal... he doesn't bring a ton, always flashes of skillful play but in reality is just a backup PF for them to come in and play 20mpg probably.  I would pay the guy $15 mil for 4 years, but that's why he's not on my team.

• -Minnesota Timberwolves sign Darko Milicic a 4 year, $20 million deal.

Almost the worse signing, except he's proven to us he can play at the NBA level.  He's not by any means going to be a great center, but he is a 7' footer that has some touch at the rim and has learned to block shots recently.  I laughed at first, but Darko at a $5 mil a year price tag isn't that bad, not when you see the next one....

• -Toronto Raptors sign Amir Johnson a 5 year, $34 million deal.

This, to me, is possibly the WORST SIGNING of the free agency so far.  Amir Johnson has not proven to be a good serviceable backup PF/C yet, and he is now making $7 million dollars a year.  To be BIG and improve hopefully.  Toronto, you wasted your MLE.  He's an average player.  What's wrong with you guys.

LEBRON? WADE? BOSH?  The big 3 are still weighing their options.  Remember that these guys are apart of each others networks and even had a meeting to discuss their futures in the NBA.  Maybe they don't want to go stack one team... it will hurt their stats, and possibly legacy as a player.  People might say "Lebron couldn't win a championship without 2 marquee superstuds" if he were to say sign in Miami after they somehow could get Bosh then him then re-sign Wade and veterans.  Dangerous.


What will come?  I could make predictions so I look stupid... of course I want to do them now! Let's see.  Here are a couple situations that I think could arise....

• -Joshfarc's thoughts:  It will be a slow process for the Big 3.  Some teams will get sketchy and sign other players to contracts out of angst possibly.  
• Lebron I think will ultimately end up as a Cav... though I do wish he would just go to the CLIPPERS (the ultimate WCF would be LA vs LA, haha).  
• Bosh I know will leave, likely sign-n-trade, and I see him landing with Chicago Bulls.
• Wade... could sign with the Bulls if they can make some trades for Bosh work and have 20mil left (very possibly for them).  Ultimately I see Wade possibly going to New York... the guy models all the time, he likes the limelight, he would be perfect their with Stat at Center.  Wade's 3 pointer will only improve from it's mediocrity, but he would love D'Antoni I bet.  Or the Heat just sign a few of those 2nd tier guys, and then re-sign Wade.
• Mike Miller is considered a legit SG/SF for a good reason,  he can put up 18ppg, 4apg, 7rpg, and shoot lights out.  He will sign a bigger than MLE contract for the Knicks possibly, though other teams may be after him if its just the MLE level.

That's it for now.  Hope you guys enjoyed the week in review.  Soon we will have to just break down team's and see what it looks like they are trying to do. I mean last I read the Hawks had Shaq very interested, and with brand new GM and Coach you have a new system, one that might think some size would help JJ and Crawford out.  Maybe Josh Smith's athleticism is overrated and they need to pound the boards at PF and C, and go more traditional post-up game with a Horford / Shaq front-court, Marvin Williams at SF, and Bibby, JJohnson, and Crawford rotating the guard spots.  

Till next time, joshfarc out!

"Game 7 Goes To JoshFarc!"

Lakers WIN Game 7 over the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.

I've wanted to say this........... well..... ALL MY LIFE! Plus that picture is priceless. The true transformation of "Pau 'mushy' Gasol" into "Pau 'The Rock' Gasol".  That's like going from a Zach Randolph 20/10 to a KG in his prime 20/10.  Woooohoooo! And back to the game.  This is sort of like our blog(2 brains); this is half-blog/article and half rant.  Enjoy....

My God, what a HORRIBLE game of offensive basketball we were blessed with.  Was that Game 1 of the Pistons Finals from 1989?  These refs are so ridiculous from game to game it makes me crazy... and happy.  I love when refs let the damn players decide the outcome of the game and battle it out.  Sure, it was an ugly game, but we got to see blood before fouls, and of course saw Pau Gasol finally adapt to KG's taunting and make a clutch post-up hook, followed by Pau running back with that KG look and evil stare full of not just competition, but "I OWN YOU" eyes.  

