Can any Western Conference team takeout the Lakers

[JR Giddens]

If the Hornets got steamrolled by the Lakers on their homecourt I don't see anyone beating them. The Hornets only scored 30 points in the 1st half. They looked uncomfortable the whole time. They aren't soft anymore and Andrew Bynum could have been the difference in the finals last year. Even if Kobe got season ending surgery the Lakers would be a top team in the west. Andrew Bynum and Pau gasol are prolly going to be voted all stars this year as well.

[crownsy]

Big fan of the lakers eh JR? they get a new thread per win

anyway, yea, i think alot of western conferance teams canhang with them, the west is still the more competitive conferance near the top, but i think the've showed that at least early they are far and away the favroite, just like were showing in the east.

[JR Giddens]

I hate the Lakers but these guys are the best team in the NBA right now and its not even close. The Lakers beat teams by 30 points at home and Andrew Bynum alters a lot of shots in the paint. Only injuries can stop this team from reaching the finals. Lamar odom and Trevor Ariza are better than any bench player we have. The Celtics would commit like 25+ turnovers against the lakers defense

[crownsy]

I hate the Lakers but these guys are the best team in the NBA right now and its not even close. The Lakers beat teams by 30 points at home and Andrew Bynum alters a lot of shots in the paint. Only injuries can stop this team from reaching the finals.

alot of teams look super dominate early and then don't make the finals. Their a close second best team right now (we've played a far tougher schedule, more games, and have more wins over projected playoff teams. plus, you gotta beat the champs to be the best.)

nothing's certain about the playoffs until you get them, but so far the lakers appear to be what i think most rationall B-ball fans thought they would be, one of the elite teams in the west.

[Roy Hobbs]

Yes, the Lakers are the favorites right now, but it's a long season.  I fully expect New Orleans to be playing better by the end of the season, and Houston, Utah, Phoenix, San Antonio, and any number of other teams could be tough playoff matchups.

[Big Ticket]

Yes.  A lot can happen in the 75 remaining games.  More still can happen in the playoffs.

[xChopsx]

The only team I can see taking out the Lakers is New Orleans. Houston might give them a little toughness but the first matchup they played this year they got handled. Its still too early in the season but we'll see. When San Antonio gets there guys back, I think it will be to late.

[WayneKreklow]

While the Lakers have looked good, it is important to note that their schedule has been very advantageous to starting the season out slowly and on the right foot --- long spaces between games, playing most games at home (including the "away game" at the Clippers) and easy opponents.

[ACF]

We were 29 and 3 at one point
last season and finished with
only 16 losses. Do you remember
the trouble we had ousting the
Hawks? I think we were by far
the best team in the league away
from home in the regular season
(correct me if I'm wrong)
yet we still had a lot of problems
when we played away games in the
playoffs. The playoffs are all about
here and now and that's one of the
best things about the NBA.

By the way, the Lakers won the game
by seven points. That's not "steamrolled"
on any page in my book...

[LarBrd33]

the final score wasn't reflective of how dominant the Lakers were.  They were blowing the Hornets out.  They blew out the Rockets too.  They have pretty much blown out everyone.   Bynum seems to be the difference maker.  I'm not sure when they'll lose. 

[xChopsx]

Well if you look at the rest of the Lakers schedule for the month of november it looks like they don't have a pretty hard schedule. Out of these 8 games the only teams I can see winning would be maybe Detroit and/or maybe Phoenix. Dallas is out to a poor start, Phoenix is all offense and our known not to play defense, same w/ Denver. So they have a chance to go 15-0 for the month of november, but I see at least a loss in these next 8 games.


Fri 14  vs Detroit
Tue 18  vs Chicago
Thu 20  @ Phoenix
Fri 21  vs Denver
Sun 23  vs Sacramento
Tue 25  vs New Jersey
Fri 28  vs Dallas
Sun 30  vs Toronto

[ACF]

the final score wasn't reflective of how dominant the Lakers were.  They were blowing the Hornets out.  They blew out the Rockets too.  They have pretty much blown out everyone.   Bynum seems to be the difference maker.  I'm not sure when they'll lose. 

December 25th, perhaps? 

[Schupac]

I think Houston, SA, NO and even phoenix could take out the lakers.  In every series, as things stand right now, I think the smart money would be on the lakers.  But any one of those teams is capable of rising to the occasion and finishing off the Evil Sissies.

[celticmaestro]

Man, even Celtics fans are on the Laker bandwagon? And you'd think it was them that dismantled us in the Finals.

[xChopsx]

Man, even Celtics fans are on the Laker bandwagon? And you'd think it was them that dismantled us in the Finals.

Who are you pointing that out to. I've been a fan of the Lakers my whole life. Mostly because my favorite player is on that team. I live in MA and was born here.