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Vasashi17
Clublakers Moderator
Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 9987
Location: Reppin' the Golden (& Purple) State - From Da Bay to LA
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 Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: Position Breakdowns: How do we stack up against Denver? |
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| Lakers.com BasketBlog wrote: |
Point Guard: Allen Iverson vs. Derek Fisher
Now in his twelfth year in the league, Iverson still remains one of the game’s most prolific scorers, finishing near the top of the league in scoring once again, averaging over 26 points per game. The Lakers’ Derek Fisher is another veteran who continues to defy time, returning for his second stint with the purple and gold and filing arguably his best offensive season yet with over 12 points a night. Both lead guards are crafty veterans with tons of playoff experience behind them, including their matchup in the 2001 NBA Finals when Iverson was still a Sixer. With Derek still nursing a foot injury and Iverson showing no signs of slowing down after playing in all 82 games this season, Denver gets the edge here.
Edge: Nuggets
Shooting Guard: Anthony Carter vs. Kobe Bryant
Carter usually starts at point guard for the Nuggets, but will likely take on the task of defending Bryant. Carter has proven himself an effective player for the Nuggets, putting up averages of eight points and nearly six assists. While the other four matchups against starters are much more difficult to call, Kobe holds an enormous advantage over Carter or any of the guards Denver might try to throw #24’s way. Even more worrisome for the Denver faithful, if the Lakers’ last three games to close out the season are any indicator, Carter and Co. should be equally as concerned with Bryant’s passing ability as they are with his scoring.
Edge: Lakers
Center: Marcus Camby vs. Pau Gasol
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was a beast inside once again for the Nuggets, pulling down 13 rebounds and a league-leading 3.6 blocks. Camby is not only Denver’s defensive backstop in the lane, but really their only defensive star in any area of the floor. While Gasol is certainly not noted for his defensive prowess, he has the ability to give Camby all kinds of fits with an offensive game that is as polished as any big man in the NBA. Moreover, the Nuggets will be facing Pau for the first time as a Laker so there will undoubtedly be an adjustment period on their behalf.
Edge: Even
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony vs. Vladimir Radmanovic
If Andrew Bynum was in the lineup and Odom were moved to his more natural position of small forward, we might be talking about the matchup of the series. Instead, the Lakers will throw Radmanovic at the Nugget’s star in hopes of slowing him off of us 26 points a night and seven rebounds. While Vladimir is not known as a defensive player, he showed impressive resolve and tenacity down the stretch for the Lakers as evidenced by his reaction to Tyson Chandler’s rough play in L.A.’s victory over New Orleans last Friday. Even if Anthony gives the Nuggets the obvious edge at small forward, Radmanovic’s ability to spread the floor has the chance to be a huge X-factor in the series.
Edge: Nuggets
Power Forward: Kenyon Martin vs. Lamar Odom
While Martin has yet to find the success in Denver that he experienced in New Jersey, he is still an impact player for the Nuggets and is more than capable of popping off for 20 plus points on a given night. Odom has continued to blossom for the Lakers in the second half of the season and has been a dynamite performer in the playoffs for two seasons running now. While he may not have the pogo stick like explosiveness of Martin, his enviable length makes up for it. Lamar’s stock as a defender rose during the stretch run for the Lakers too, with the versatile forward holding his own against Dirk Nowitzki and other top forwards as the Lakers honed in on the Western Conference’s best record.
Edge: Lakers
Bench:
The Lakers’ “bench mob” was one of the surprise stories of the season for the team, with Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Ronny Turiaf, Luke Walton forming the backbone of a potent bench. On the season, Lakers reserves combined to average more than 40 points per game. While certainly less dynamic overall, Denver’s reserve corps still has plenty of ammo with both J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza averaging double figures in points. The Nuggets also have their own version—albeit a poor man’s one—of a Ronny Turiaf in Eduardo Najera. However, what the Lakers bench lacks on firepower, it more than makes up for it with outstanding teamwork and chemistry.
Edge: Lakers |
And lets not forget....
Coaching Staff:
Is an explanation really needed? Lets just say, Coby aka George's Son, calls up pops at 7:45 AM to gloat about how "his" coach is better than he is.
Edge: Lakers
So how do you guys stack us up against the competition?
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JamrockLakaFan
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Kgn,Jamaica
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Defensively I say game one against AI we throw Fisher then farmer then Sasha.....if it isnt working Kobe. I kow AI gon go crazy one game if he doesn Kobe should go one on one match up on defense with him. Sasha on Carter in that case size wise.
I would also put Lamar on Melo and Radmon on Martin I see slowing down Melo and AI to maybe 20 points each or less as another way to kill this series,. Ronny can go at Martin as well with Odom on Melo
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doggy dogg
Joined: 22 Jun 2004
Posts: 1265
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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Basket ball is team sport. Comparing players like that dont work. It gives a good indication for sure, but there is so much more to team sports than that
This way of anaylsis dont take into account chemistry, team D and how players skills complenment each others. Our guys actually enjoy playing toghther and it shows on the court.
However since Vasashi17 went to all that trouble  , ill chip in on this topic
We are simply built better as a TEAM, guys know their rules and go out there and do it. Denver have 2 PGs starting and they get punished on the D cos of that. Thats the biggest "edge" the Lakers have if we want to compare players on position basis.
Obviously, as Vasashi17 stated in his post, the Lakers have a big advantage with their bench, thats very important. Sasha and Farmar will be huge factors in this series. If play some solid D on AI and hit their J's this series could be finished sooner than later
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slimjim
Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 8012
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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as long as the lakers don't try and outgun denver, we should easily win.
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last stand
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 2042
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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i'm just glad we are playing someone else for a change
for a moment it looked as though we were going to have to play nash and the boys again |
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scissors
Joined: 09 Apr 2007
Posts: 1217
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| i wouldn't worry too much about how we would match up against denver. even the rockets or the jazz. infact i would worry more about how we would match up aginst the celtics or the pistons. |
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kray28
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 5033
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| slimjim wrote: |
| as long as the lakers don't try and outgun denver, we should easily win. |
Actually outgunning Denver won't be very hard either because they don't play a lick of defense, and instead rely on gambling and shooting passing lanes to make up for it. Against the Tri, that's just suicide in the long run. With Pau drawing Camby away from the basket, there should be a plethora of dive cuts and back doors to attack the rim with.
Also the Pau vs. Camby matchup is not EVEN....it's LAKERS. Camby's a good shot blocker, but he's not bulky or strong enough to bother Pau, and is ineffective against guys like Pau or Duncan (players with games away from the basket).
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fanboyslim
Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 447
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| kray28 wrote: |
Also the Pau vs. Camby matchup is not EVEN....it's LAKERS. Camby's a good shot blocker, but he's not bulky or strong enough to bother Pau, and is ineffective against guys like Pau or Duncan (players with games away from the basket). |
Pau has struggled historically against Camby. Of course that was in the Grizzlies where he was routinely double teamed, so I expect that to improve, but I think it's still a stretch to say Pau has an advantage. |
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