There's not a whole lot to say that I'm sure you haven't read. The objective articles will discuss how Sheed starting and Perkins out was an offensive blessing in disguise, and it actually could of been... though we did spot Scalabrine. I'm sure Perkins would of helped on the rebounding aspect of things, but Sheed also had a good offensive night in his spot. Now I am still not sure who's the "better team" but when you have the Black Mamba and Pau in the last 2 minutes of the game, well, it can make you the better team.  End result:  theory holds strong still.  Pau and Kobe for a three-peat next year, but against the Bron.  You'll see.  That Orlando team last season wasn't a bad team, just not a contender.  This Boston team was as good as the Lakers, and that's what makes an NBA Finals.

Thank you to the Los Angeles Lakers for making my viewing season a blast, and for every game at Staples I attended being a hard fought battle (*Minus Game 2 of Finals).  I love the NBA and will watch it no matter what, so having my favorite team (Lakers.. till the Sonics are resurrected) take the ship in 7 against the Celtics, a team I don't dislike, but a team that represents many things that I dislike, including it's go-to guy.  You guys know who I am talking about.  The one that game back in a wheelchair after spraining his ankle a bit.  :D  Leading to my last rant:

RONRON!  I also thank your doctors and psychiatrist.  You were clutch in game 7 with those 20 points, but even more importantly you held Pierce to 18.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, and 5.3 rpg on 43% shooting in 40mpg for Pierce.  Easily Pierce's worse series in years......  and to think, I was wondering if having Ariza instead of Ronny would of been better.  Shame on me.

By the way, that guy on the Lakers who won his second NBA Finals MVP trophy, your nearly 30ppg this series were hard to get, though truly show that you are one of the top dawgs.  Now people are already saying this makes him a top Laker, or people can now compare him to Jordan, but I still don't know.  Nobody does.  It's all subjective thinking.  While I'd still take Magic as my Laker, i think the Kobe/Jordan comparisons have been there for a year now.  As long as people remember that Scottie Pippen was a 21ppg, 7apg, 8rpg, 2spg, 2bpg guy that lead the Bulls to the finals that first year Jordan 1st retired.  Scottie Pippen was basically a Lebron James... but version one.  Lebron is version 2, so he scores a little bit more efficiently and has a bit more strength.... or a lot more strength.  MJ always had nice pieces around him too.  Horace Grant never became an All-Star or anything......  Bill Cartwright was never  a solid center or anything...... and so it goes.

LA Lakers:  You guys are amazing.  I no longer want to trade Sasha this off-season, haha, but you never know.  Our Starting 5 has been amazing, along with 6th man Lamar Odom and then Farmar, and sometimes Brown off the bench.  Had a damn blast this season.  I'm expecting another!

AND ONCE AND FOR ALL I CAN SIT, CONTENT, KNOWING THE LAKERS ARE THE BEST NBA TEAM.  

Now.... if only Phil can grow one more finger... on each side... then he can retire happily.

pS:  Happy Fathers Day.  I had fun watching the games with you old man! That DVD will be a part of your collection soon.

Game 6 Recap

Slovenians like to watch

All series the problem for the Lakers was that no one besides Kobe Bryant was stepping up. Lamar Odom still hasn't scored above 12 points this series. Andrew Bynum looked alright in games 1 and 2, but since then he hasn't done anything Darko Milicic couldn't have done (it might be the injury, hard to say, but 6 points and 1 rebound in 32 minutes on Game 5... ugh... why is he on the court?). Ron Artest looked like he was point shaving out there, the guy is below 50% from the free throw line this series. Finally, tonight, the whole Laker team stepped up and delivered a beating to the Celtics.

The Celtics came out, it appeared, to try to run the Lakers. It worked alright for Oklahoma City... when they were in Oklahoma City (hence the 4-2 Laker win). I don't know why the Celtics thought they could do it. Not in Los Angeles. Not Game 6 of the Finals. Boston is not a running team. I know I heard Mark Jackson saying this at some point this series "you are what you are at this point in the year, it's not time to try anything new." And dammit Mark Jackson, you were right. The plan backfired on the Celtics as the Lakers took a 28-18 lead by the end of the 1st quarter.

And the Lakers never looked back.

