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Because it did not happen last year, the media has jumped behind the Lakers and the Cavaliers. They badly want to have these two go head-to-head for the NBA championship. By simply looking at the stats and the record of the two teams, it looks as if it may happen. But, looking at the recent streaks, these teams could be in trouble. No, there is not a doubt that the Lakers or the Cavaliers will not finish top in their conference, but they will face trouble in the playoffs.
It is likely that the Lakers will have to play the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Everything that the Lakers have, the Blazers have, too. That includes an energetic two guard in Brandon Roy. With Roy playing at his best, he can pose quite a challenge to Bryant. Plus, the Lakers have struggled to win a game in Portland for some time. The last time Kobe Bryant won a game in the Rose Garden, he was still wearing jersey number 8 and there was the question of if he could win a championship without Shaq. Yes, it has been that long. While the Lakers will probably finish off the Blazers, it will not be a cut-and-dry series, it could possibly go the full seven games.
Meanwhile, in the East, Cleveland will not have it as easy as it looks, either. The Tornoto Raptors are a dangerous team and they have some matchup advantages. Of course, the Cavs have LeBron James, but he is not able to do everything. Much like with the Lakers and the Blazers, LeBron could be in the first round of the playoffs a lot longer than he expected to be. Chris Bosh is a very agile big man and he is going to make the front line defense of the Cleveland Cavaliers work. While the Raptors have struggled for quite a while, the current struggles of the Chicago Bulls will put them in the playoffs. They could push the Cavaliers to seven games, too.
The passion that runs deep inside the veins of Kobe Bryant will not allow his team to fall in the first round of the playoffs. This comes especially after posting the top record in the West. But, if his team does not take Portland seriously, they could find themselves in game seven and down by 25. Knowing Kobe, if the series does go to a game seven, he will make sure that Portland does not show up. Just because they are able to survive that test, the Lakers would still have either the Phoenix Suns or the Utah Jazz in the second round. A few years ago, the Lakers and the Suns had a fierce rivalry. This current Suns team has a lot more to prove than the ones that bounced Los Angeles in the first round, twice. But, the Utah Jazz have lost to the Lakers two years in a row. Now that Carlos Boozer has accepted the fact that this is his team, he is ready for them to make a statement. A great statement would be beating the Lakers.
As good as the Los Angeles Lakers are, they can be defeated by either the Utah Jazz or the Phoenix Suns. But, if they do not lose focus, they could survive these teams in six games. There is not much question of them making it past those teams. They will make it, but it will not be an easy task and by the time they receive Denver or Dallas in the Conference Finals, they may be out of gas. Defeating the Blazers and Suns or Jazz will not be an easy task. If they come in ready to fight, they will still go six games. But, if they come in not ready to play, they could find themselves going home early. No matter how they come against the Nuggets or Mavs, it is going to be a dogfight. Playing at the top of their game could easily result in the Lakers going a full seven with both of these teams. Denver has lost to the Lakers for the past two years and Dallas has a major chip on its shoulder.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are proned to be upset. In the second round, they will face either the inspired Atlanta Hawks, or the streaking Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams are energetic and ready to upset the top team in the NBA. After the upset that came at the hands of the Magic, LeBron James will be determined to make sure his Cavaliers play better in the big games. But, unlike last season, the chances of the Cavs sweeping a team are slim-to-none. The Raptors will probably take them six or seven games and the Hawks will definitely force a seventh game. The Bucks could take them to six, but it would probably be them advancing, as opposed to the Cavs going to the Conference Finals. Most-likely, the Cavaliers will play against the Orlando Magic. Despite all of their "improvements," the Magic could still overtake the Cavs and ruin their season again.
There are too many teams that no one is focusing on. The sports analysts that sit back and write off every team not named the Lakers and the Cavaliers are in for a rude awakening. Yes, this is Kobe in the playoffs, but there are other names, such as Roy, Stoudemire, Williams, and Boozer that want to prove something. Also, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups are looking to go to the NBA Finals and they are not intimidated by the Lakers. For years, the Dallas Mavericks wanted to be looked at as contenders. As soon as they reach contender status, they are upset by the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors. Now, they are looked at as just another team. They have the ability to beat Oklahoma City, Denver, and the Lakers. In the finals, they would probably defeat any team in the Eastern Conference.
