Mr Fiasco
I don't see the Nuggets beating the Lakers and i'll just say it again.
Dahntay Jones or whatever his name is...he isn't going to give Kobe a hard time and i'm not sure if he's mentally prepared for go against Kobe. IF...IF he is mentally prepared then maybe, but he plays a physical dirty defensive role much like Bowen except Bowen isn't going to get frustrated like Jones sometimes does. Jones likes to frustrate guys and i've seen a guy get a T for saying something at him and he claps his hands because he knows he's succeeded. But...there have been many times he loses his focuse and he can't do that and he's a young defender and he's going to learn a lot about how to defend the one and only Kobe.
Fisher is going to play better against Billups. I guarantee that. Brooks killed him with his speed, old PGs always have problems with that...both Smooth and Fish have been victims of Aaron Brooks and his speed, just like how CP3 owned Kidd who was known for his defense in his prime. Sometimes your age is what you are and Billups isn't going to out-veteran Fish. Billups is going to have good games though, i'm just saying...he's not going to tear up Fish like Brooks did.
Also....for the Nuggets...Melo has to step up...Denver has a shot but I think the Lakers are going to win because Kobe was sort of limited in what he could do against the Rockets...can Dhanny Jones do that to Kobe?
As for the Magic...They can beat the Cavs, but the only way I see it is if Howard has a big series. But I like the Cavs because they have better defenders for Howard then the Magic have for Lebron.
Pietrus, Hedo, Shard may all be on Lebron...I don't like their chances.
I like Varejao's chances on Howard, and Ben Wallace, and Ilgauskas and his height. Also Varejao's flopping can and will change the game, at the Q he gets more flops call and he's already the best Flopper in the league.Can't count how many times he's nearly fouled Yao out just by his excellent flopping. Think i'm joking but no...his flopping can win the game for the Cavs if it gets Howard in foul trouble...but Howard has to dominate of course for the Magic to win AND the same can be said for Lebron.
I just like Lebron's chances against the 3 I mentioned.
I thought it was funny that Legs was talking about him being an irritant to Kobe I really don't look at that matchup. Kobe is the guy who wants to get into someones head more if anything. Defense is obviously part mental but sometimes you need to me to have just the physically capacity to out work your opponent but even if you out work Kobe hes going to get his soooo thought the Glove did seem to give MJ trouble so who knows.
I dunno about Fish...hes cool and all but like even last year he seems to not close out on shooters well and sometimes can't get off screens. And Billups tore up Antonio Daniels-J Kidd- JJ Barea and I think even Chirs Paul though Paul was likely tired with the load he had to carry. I just don't know Fish use to be a pretty good defender now I think its mostly age and Billups I think will kill teams just the way he runs his team. With this team pretty much being fresh blood I thought the Pistons got stale obviously and the other guys were more to blame. Now hes heading a different ship. I think we'll see him making plays or just running the team like he did in the Pistons best seasons or series.
I don't have any picks for either though. If the lakers will play at the level they're capable of playing then yes. And I think that happens with a team like Denver people are picking them and all this.
I think Howard will average around 18-20 and 15 boards but I dunno I don't worry about him he seems to be the same player each game his teammates on the other hand of course shoot too many jumpers sometimes...and not even that just too many bad decisions really missing Nelson. I think his play maybe dictated by his shooters. Though Magic thinks he just needs to dominate that would be cool I suppose he'd need to approach them before the game but none the less I believe they do.
But I think you try and bait Lebron into jumpers obviously hes improved but theres a ton of damage and options when anyone gets into the paint. Let the Cavs have other people beat you and you don't need Hedo and Lewis to shut him down but make it tough I think Pietrus is the best defender out of those guys but James might not be use to their length. Attack him on the offensive end and defensive end do what you can I say. I think if Lebron is playing a normal SF he is allowed to have a much more leveled head and thats when he'll kill you with his team.
I think the tough thing about it to me which makes me think the Magic can win this is because Lebron can go off and not win the game. While Lewis and Hedo should go to work besides that they have more matchups I think. And I think Dwight playing well usually depends on his teammates and I think its more reliance of both ways. Lebron initiates a lot for the Cavs which really anyone can spin that the other way too I think but I'm gonna stick with the Magic I suppose. I had them early in the season as my sleeper then Nelson got hurt.
If they beat Lebron then ESPN will self destruct though.
But really I don't feel like there will be any surprises for me. Maybe if the Nuggets beat the Lakers convincingly that would be.
And if any of this is identical to something Yahoo sports has said then I'm collecting royalties.
Oh one more thing I'm really interested to see Lebrons defense just straight up I don't care about the blocks-steals playing the passing lanes etc etc.
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