Jumping ahead, what does Boston have to do to win Game 7? For one, keep the game at their pace. Clearly they were playing the speed the Lakers wanted to play. Controlling the tempo is huge. Second, they need to hit some 3's. Ray Allen had that amazing game of 7 3's in the 1st half, 8 3's total. Then he missed 18 straight. He hit 2/5 tonight, but no one else did any damage from there. The Celtics were 5/23, that's 21.7% from deep. Rasheed's 0/6 didn't help. When you shoot that poorly from 3 it allows the Lakers to clog the lane and make shots at the rim much more difficult. That's why the Celtics shot 33.3% from the floor. You won't win a lot of games attacking the hoop on every play. And finally, bench Rasheed if he's having a bad game. Rasheed is completely washed up and in love with 3's. 0/7 shooting. As a fan from Portland, Rasheed, I know you have a good back to the basket game. I haven't seen you use it since about 2005. What is up with that? You're not a good 3 point shooter, you never were. You shot 28% this year! The Lakers LIKE it when you shoot 3's.

My prediction: Lakers take Game 7. I definitely see it as a closer game. Probably within 10 points the whole way. In the end the home court will win it for the Lakers. Bryant gets MVP. I know a lot of you think Artest deserves it, but no, I'm going to take the gutsy choice here.

"Brand Spanking New - Lakers/Celtics Gm.5"

That's right!  The day has finally come where I have decided to upgrade my amateurish blog to something a little more polished, and a little more substantial.  Not only will you be hearing my crazy thoughts of the conspiracy theory going on with the referees right now (yea, that's right, I said it!), but my pal Zander (who refs, plays ball, watches it and analyzes it as frenetically and accurately/objective as myself) will be lending part of his brain to us here.  Thanks Zander.  Now remember guys... he's from Portland.  Just because I happen to love Brandon Roy doesn't mean the next article on him will be done by me!

I'm putting money on it that he's got more voice, humor, and wit in his writing, and this should result in a nice flowing blog all about the NBA.  He's the only one I respect enough to have write on my blog (and yes, he likes to make stupid/funny posts like me as well), but trust me when I say "Zander knows his ****".

Speaking of the devil, I had bet him smaller amounts of money on many of the series.  I thought I was on a roll, calling Boston over Cleveland when it was a 2-1 series... Cleveland winning, only to have Boston win 3 straight and take it; then add the next round and I won again with my Lakers vs Boston prediction.  Problem is, I became stupid.  "Double or nothing Zan".  That's all it takes.  Well that and Kobe playing in a game in which he looks like the only Laker.  I guess I should of just stayed betting on the Celtics, but as a Laker citizen I had to take objective analysis away and use my completely irrational mind saying "Kobe will kill them all".  Thanks irrational mind.  Can I have my $20 back??

Game 5 was just atrocious.  From start to finish.  Take away Kobe and you seriously have a soft, jumpshooting, under 40%FG team.  That's not gonna get it done.  Pau had a bad game finally, while Odom played great while he was in... all 25 minutes.  The guy was feeling it and you have your starting PF and C both with shaky games.  PLAY LAMAR 36+ MINUTES WHEN HE'S FEELING IT PHIL!  TRUST ME!

The referees in this league all belong in jail!  I swear on my grandfathers fresh grave, that either the refs, Kobe, Artest, Phil-Jax, or could it possibly be the NBA higher ups that lead to Stern.  Nothing can hurt a company in debt(NBA) more than a 7 game, epic series between the biggest sports rivalry known to man: Lakers vs. Celtics.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Too bad the refs are the most inconsistent refs we've ever seen.  At one point you think they are calling it really loose as guys bang inside and get knocked around with no fouls called.  A second later you get a touch foul call off the ball for "sort of...almost touching your opponent".  Hah.

I'm not sitting here saying the refs lost the game, because the Lakers lost this game badly all by themselves.  I'm saying the reffing has been trash BOTH ways, for both teams, and it can be really hard to play the game, especially defensively, when the refs are literally bi-polar.

Game 6:  Please, Oh Please, Wherever You Are, RonRon Is Coming To Save The Day In LA!

"Lakers VS Celtics: Quick Briefing"

Game one says everything.  The Lakers are going to be that 2010 NBA finals champions...  I really want to stay six games, but I have this inkling that it could take seven.  But let's remember, the sixth and seventh games are in Los Angeles.  Kobe and Gasol proved to be a lethal duo in game one of this NBA finals series.  Before the game, I swear I could hear all the color commentators and the other basketball analyst'S, and many of them chose Boston to win this series, dismissing the entire Lakers roster. Shame on you if you were that oblivious to think the Celtics were the dominant team that would come into Staples and sweep the first 2 games in LA.


