I would agree with that.

KevDog:

You’re buggin’. Too many diapers.
By the way — how’s the fam? All the best.

Thats more miles on those old legs this summer.

Gasol played in the olympics last year, had a long playoff run the last 2 years. Played the world championships 2 years ago.

All I am saying is that eventually this extra mileage will catch up to Gasol.

The lakers aren’t winning 70 games.

@Mizz

Just heard that Turkgolu is headed to the Raptors.

If the Lakers win 70 games, I will give you $150. And I named a reasonable sum because I’d actually do it.

Book it.

Vince is 33, but he is a scorer and puts pressure on opposing defense in ways that Courtney Lee failed to do in his limited time with the Magic.

The Magic see their window is RIGHT NOW… So if Vince can stay away from injuries, he can be the missing link that can put the Magic over the top..

Hedo is a multi-dimensional player, but the 6’10/240 Ryan Anderson is a younger, less expensive version of Hedo and I believe he will make a bigger impact than many believe. To me, Anderson wasn’t just a random ‘throw-in’…Anderson will be an impact player for the Magic.

I’m not sold on Artest for Ariza. I think LA go shorter, older and less athletic at the position. Artest is a better scorer inside but I don’t think this Laker team needs more scoring. Ron also brings a toughness and edge that the Kenyon Martins and Kevin Garnetts of the league will have to contend with. If one player could put a dent in the ‘soft’ label it’s Artest.

I still like San Antonio if healthy. If they resign Gooden and bring in say…. Gortat then this team is a force. No word on that by the way, just an idea.

Also what’s the deal with McDyess. Whoever doesn’t get Rasheed should go hard after him. I think he makes sense for SA, Clev, Denver, Boston and/or Orlando.

To answer the question though I like the Lakers to repeat.

Boston has injury questions, Denver is still a scorer away, Clev has to prove they can defend frontcourt scorers, San Antonio needs frontcourt help and injury questions and Orlando just lost Hedo.

Does Artest’s signing for less than what Ariza would have cost make getting a point guard any easier?

Temple, I don’t see that happening Brotha, Denver looked like they were plenty pissed in the Conference Finals and that resolve along with Carmelo already on the next level will be the difference in the West and Feburary they will get that scorer. And I am not worried about Mo Williams and Delonte West scoring points but the Cavs watching Lewis and Hedo taking threes like it what raining basketballsand playing terrible defense.

You raise a good point about Vince being able to score on the block as opposed to Hedo. But I’m still not sold. I just think that Orlando’s identity is built on them being a freaky team with these 6-10 dudes who can shoot and cause match-up problems. You lose one of them and add a 32-year-old (on a bad contract) who is only 6-6 and you lose part of your identity. OK, like you said, you should be running your offense through Jameer and Dwight anyway, but I’d like to have a pair of 6-10 match-up problems at the forward problems at the forward spots. Now I just have an undersized power forward and a that guy who used to dunk.

I know I’m being reductive, but you get my point.

If Sheed goes to the celts and they get grant hill for the LLE its theirs to lose.

But for right now the lakers (especially if they get Odom) are the team to beat.

Also Mizzo whats this noise I hear that Rudy Fernadez is acting up because Hedo went to the trailblazers.

Rudy straight up tripping.

One more thing Mizzo aren’t the lakers like 20 mill over the cap even without signing Odom???