Official:1st Round NBA 2008 Playoffs: Game 1 Lakers vs. Nuggets 4/20 12:00 PM PST Game On ABC HD

[darthska]

^ Enh, that's just a little too much confidence from very few Laker fans.

Trust me, there are very few Lakers fans that will agree with this statement: "The Denver Nuggets have absolutely no chance at all of beating us."

For me personally, the seedings in the Western Conference Do. Not. Matter. A 1 beating an 8 (like the Lakers/Nuggets) wouldn't be an upset, a 2 beating a 7wouldn't be an upset; nothing is an upset in the Western Conference.

For me, there are no seeds.

There are simply 8 teams that made the Western Conference playoffs, and I honestly... HONESTLY... believe that all 8 teams could make it all the way to theFinals.

Yes, including the Nuggets. Now, I'm not saying I think the Nuggets will make the Finals, but they could. I don't see how they could beat the LakersAND the Rockets/Jazz AND the Mavs/Hornets/Spurs/Suns, but I'm not going to disrespect them by saying it would be impossible for them.

East? There is no way that the Finals team for the East will have a name other than Celtics or Pistons.

That's not the case out West.

 

[belle155]

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

^ Enh, that's just a little too much confidence from very few Laker fans.

Trust me, there are very few Lakers fans that will agree with this statement: "The Denver Nuggets have absolutely no chance at all of beating us."

For me personally, the seedings in the Western Conference Do. Not. Matter. A 1 beating an 8 (like the Lakers/Nuggets) wouldn't be an upset, a 2 beating a 7 wouldn't be an upset; nothing is an upset in the Western Conference.

For me, there are no seeds.

There are simply 8 teams that made the Western Conference playoffs, and I honestly... HONESTLY... believe that all 8 teams could make it all the way to the Finals.

Yes, including the Nuggets. Now, I'm not saying I think the Nuggets will make the Finals, but they could. I don't see how they could beat the Lakers AND the Rockets/Jazz AND the Mavs/Hornets/Spurs/Suns, but I'm not going to disrespect them by saying it would be impossible for them.

East? There is no way that the Finals team for the East will have a name other than Celtics or Pistons.

That's not the case out West.

i disagree

 

[acidicality]

Originally Posted by belle155

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

^ Enh, that's just a little too much confidence from very few Laker fans.

Trust me, there are very few Lakers fans that will agree with this statement: "The Denver Nuggets have absolutely no chance at all of beating us."

For me personally, the seedings in the Western Conference Do. Not. Matter. A 1 beating an 8 (like the Lakers/Nuggets) wouldn't be an upset, a 2 beating a 7 wouldn't be an upset; nothing is an upset in the Western Conference.

For me, there are no seeds.

There are simply 8 teams that made the Western Conference playoffs, and I honestly... HONESTLY... believe that all 8 teams could make it all the way to the Finals.

Yes, including the Nuggets. Now, I'm not saying I think the Nuggets will make the Finals, but they could. I don't see how they could beat the Lakers AND the Rockets/Jazz AND the Mavs/Hornets/Spurs/Suns, but I'm not going to disrespect them by saying it would be impossible for them.

East? There is no way that the Finals team for the East will have a name other than Celtics or Pistons.

That's not the case out West.

i disagree

of course you would.

 

[solemate96]

Celtics in 4.

Edit:
Besides being from Boston, The Lakers are one of teams I want to see. I get to see Kobe sweep the Nuggets and move on.

 

[true 3 blue]

Originally Posted by acidicality

Originally Posted by belle155

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

^ Enh, that's just a little too much confidence from very few Laker fans.

Trust me, there are very few Lakers fans that will agree with this statement: "The Denver Nuggets have absolutely no chance at all of beating us."

For me personally, the seedings in the Western Conference Do. Not. Matter. A 1 beating an 8 (like the Lakers/Nuggets) wouldn't be an upset, a 2 beating a 7 wouldn't be an upset; nothing is an upset in the Western Conference.

For me, there are no seeds.

There are simply 8 teams that made the Western Conference playoffs, and I honestly... HONESTLY... believe that all 8 teams could make it all the way to the Finals.

