Team that has the best chance of preventing the Lakers from repeating

[Spike]

Hey guys, this "Topher17" from the old message boards. I changed my nickname to "Spike". Great looking new boards here. :)

So who do you guys think has the best chance to prevent the Lakers from repeating as World Champions? My pick is the San Antonio Spurs because they have the 2 inside threats in David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Whoever Shaq isn't guarding can hit the outside shot and score consistently on whoever the Lakers have at "4" and they're both such great shot blockers and defensive players.

From what I can tell, from what I've heard anyways, a lot of people are overlooking San Antonio as a threat in the Western Conference. It's either the Lakers or the Blazers. But I think San Antonio is right up with them.

And getting Derek Anderson this past Summer was a great pick up for them. Anderson can slash and score from the 2-spot. Mario Elie was okay for them last year at that spot but he's just gotten old and I don't think he's as explosive an offensive player as Anderson is. They also got Danny Ferry who isn't much of a player but who can spot up on the floor, be a designated shooter, and hit outside shots.

And they still have Malik Rose, who I think is kind of underrated. He's a tough rugged, inside player who can defend opposing power fowards.

I think the biggest key though for them though is if they get to play a Best-of-Seven series in the Western Conference Finals with the Lakers is Sean Elliot, because he's really the only guy they have on that roster who has the quickness to stay with Kobe Bryant and the length, arm span and height to bother him in the post. If Elliot can contribute consistently and stay healthy, yeah I think this team has a good chance to take the Lakers down. Not that they will, but right now I even think of them as more of a threat than Portland.

[Marc]

Welcome back, Topher. :)

I think the top three teams in the West will be:

Lakers
Blazers
Spurs

At this point, I see the Lakers winning again, assuming they have no significant injuries. The Spurs should be much improved with a healthy Tim Duncan and the pickup of Derek Anderson, as you said. The Blazers are as talented as ever, but I still don't think they have the chemistry or leadership to win.

[ryan]

I agree with Marc. The Lakers are a dominent force that will be hard to stop. They have one of the best duo's in the league and until somebody can get a team like that i see them winning it all

[Spike]

Originally posted by M. James :

The Blazers are as talented as ever, but I still don't think they have the chemistry or leadership to win.

Yeah, about Portland, at least they're coming back a little now. 3 and 3, after last night's win after the 1 and 3 start.

Besides the obvious with Sabonis going down for a little while, I still think that in the long run that they really will miss Brian Grant. He would just go in there and battle night in and night out. He loved banging bodies and being physical. It was one of his trademarks.

I remember seeing some Kings-Blazers' games last season and he would just give Chris Webber fits because Chris didn't want to be as physical as him.

He brought ferocious toughness and heart everytime he stepped out on the floor and that would rub off on his teammates and I don't know exactly who replaces that now.

[Jersey Devil]

I think that the Spurs are my pick for dethroning the champions this year ... if everybody is healthy.

I really don't see all these writers across America are touting the Lakers and Blazers as "unbeatable." Every team is beatable in this league. Hack-a-Shaq works ... and if the Blazers could have scored any points in the last ten minutes of last year, they'd be world champs right now. But especially as seen this year, they are ALL beatable.

Right now, I'd have to go with the Sixers representing the East. And with Allen Iverson and their defense, there is always a chance that the East could win it all this year.

[Marc]

Hack-a-Shaq doesn't work all the time. Part of last year, Shaq was actually doing good at the line. How is he doing this year?

And I don't see the Sixers in the East. I understand they are the only undefeated time left, but they lack the inside presence and alternative scoring threats to Iverson. Kukoc and Ratliff are solid, but they aren't the dominating counterparts Ive needs.

[Pgoodman]

grrrrrrrr................. I hate Shaq. He is to darn big!

[Spike]

I hate Shaq too but I have to hand it to the guy. He is the most dominating force in the league.

And by the way, Marc, Shaq is shooting 37 of 90 from the line for 41.4 percent after the Lakers' first 6 games.

[Marc]

Originally posted by Spike
I hate Shaq too but I have to hand it to the guy. He is the most dominating force in the league.
Why do you guys hate Shaq? Barring those horrible movies and failed rap albums (does Kazaam ring a bell? yuck!), he is a pretty nice guy, not to mention an outstanding player. Has he ever had run-ins with the crime? Ever been reported for wife abuse? No, unlike the growing population of athletes today.

41.1%... looks like he's back to himself on the charity strike. :)

[Spike]

Originally posted by M. James:

Why do you guys hate Shaq?

Well it's not so much that I hate Shaq as much as I've grown up hating the Lakers and he's their best player so I hate him. I respect him and the Lakers though for what they've accomplished. I just root for the other team, every game they play. :)


41.1%... looks like he's back to himself on the charity strike. :)

Yeah, I think Shaq has now developed that kind of Rodman-like quality though where he hits his free throws when he has to (with the game on the line, etc.) and when it really matters the most like in Game 1 last year of the Western Conference Finals when the Trailblazers applied "Hack-A-Shaq".

[Peck]

I would still give the champion to the Lakers they got the all around team with Shaq,Kobe.......the list goes on foever. But the only other contenders are San Antonio i'd say.