Overall though, basketball season takes a huge toll on its players, mainly because of the sheer number of games played. Unlike football, basketball games could occur back to back, night to night. This wears the older players down. Look at thunders and their young players, they're able to run up and down the court for a much longer period of time, and I won't be surprised to see them continue running up and down the court even if a game were 100 minutes long. Lakers and Celtics are two older teams, with an average age probably skewed toward 26(?). Add onto the age problem with the number of games played, it really takes a toll on players.

However, to trade shannon brown makes little sense to me right now though. Who's going to hold the fort down when kobe and fisher resting during second and third quarter? Shannon Brown generates a certain momentum when needed and I think that momentum is quite important to continue pushing the lakers on the year. I personally don't know the benefits of getting rid of jordan farmar either. At any rate, I think if lakers were to rid of shannon brown, someone has to step up the plate (again, keep in mind that both kobe and fisher are getting old now). Artest simply needs to work a bit harder. I think his confidence has been stripped away because he didn't use to play the way he does now when he was back in the days. His corner threes need to improve because he doesn't really make them. Not only that though, when you shoot a corner three and miss, chances are the ball is going to bounch to the top of the key. Right now lakers got gasol and bynum on the offensive rebounds but granted both are not the best defensively. One good thing about the lakers is that even though it's an older team, the sheer "length" of arm-to-arm is amazing. Lakers got huge players, with long arms, good jumps, and good skills.

Overall, lakers is a good team, but vwjetty, you're absolutely right. The inconsistency is something that lakers needs to look at as we head into the playoffs. Lakers definitely has a chance to go to the finals again but a lot has to depend on the players themselves. I'm not quite worried about the losses this year just yet because I've always believed that lakers is a team that gets stronger when playing with a stronger team, and loses its focus when playing a weaker team. Obviously, teams that get into the playoffs are all teams that performed well during the season. It's definitely going to be interesting to see what happens during the playoff and who reigns supreme.
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Nash, by any measures, is one of the best players in the game. Looking back at when he didn't even turn pro, up to tonight's game, he has been performing above and beyond. It's really sort like reggie miller, who was a great player, but just didn't have the team around him. I'm not sure if a Carmelo Anthony up in the Suns will do much help. When Suns had Stoudemaire, they were awesome couple, but 2 players can't carry a team of 5. Much like Jordan and Pippen's time, you still need Kerr and Rodman to do the other projects on the floor. I do feel bad for Steve Nash, being so loyal to a team but sort of the feeling of always a bridesmaid, never a bride. I hope he does make it out with something eventually.

Going back to Shannon Brown point; true as he has been the "backup" of the big kids when they're resting. But the truth of the matter is, someone needs to be the backup when big kids are taking a break. With that, a good backup is always better than a bad backup. Shannon Brown has got the speed to get down the court and push the speed limit of the opponent as we have seen many times. He can make those jump shots, perform lay-ups, and such. We'll definitely see some interesting games as playoffs unravel themselves.

In terms of eastern conference, let's not discount the Bulls. Seeing how the Bulls fared against the Spurs (finally pushing the Spurs' losses into double-digits...), D-Rose and the rest can definitely take up the challenge that Celtics and the Heat. Celtics is definitely a strong team, with a great player in pretty much any position imaginable. As for me personally, I'm definitely rooting for the bulls come playoff. I just enjoy watching D-Rose take the floor and just do his thing. We'll see though, we'll see =)
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good stuff. i'll definitely be watching and giving my own little twist on my own personal thoughts and analysis of the game afterwards stayed tuned.
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blake griffin either way...is a monster he needs to get out of the LA clippers and get into the LA Lakers
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Are we really talking about Blake Griffin when my beloved Knicks just gutted their entire starting lineup to acquire Carmelo Anthony?

Carmelo acquisition is fine. I am also excited about Billups. But I am more worried about Knicks losing D Walsh. What's the point of acquiring 2-3 superstars if Walsh isn't around to round out the roster? Dolan and Thomas will destroy my team again. Then maybe I will completely stop following NBA, just like I stopped following hockey (and Rangers) when my beloved Rangers lost yr after yr after yr from late 90's to 2005......
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Not knocking on the Knicks or any of its players, but I think the players that got gutted for the Anothony trade are replaceable players. Overall, I think this was a good move for the Knicks and I think we are going to see consistent scoring in a Mike D'Antoni's offense. The thing that I'm worrying for the Knicks is how it's not going to be so defensively inclined. As far as the lineup itself, it should be fairly easy to build up an attractive core consisting of Carmelo and Amare. And at this current situation, I can't imagine that there isn't a line of players dying to join the Knicks now, not only because of the elite players but because of (ready for the cliche?) location, location, location! I think there are very few cities that can compete with the attractive glamour that New York has to offer (probably besides LA, San Fran, and Miami).
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lol, jetty, you just love your lakers too much =P
lakers had pretty much the same lineup for years!!!
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[quote="vwjetty]just because you have a good player doesn't mean you have a good team. and i stand by that 100% of the way....[/quote]

Certainly agree with this statement. It goes all the way back from history of basketball.

Well, from when I started watching pro-basketball, back in the 80's of the lakers and 90's with the bulls. Each team who won championship had not just a strong person, but a strong person with an unbelievable support from the other 4 on the court.

We'll see as the latter half of the season unravels. It'll certainly be interesting.
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And it's only going to get better and better over the years. Imagine what these slam dunk contests are going to be like in 2030!!!
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anybody check out that lakers vs spurs game?

or the celtics vs Milwaukee game?

heard it was EPIC.
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