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I think tagging Bynum and Odom (who plaued on the National team this summer) as just spare parts is a little unfair. Sure some of the players are a little limited in what they do but players like Fisher and Artest clearly have their strengths as well as weaknesses. The front line of Bynum, Gasol and Odom is still one of the best in the league, well it was considered that 10 days ago. Bryant has been nursing his body all season and couldn't play with the team which hurt. Everyone knew Jackson was going so the word is some players stopped listening. There was a lot of talk about internal conflicts.

I think it is still a great team that just had a bad series, however is it as good as Miami, Chicago, OKC etc, that is another question that we wont know for 12 more months? I expect to see a ton of changes.

I am no fan of the Lakers, I screamed out loud last season when Perkin's injury game them the championship. But they are far from finished.

I mean, if OKC or Miami or Chicago or Boston had beat the Lakers, people wouldnt have been so critical of the Lakers. For some reason no one thought the Mavs had a chance, so when they swept it left the Lakers open to jokes and criticism they wouldnt have recieved vs a more respected opponent.

Is okc really that much more respected then the Mavs?

I think it was:
1. they lost with a sweep
2. they didn't lost like champions("We were getting embarrassed, they were breaking us down. So I just fouled somebody, I was just kind of salty about being embarrassed. ... For me, it was embarrassing to have the smallest guy on the court keep running down the lane and making shots."bynum)

I think it was:
1. they lost with a sweep
2. they didn't lost like champions("We were getting embarrassed, they were breaking us down. So I just fouled somebody, I was just kind of salty about being embarrassed. ... For me, it was embarrassing to have the smallest guy on the court keep running down the lane and making shots."bynum)

I'm a Mavs fan and I must say that I thought Bynum was the only C in the league who could overcome Dwight, but then they lost that way and they didn't even resemble the image of a champion..

The Lakers were the team I respected the most until this series, but seeing Odom, whom I thought to be the classiest player in that team, acting like that just got them off any kind of real champions class. I'd expect that from Artest, but not Bynum and Odom.

They didn't lose their respect for being swept, it wasn't for losing to the Mavs either, they lost it because of the way they reacted to not being the best team on the floor.

Perhaps it is unfair, but I believe it and have said so on numerous occasions. Artest is very inconsistant and none too bright. Fisher is old and slow and I consider a bench player at best. Bynum is all potential and injury, with very sporadic production keeping him relevant. At some point potential without production is what it is.....a bust. Some of you arent there yet with Bynum, but it is only a matter of time. At least Portland can give up on Oden ever reaching his potential, but LA gets just enough isolated nuggets from Bynum to keep believing. Odom is awesome, I love Odom and perhaps here I was unfair. However those who have followed Odom over the years with the Clippers and Lakers know that he underperforms when he is relied upon, and plays awesome when he is treated as a role player. He really didnt start breaking out in big games until he became the 6th man after they acquired Gasol. Spare part? maybe not. Superstar? Certainly not. Anyone on the Lakers I didnt mention here who qualifies as more than a spare part?

And seriously man, claiming the Perkins injury cost the Celtics the series is like me claiming Pierce's fake injury three years ago cost the Lakers the series. Sillyness and excuses.

Last edited by Heathcoat at 5/15/2011 4:09:30 PM

Is okc really that much more respected then the Mavs?


Here in America? Yes. As we see with team like OKC and Orlando-Stats and stars are focused on, team play is forgotten or dismissed because it isnt as exciting. Guys like Durant and Howard garner so much attention that it makes people forget it is a 5 on 5 game. Exactly why the Griz are doing much better than expected, lack of star power tainting expectations.

I believe some people confuse respect with expectations...
I think I'll never see someone saying that Nowitzi's scoring, Kidd's playmaking and Chandler's defense aren't respected, It's just that Mavs' image in the playoffs is really really hurt and few people can see past that.

As for OKC, Durant has earned his spot as a great scorer, just as Nowitzki, but how far has he gone beyond that? Westbrook is a great wingman for Durant, but he's taking too many shots. What about Perkins? I haven't seen him playing anything like he used to since being traded.

OKC can and will earn some respect, but I just can't see them as a more respectful team than the Mavs right now.

Last edited by Welington at 5/15/2011 4:52:45 PM

Couldnt agree more. I have tremendous respect for Dirk, and think that when Terry and Kidd and the whole team play as a team they are tough to beat.

ESPN did a poll just prior to the NBA playoffs asking which west team had the best chance to go to the finals. Lakers came in 1st in the poll, OKC second. Mavs came in 7th of 8 teams. About 100k responses so just a small sample but I think before the playoffs began not too many people outside of Dallas had high expectations of their chances, deserved or not.

This is more about semantics than anything, imo. Dallas is one of those teams, at least in America, that people either love or hate. Alot of that has to do with Cuban I think. As far as respect goes I think anyone who doesnt respect the Mavs or Dirk doesnt know much about basketball. Completely respectworthy.

I guess what I was trying to say is that OKC is the hot and trendy new team to root for and extoll. One of my friends showed up at the roadhouse with his new Durant jersey and rooting for OKC in a wild and loud fashion during the first round. He was so vocal and demonstrative that I started quizzing him about his new passion. I asked him who was the player drafted in front of Durant that season. I asked where Westbrook went to school and what country was Ibaka from. Not only could he not answer anyone of these questions, but he didnt know the name of the coach either. When I mentioned "you know, they used to be the Supersonics" his response was.....Really?

My point is the majority of fans are casual fans who know little more about the game or their team than how exciting it is to watch Kobe, LeBron, Durant or Howard in the highlight reels, and their loyalties and interest follow suit.

Last edited by Heathcoat at 5/15/2011 8:24:03 PM

When I mentioned "you know, they used to be the Supersonics" his response was.....Really?

Ok now that is a bandwagoner!