Lakers in six, maybe seven........   Look for me at game2 on TV.

PS: I was sick of putting pictures relevant to the topic. I'm sure you don't mind....

"Lakers(1) VS Suns(3) - Are We Overlooking Something?"

    I wanted to write this before I left for the beautiful 2 hour drive (full of great downtown LA traffic) to Staples to watch Game 1 live!  My old man still get's some great hook-ups.  Anyways, back to my point: Are we overlooking something to do with the Suns?  Every single show I've watched on ESPN or NBATV of professional sports analysis, just like the radio stations, and everyone believe the Lakers will win it in "5 probably" or even "it could go 7, but that's only a great game 6 Suns win at home then the Lakers close them out".  "The Lakers size will just be too much for the Suns in the end".  How many times have we heard this stupid, simple half-observation.

    Why not: "The Lakers will win the series just because they have more talent overall. Period." But that could be an argument I guess (Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Artest, Bynum, Fisher, Brown to Nash, Amare, J-Rich, Grant Hill, Frye, Dragic).

    I still think the Lakers have this series (because Odom is going to show up and play a great all-around, consistent series not only scoring more but rebounding harder; Ron Artest will do a fine job guarding Jason Richardson who's been putting up All NBA Numbers for the playoffs... we'll see him revert to his 16ppg self; Gasol and Bynum will also be likely getting plenty of touches early in game and early each quarter).  But I am a natural skeptic, and with this confidence that the Suns have no chance winning a 7 game series with the Lakers and, well, I don't like it, haha, I must say... Not that they believe this, but that they are so damn confident.  

    The Suns SWEPT the HEALTHY San Antonio Spurs with a 30ppg Manu Ginobli; 20/10 rock Duncan; stud PG Tony Parker; and even guys like Richard Jefferson and George Hill and Antonio McDyess.  Personally, I thought the Spurs posed a much bigger threat to the Lakers, but obviously for the Suns to run over them so badly we need to see why and how they are playing so damn efficient.  I mean it's just Nash running with the ball and the wings breaking half the time; the other half is a pick and roll literally.... they run it from so many spots on the court though, and it can end up in an Amare dunk or a Frye 3pter.  They'll set a pick n roll just to through a corner pass for 3.  

     That's right.  The 3pt line.  The Suns shot the best 3pt% out of ALL 30 teams this season.  With guys like Nash, Dudley, Frye, Dragic, Barbosa, Richardson, all 40%ISH 3pt shooters... your team is never dead.  Never.  They can still score 10 points in a heartbeat.  But what's the counter?  The Lakers had the best defensive 3pt% in ALL the NBA?  Well that is a HUGE little tid-bit of information.  The Lakers need to stay with the shooters, like they're used to, and contest those 3's.  Let the Suns jackup 3's at a 25% clip.... works for us right?

     There is also the fact the the Suns bench is better than the Lakers overall; it's an objective fact.  They provide more points, rebounding, assists, etc.  Of course we have to mention the breakout little 2nd year Goran Dragic who literally took over Game 3 I believe with the Spurs; he scored like 30 in the game, mostly the 2nd half, and literally controlled the game, his team, and the win.  I'm not sure we'll see that again either.  Has Popovich heard of hard fouls?  You can foul the kid... just so you know next time Popo.

Suns Bench:  Goran Dragic, Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson

     note:  the thing is these players each know their exact role and they execute it to plan; Also   

               assuming Robin Lopez return means he starts against the Gasol / Bynum duo.

Lakers Bench:  Lamar Odom, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Josh Powell

     note:  Lamar and Shannon have been good(with some bad), while overall as a whole the bench has been             

                no force or comfort for Kobe sitting on the bench.

     It's clear that the Suns have the superior bench when you go 5 deep.  It's really much more simple than we think: If Odom doesn't show up (and Bynum is still slowed up), while maybe Frye and Dudley do show up, this is going to be one damn close game.  I mean who's to say the Suns don't run that big-ole Laker starting lineup into the ground.  If Bynum is really having issues, he needs to take care of it.  Let Odom just start at PF... it's almost a better matchup.  