Yes, including the Nuggets. Now, I'm not saying I think the Nuggets will make the Finals, but they could. I don't see how they could beat the Lakers AND the Rockets/Jazz AND the Mavs/Hornets/Spurs/Suns, but I'm not going to disrespect them by saying it would be impossible for them.

East? There is no way that the Finals team for the East will have a name other than Celtics or Pistons.

That's not the case out West.

i disagree

of course you would.

 

[darthska]

me:

---

There is no way that the Finals team for the East will have a name other than Celtics or Pistons.

belle155, with "TEAM CLEVELAND" in his sig:

---

i disagree

I would expect you to.

 

[Los Angeles]

Be sunday already!!!!!!

 

[r0biiin]

Originally Posted by Solemate96

Celtics in 4.

Huh?

 

[acbboyz84]

Would you guys go nut if we win the chip this year ? I would go streaking around my neighborhood

 

[kb8sandiego]

I'd go nuts.

Probably start a mini 2 man riot or something in San Diego.

 

[th0mas cr0wn]

wow, I'm way hyped now. that video on Lakers.com is real dope

www.lakers.com

 

[equality]

Lakers in 4....iverson going head to head against kobe is

 

[boutmymoney333]

Originally Posted by BlowDaWhistle

Originally Posted by BoutMyMoney333

Originally Posted by tupac003

Does JR Smith start or is he still coming off the bench?

The fat man brings him off the bench.

Seriously who the *$%& is guna guard Kobe??...AC??...R u kidding me...he's like foot...Kobe will be able to shoot over him with easy....JR needs to be sticking Kobe...I mean at least he plays hard on d and is athletic...Kobe will just destroy ac a lot worse then he'd destroy Jr...Hopefully kobe tries setting up his teammates more early on like he usually does until Jr can come into the game...

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_8965968 Karl must wants us tolose so he can see his son in the finals

. There is no way AC can even come close to guarding Kobe 1 on 1
[h1][/h1]

[h1]Carter in a key role[/h1]
Nuggets need guard to pass major matchup test

By Chris Dempsey
The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 04/18/2008 12:24:58 AM MDT

Technically, Anthony Carter returned to the NBA playoffs last season after a six-year absence.

But when you play just 14 minutes in Game 5 of the Nuggets' first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, it's hard to feel like a pivotal player. So, in Carter's mind, last year can be dismissed.

"That didn't do any good," Carter said. "But they got me in a better situation this year, and now I can be in the playoffs from the beginning."

The last time Carter played in the postseason in a significant role from the start was with the Miami Heat in 2001. Now he and Kenyon Martin are back after missing at least one postseason, and can only help the Nuggets against a Los Angeles Lakers team sure to cause matchup headaches.

"It's been awhile," Carter said after Wednesday's regular-season finale. "I'm looking forward to the playoffs. It's where people make their names, get paid, and things like that. This is where you can step up and help the team get to the next round."

The next round is somewhere the Nuggets haven't been since 1994. Since then, they have lost in the first round of five playoff series, including four in four years. The Lakers (57-25), who finished with the best record in the Western Conference, aren't going to make advancing easy this time around, either. Their height and versatility make it so the Nuggets will have to take their chances somewhere with a smaller defender on a bigger player.

That may be Carter, who is the Nuggets' best starting defensive option on bigger guards. Whether that means he will start on Kobe Bryant is unclear, but he will spend some time at some point guarding the Lakers star. The Lakers' starting lineup of Bryant, Derek Fisher, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol features four players 6-feet-6 or taller - three 6-10 or taller.

"They've got a big man in the low post, which most of the low post up until this year was Kobe there more often than not," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Now they don't even play the triangle as much as they just throw the ball down to Gasol. They have a couple of nice tricks off of their post cutting and post movement. He makes great decisions, and there's a comfort zone to kind of giving Kobe the fast game, and giving Gasol the slow game."

Camby likely will be matched up on Gasol. Martin will probably start on Odom, but Martin is the Nuggets' most versatile defender and can play anyone from Kobe to Gasol.

"One of my favorite players on their team is the Odom guy," Karl said. "I think he's a great third star type of player. He can really put huge numbers on the board and he doesn't get a lot of calls or a lot of options in their offense. He finds the game."

Carter, Anthony and Allen Iverson will divvy up the perimeter players. Kobe is the focal point, but the Nuggets will give up size to a shooter somewhere. Still, with Carter on the perimeter and Martin anchoring the post, the Nuggets say they feel good about their chances.