Because it did not happen last year, the media has jumped behind the Lakers and the Cavaliers. They badly want to have these two go head-to-head for the NBA championship. By simply looking at the stats and the record of the two teams, it looks as if it may happen. But, looking at the recent streaks, these teams could be in trouble. No, there is not a doubt that the Lakers or the Cavaliers will not finish top in their conference, but they will face trouble in the playoffs.
It is likely that the Lakers will have to play the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Everything that the Lakers have, the Blazers have, too. That includes an energetic two guard in Brandon Roy. With Roy playing at his best, he can pose quite a challenge to Bryant. Plus, the Lakers have struggled to win a game in Portland for some time. The last time Kobe Bryant won a game in the Rose Garden, he was still wearing jersey number 8 and there was the question of if he could win a championship without Shaq. Yes, it has been that long. While the Lakers will probably finish off the Blazers, it will not be a cut-and-dry series, it could possibly go the full seven games.
Meanwhile, in the East, Cleveland will not have it as easy as it looks, either. The Tornoto Raptors are a dangerous team and they have some matchup advantages. Of course, the Cavs have LeBron James, but he is not able to do everything. Much like with the Lakers and the Blazers, LeBron could be in the first round of the playoffs a lot longer than he expected to be. Chris Bosh is a very agile big man and he is going to make the front line defense of the Cleveland Cavaliers work. While the Raptors have struggled for quite a while, the current struggles of the Chicago Bulls will put them in the playoffs. They could push the Cavaliers to seven games, too.
The passion that runs deep inside the veins of Kobe Bryant will not allow his team to fall in the first round of the playoffs. This comes especially after posting the top record in the West. But, if his team does not take Portland seriously, they could find themselves in game seven and down by 25. Knowing Kobe, if the series does go to a game seven, he will make sure that Portland does not show up. Just because they are able to survive that test, the Lakers would still have either the Phoenix Suns or the Utah Jazz in the second round. A few years ago, the Lakers and the Suns had a fierce rivalry. This current Suns team has a lot more to prove than the ones that bounced Los Angeles in the first round, twice. But, the Utah Jazz have lost to the Lakers two years in a row. Now that Carlos Boozer has accepted the fact that this is his team, he is ready for them to make a statement. A great statement would be beating the Lakers.
As good as the Los Angeles Lakers are, they can be defeated by either the Utah Jazz or the Phoenix Suns. But, if they do not lose focus, they could survive these teams in six games. There is not much question of them making it past those teams. They will make it, but it will not be an easy task and by the time they receive Denver or Dallas in the Conference Finals, they may be out of gas. Defeating the Blazers and Suns or Jazz will not be an easy task. If they come in ready to fight, they will still go six games. But, if they come in not ready to play, they could find themselves going home early. No matter how they come against the Nuggets or Mavs, it is going to be a dogfight. Playing at the top of their game could easily result in the Lakers going a full seven with both of these teams. Denver has lost to the Lakers for the past two years and Dallas has a major chip on its shoulder.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are proned to be upset. In the second round, they will face either the inspired Atlanta Hawks, or the streaking Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams are energetic and ready to upset the top team in the NBA. After the upset that came at the hands of the Magic, LeBron James will be determined to make sure his Cavaliers play better in the big games. But, unlike last season, the chances of the Cavs sweeping a team are slim-to-none. The Raptors will probably take them six or seven games and the Hawks will definitely force a seventh game. The Bucks could take them to six, but it would probably be them advancing, as opposed to the Cavs going to the Conference Finals. Most-likely, the Cavaliers will play against the Orlando Magic. Despite all of their "improvements," the Magic could still overtake the Cavs and ruin their season again.
There are too many teams that no one is focusing on. The sports analysts that sit back and write off every team not named the Lakers and the Cavaliers are in for a rude awakening. Yes, this is Kobe in the playoffs, but there are other names, such as Roy, Stoudemire, Williams, and Boozer that want to prove something. Also, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups are looking to go to the NBA Finals and they are not intimidated by the Lakers. For years, the Dallas Mavericks wanted to be looked at as contenders. As soon as they reach contender status, they are upset by the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors. Now, they are looked at as just another team. They have the ability to beat Oklahoma City, Denver, and the Lakers. In the finals, they would probably defeat any team in the Eastern Conference.
Kobe vs. LeBron: 2k10... Don't Bet on It