     You know who I think is going to have a decent series for us Lakers off the bench?  Well yes Odom, I said that.  But I think Luke Walton will get some time (especially matched up with Dudley I bet) and Luke is a very heady player which is key in playoff situations.  He's a great passer, can hit the open mid-range and 3-pointer; he even has a mini-post game.  With the Suns always so small, I think the Lakers and Phil can and will try some unique options with his rotation, rosters, lineups, etc.  Put Odom at Center for heaven's sake; he can guard Frye, not Lopez though (that's where Bynum OR Gasol needs to step in).  If Bynum is really hurting and ends up out, Gasol, when he moves to center, needs to be much more aggressive on both ends of the floor.  We should be seeing some blocked shots in this series.... because you know the Lakers will fall into the "fast-paced Suns style" at times and then snap out of it....  how quickly they can adjust or execute their plan and control  the better.

    But the benches overall give the Suns an edge.  Lately when Nash has had to go get his rest, Goran Dragic has stepped in and done a really fantastic job playing 100% speed, Nash's style a little, but with his own flare.  The kid has a bright future if he continues to be mentored by Nash.  Then Dudley is one of those pretty damn consistent shooters, while Frye can be streaky, just like Barbosa who might play 10 minutes one night with 6 points and 20 minutes the next night with 20 points, haha.  Between Dragic's and Barbosa's explosiveness and Dudley and Frye's shooting..... you've got a legit 2nd unit.  Keep 1 starter in there, like Grant Hill, and your good..Then   Amundson just does his thing: comes in and riles things up, blocks a shot, not a whole lot else.

     The Lakers on the other hand have had a struggling time with the bench.  For now Odom is the 6th man so he's a bench guy, and the best one at that (also the huge x-factor in this game/series).  If Odom wants to get angry and play some ball, he can literally almost match Stoudemires efficiency.  May not score as much, but he can be a triple double threat any game.  Then Shannon Brown has been decent, though streaky.  Farmar even worse, but OK.  Walton does alright I guess.... he's just not getting much of a chance.  Powell and Mbenga rarely see the court in real close games too.  So its like a 7 man rotation, 8 if Farmar can get his head out of his ass and grow some balls.  He's so much better than he's playing.

     The thing is Steve Nash is possible the best PG in the NBA (I know there are 6 or so PG's you can see this about; but look where Nash has his team... Rondo too, hah).  Fish will do his best on Nash, but I guarantee you Phil is thinking "let Nash score to beat us; why put pressure or doubles that result in Nash assists and Suns treys".  Exactly.  Let Nash be Lebron.  Artest and Kobe can take J-Rich out of the game (who's averaged over 25ppg in the playoffs.... +10 regular season numbers).

     But really, a bench is a bench.  In these playoffs Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Amare, Nash, all these great players will play a 40+ minute game if necessary.  So really... a huge bench is not as important as some might try to point out (unless you are often in foul trouble or something similar).  The Suns bench won't be "their special answer to winning the series".  The Suns need to run their offense as efficient as they have been, but also keep their defense up so Gasol, Bynum, Odom can't get tons of points in the paint.  And I guess J-Rich is the new Raja Bell?  I think Kobe likes that.

    SO yes, I do think the Lakers win this in 5, if not then 6.  But I do have a bit more skepticism in my gut.  This Suns team is doing something right... playing as a team.  Let's hope the Lakers do so.  

WELL I AM OUT TO GO TO GAME 1.  I PREDICT THE LAKERS +12, give or take 4 either way, hahha.  A semi-comfortable win,

"I Can Sense The Spurs Next!"

Currently, in this Utah/Laker series it's pretty much known the Lakers will win this series in what is most likely 6 games; 25% chance it goes either 5 games or 7; 10% chance it goes 4.  The Jazz are nothing without Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur... that's their 3rd and 4th best player after Deron and Boozer.  But what comes AFTER the Jazz series is what scares me....

The Spurs are a legit contender this year.  Not only did they add Antonio McDyess (solid veteran savvy) to put next to Duncan, they also have rookie surprise Dejuan Blair who is nuts and brings it every day; speaking of bringing it, this kid named George Hill is no force to be forgotten.  Their best lineups are when they have Tony Parker at PG, Hill at SG, Manu at SF, Duncan at PF, and then McDyess or Blair or even Bonner at Center.  

