Some NBA scouts recently spoke anonymously with ESPN.com about the Lakers’ chances of going back-2-back, and the possibility of the Cavs meeting us there.
Western Conference scout on the Lakers’ status as title favorites:
“They’re favorites, but I wouldn’t say ‘heavy’ favorites. I see some holes in them. Kobe’s not 100 percent. Their bench hasn’t been great. Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar are up-and-down. I don’t think they’re clear-cut better than everybody. I also think you’ve got to put the Mavs in there now [after acquiring Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood]. They match up with the Lakers a lot better now. Even Utah has come on so much and takes so much out of you in a seven-game series. I still like ‘em, but the Lakers will have a harder time winning the West than people think.”
Eastern Conference scout on the Cavaliers’ outlook in the East:
“Cleveland is playing free and loose and they’re going to keep blowing people out because there’s nobody to slow them down right now. LeBron is going to play more power forward and they’re just going to attack, attack, attack. But until they get those two big guys back [Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas], they can’t win the championship. They’re going to need one or both of those guys to beat the Lakers. I think even against Boston they need the big guys. The problem is that they’re going to have to change their style of play again when Z and Shaq come back.”
And since this “anonymous scout” threw Dallas out there as a legit threat to us taking the Western Conference crown again, here’s what they said about the Mavs’ recent trade for former Laker Caron Butler and center Brendan Haywood.
Western Conference scout on the best trade swung before last month’s trading deadline:
“It’s not even close. Dallas won the trade deadline when they got [Brendan] Haywood with [Caron] Butler. Haywood is much better offensively than anyone they’ve had in the middle. He’s longer than you think when you’re looking at him. And I think being traded to an organization like Dallas is going to rejuvenate Caron. He’s an absolute handful when he’s at his best and we didn’t see that guy in Washington this year with everything that’s gone on [with the Wizards]. The only thing I wonder is how they can find enough minutes for Butler and [Shawn] Marion to coexist, because they still need Marion’s defense. But those are two significant upgrades.”
Laker Goggles:
With the lack of urgency and inconsistent play since the All-Star break, it’s no wonder peeps are starting to jump off the bandwagon. The only reason we’re the “favorites” to win is because we did last year and we have the most talent in the league.
However, having the deepest squad doesn’t always make you the BEST team. That fact, parlayed with the prospects of not having homecourt throughout the playoffs, questionable point guard play and team toughness that makes Brittney Griner laugh, makes it highly possible we could get humbled this year.
It’s arrogant to believe we can just flip the switch in the Playoffs this year because a few of the elite teams HONESTLY BELIEVE they can take us in a seven-game series, with or without homecourt.
One thing’s for sure, if we don’t repeat, Kobe’s gonna go on a tirade and this “championship era” could end before it really began …