"First thing is it's going to give us toughness," forward Eduardo Najera said of Carter and Martin. "You need that in the playoffs. Kenyon and A.C. are mentally prepared. They are veterans, and they know how to win games. They are physical. They are two great defenders, probably the two best ones on the team.

"Defensively you can put Kenyon on the best player, whether it's Kobe or whoever we play. He likes challenges and he knows how to play the game."

Preparation and comprehension of the defensive game plan is key. With the Heat, Carter said coach Pat Riley clearly defined each player's role before the first playoff game.

"We kind of have to sit down with everybody and let everybody know their role, this is what they gotta do, this is what I gotta do and things like that," Carter said. "That's what Pat Riley did. He kind of told everybody what their role was going to be, and he expected everybody to go out and do it."

 

[toy collector123]

the lakers will lose. they had an easy schedule in the end and really havent played a lot of 'good" teams. so We shall see. but the nuggets>Lakersin 5

 

[tupac003]

Originally Posted by Toy Collector123

the lakers will lose. they had an easy schedule in the end and really havent played a lot of 'good" teams. so We shall see. but the nuggets>Lakers in 5

Easy schedule...we best the number 1 and 2 team in the west on friday and sunday before playing a kings team that had given us problems....

I know it won't be as easy as most people think, but don't come in here with stupid hate.

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by belle155

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

^ Enh, that's just a little too much confidence from very few Laker fans.

Trust me, there are very few Lakers fans that will agree with this statement: "The Denver Nuggets have absolutely no chance at all of beating us."

For me personally, the seedings in the Western Conference Do. Not. Matter. A 1 beating an 8 (like the Lakers/Nuggets) wouldn't be an upset, a 2 beating a 7 wouldn't be an upset; nothing is an upset in the Western Conference.

For me, there are no seeds.

There are simply 8 teams that made the Western Conference playoffs, and I honestly... HONESTLY... believe that all 8 teams could make it all the way to the Finals.

Yes, including the Nuggets. Now, I'm not saying I think the Nuggets will make the Finals, but they could. I don't see how they could beat the Lakers AND the Rockets/Jazz AND the Mavs/Hornets/Spurs/Suns, but I'm not going to disrespect them by saying it would be impossible for them.

East? There is no way that the Finals team for the East will have a name other than Celtics or Pistons.

That's not the case out West.

i disagree

Go away.

 

[kb8sandiego]

Originally Posted by Toy Collector123

the lakers will lose. they had an easy schedule in the end and really havent played a lot of 'good" teams. so We shall see. but the nuggets>Lakers in 5

You gotta be freaking kidding me.

So the Hornets and the Spurs aren't good teams?

I mean we didn't just beat the #1 team and roll the #2 team to be the #1 seed?

You're right. You definitely know what you're talking about.

I definitely know that you don't watch basketball.

 

[darth dnzy]

--Yo Dennis, when the Lakers take that 'chip, you can change that 2 man riot into a 3 man riot.

 

[tupac003]

KB8 and Kid...

I tired to stay away but couldn't...

I will be at the game tomorrow. Holla at me. Where are you guys sitting at?

 

[acidicality]

Originally Posted by Toy Collector123

the lakers will lose. they had an easy schedule in the end and really havent played a lot of 'good" teams. so We shall see. but the nuggets>Lakers in 5

tripledouble(or whatever his name is) in disguise?

 

[frenchblue23]

This thread will reach at least 50 pages by Sunday night.

Anyway.....

GO LAKERS!!!

 

[kidskillz858]

Originally Posted by tupac003

KB8 and Kid...

I tired to stay away but couldn't...

I will be at the game tomorrow. Holla at me. Where are you guys sitting at?

We will be at section 303 tommrow.

 

[fwa iii]

as much i love kobe, (pause) allen iverson deserves a ring.

let's go nuggets.

 

[tupac003]

Originally Posted by Kidskillz858

Originally Posted by tupac003

KB8 and Kid...

I tired to stay away but couldn't...

I will be at the game tomorrow. Holla at me. Where are you guys sitting at?

We will be at section 303 tommrow.

323...see you guys there.

 

[yo allstar]

anyone else getting extremely nervous!?!?!?!