Good thing I didn't forget about Richard Jefferson, their nice little pickup that allows them to play in many different ways; I've even seen them go with him at PF essentially with Duncan at center and Parker, Hill, Ginobli on the court too.  It worked a bit against the Mavericks as they matched RJ up with Dirk; knowing smaller/longer players with speed cause Dirk the most problems on offense.  That entire schematic was done well most the games and went unnoticed to most.

They had a very unique rotation last series and to end the season: George hill starts at PG while Bogans starts at SG I believe and Tony Parker comes in off the bench AS WELL AS Manu Ginobli; dual 6th man of the year?  Hah.  That's some serious firepower considering you already have Duncan's 20 points, Hill's 15, RJ's 12, and McDyess' 8-10 points in that starting lineup (Bogans around 5ppg now).

But then look at what you are bringing off the bench:  Tony Parker (All-Star Caliber top5 PG) and Manu Ginobli (a top5 SG when healthy and best 6th man in the league).  

Look at how the Spurs so EASILY managed to knock off the Mavericks (yes, the stacked/expensive Mavs with Caron Butler and Brandon Haywood to clone Dampier... and oh yea they had Kidd and Marion too, while of course Dirk did his own thing.  The Spurs treated that like the regular season and the players didn't even get and "wear and tear". 

-Check these out:

- Spurs Round 1 (6 games) Player Stat's (Complete Playoff Stats to date)

• Manu Ginobli:  19.0 Ppg, 5.0 Apg, 3.7 Rpg. 2.3 Spg, 10 Treys; 33.2 Mpg
• Tim Duncan:  18.2 Ppg, 9.5 Rpg, 2.7 Apg, 1.0 Bpg, 50% Fg; 37.2 Mpg
• Tony Parker:  15.8 Ppg, 5.7 Apg, 3.7 Rpg, 1.0 Spg, 47% Fg; 31.5 Mpg

That's your Big 3 getting legit "rest" for it being playoff time.  Duncan did somewhat carry that series while Ginobli and Parker helped close it, with help.  But just you can look and see how important those 3 are.  Manu is playing like the second best SG in the NBA, jsut behind Kobe, and he's still fresh.  Those Big3 are used to playing 40-44 minutes in playoff games, so this is legit. 

And as you can see, if the series gets close and the 3 players have to log 40 minutes a game they will be scoring 70+ points combined possibly.  

• George Hill:  14.3 Ppg, 3.8 Rpg, 1.2 Spg, 50% FG & 50%-3pt;  34.8 Mpg

That's the surprising 4th productive player.  Richard Jefferson is starting and averaging 9.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 32.7 minutes a game; not exactly productive you'd think.  But RJ has really turned into this intangible type of player, sort of like Battier.  

As a Laker fan, I just think this to myself... "What Spurs players will likely have at least one 20+ppg in the series....

• Ginobli, Duncan, Parker, Jefferson, Hill, and then McDyess could go 20/10 one night and Roger Mason could be hitting his shots and put up 20 on any given night.  While only the Big 3 average near 20 Ppg, their are plenty of others that can have one.  Even Dejuan Blair and Matt Boner have had 20+point games.

So why am I praising this Spurs team?  I'm not quite sure, but I have this feeling they take the Suns, AGAIN, in 6, and then the Lakers and Spurs go 7 baby.  I said at the start of the season "If the spurs were Healthy come playoff time, and the McDyess + RJ thing worked out and gels, they will be at the top".

So here we are Laker fans.  Playing Utah.... who has little chance... and then taking on this crazy San Antonio Spurs team (likely).  Can anyone really stop Duncan's 20/10's?  And I don't want to bring up the PG matchup where Tony Parker will eat us up for lunch at times; this is where Farmar and Brown need to come in and step it up some more:  Brown will have to guard Hill a lot I bet, with Fisher and Farmar on Parker the most (but maybe even Kobe or Artest).

Check back later for my analysis on what the match-ups would/will be and what the Lakers need to do to win a 7 game series with a healthy Spurs roster.

( Yes, I did write this like it was fact that the Suns had zero chance to win )

PS: The Spurs won a title in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2010 seems like a way to cap the decade eh.

PSS: Remember what Duncan did the last time the Suns tried to test them?