WHY THE KINGS WONT DETHRONE THE LAKERS...

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WiCkEd

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#1
Apr 25, 2002
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#1
Why the Kings can't
Like everyone else, they still don't have an answer for Shaq. Not the Shaq who's limited by toe problems. But the one who appears every May and June and dominates.

"Sacramento has tried to make great strides to come up with the player that can deal with Shaq and L.A.," New Orleans coach Paul Silas said. "But barring injuries, I can't relly see anyone dethroning them in the West to get to the championship. As of right now, as long as Shaq is healthy, I really can't see anybody challenging them. They'll just find a way to beat you. The second part of that, of course, is Kobe."

Don't forget that Kobe Bryant spent most of the conference finals against Sacramento puking his guts out. The Kings can't depend on the bad-cheeseburger defense every year. Then, there are questions about how they will bounce back from that devastating defeat in Game 7 of the West finals. Shaq already has gone on record saying the Kings will never have what it takes to beat L.A. That could be a mind gme, but it also wouldn't be unsual. Since the Lakers started holding championship rallies in L.A., the Blazers and Spurs have also been reduced to playoff basketcases whenever they meet the purple and gold. But there could be a residual effect of such a damaging loss to end their season.

"The Kings can't automatically think they're going to get back to the conference finals," Phoenix's Penny Hardaway said. "They have to play with the same hunger, which can be hard to do. Nothing's promised in the NBA. I know that very well. I know that from going to the Finals one time (1995), and I haven't been back since. The Kings have to play this season like it's last season. They've got to finish ahead of the Lakers again to get the homecourt edge."

What about The Mavericks? Mark Cuban and Don Nelson have been wheeling and dealing and loading up for a playoff series against L.A. The only trouble is, the Mavericks haven't been able to figure out the Spurs or Kings in the postseason so far. Can this season be any different?
 
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WiCkEd

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#2
Apr 25, 2002
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WHY THE MAVS CANT DETHRONE L.A.

Why the Mavericks can't
In a word, defense.

The Mavs were only one of two teams to allow at least 100 points per game in the regular season, ranking next-to-last to the Warriors at 101 per game. And their defense only got worse in the playoffs, culminating with the Kings running up 108, 102, 125, 115 and 114 points in their second-round victory over the Mavs.

If they can't shut down Memphis in a regular-season game, what are they going to do against Shaq and Kobe in the playoffs? Last spring, Dallas allowed 108 points per game in eight playoff outings on 46 percent shooting. Only once did an opponent score under 100.

Like the Kings, who have steadily improved their defense under Rick Adelman, the Mavs are trying to get their defense to a point where they can become a threat to L.A. But that involves getting offensive-minded players to buy into defense concepts. That's never easy.

"Nellie says the difference is that the Kings have made that commitment to defense and we haven't," said ex-Spur Avery Johnson, now playing in Dallas for Don Nelson. "And if we want to get to that next level, we've got to commit to sell out defensively. If we do that, a playoff series won't end 4-1 like it did last season against the Kings or the Lakers or the Spurs."

Now, we come to the last of the West's Big Four, San Anto
 
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WiCkEd

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#3
Apr 25, 2002
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WHY THE SPURS CANT

Why the Spurs can't
Duncan is almost too sound fundamentally. Several Lakers say they knew where and when he was going to pass out of double teams, making their rotations easier. The Spurs' role players haven't had success against this Lakers team. Mentally, they might be fighting the same losing battle we used to see when the Knicks could never get by the Bulls in the 90s.

But even if Duncan does manage to score down the stretch against L.A., and role players like Tony Parker step up, the Spurs have to prove they can stop Kobe Bryant. Every time Bryant is compared to Michael Jordan, it's usually been after demolishing the Spurs in the spring.

Last spring, Bryant was as unstoppable as ever against the Spurs, starring in the fourth quarter of Game 3 and less than 48 hours later hitting the game-winning basket to win in San Antonio in Game 4. He went for 26 points a game against Bruce Bowen, the Spurs' defensive specialist. Bryant isn't going anywhere, either.

"It's interesting, but a lot of people would relax after winning three titles," the Suns' Colangelo said. "Winning drives Kobe. His ability to continue to dedicate himself to the game, the way he has, is obviously a very special quality. Besides his awesome talent, that's something else you have to factor in when talking about the Lakers. So on paper, Sacramento did get better. On paper, Dallas and San Antonio could be tougher. But whether these teams can beat the Lakers in a series, I can't say right now."

Maybe not in eight months, either, when they're handing out the championship trophy
 
S

Shark

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#16
May 16, 2002
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#16
Look @ CHOKIN ASS WEBBER with his The Party Is Here! Sign...LoL...CLASSIC

Then theres Turkoglu and Peja lookin like DIPSHITS...LoL...CLASSIC
 
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