Raptors>>>Lakers?

[PLANT]

Todd from Santa Monica, CA: Chuck, I'm making plans to go to LA to see the Raps play the Lakers. Think Kobe will light the Raps up for 50 or more?

Chuck: This is the last time I will address the Kobe 81-point night. I have the plenty of respect for Kobe as a player. No one can question his incredible talent. That was last year. This is a different Raptors team with a different attitude. Will he get 50? I hope not. I believe in my heart the Raps have better talent than the Lakers.


Im with Chuck on this one...On paper anyways, the Raptors look better than the Lakers this season. What do you guys think?

[MontrealCity's Most]

The  Raptors got a lot of good young players.

[PLANT]

The starting lineup will most likely be

Rasho Nesterovich
Chris Bosh
Anthony Parker
Morris Peterson
TJ Ford

then, off the bench

Jorge Garbojsa
Fred Jones
Andrea Bargnani
Jose Calderon
Joey Graham
PJ Tucker
Kris Humphries

They got a sick team this year.  Bargnani, Garbojsa and Fred Jones can all put up good numbers off the bench, and Calderon could be a solid backup to TJ Ford.  PJ Tucker  was the conference player of the year last year and he played on the same team as LaMarcus Aldrige.  Tucker is the kind of guy you can stick at any position and he can flat out play.  He averaged 16 PPG and 9 RPG last year at Texas and hes only 6'5.

Garbojsa and Calderon were they key players for Spain when they won gold at the worlds this summer.  When Gasol got hurt, Garbojsa put up 20 and 10 in the gold medal game.  Hes 6'9 and can play the SF or PF, but the guy can shoot the 3 bigtime.  Toronto has alot of big guys who can play the perimeter and stretch the defense.  Toronto is going to suprise alot of people this year. 

[Sparegeez]

The Raptors are the Arizona Cardinals of Basketball. No matter what players they get, they will always suck. I don' see them going over 500 this year.

[PLANT]

The Raptors are the Arizona Cardinals of Basketball. No matter what players they get, they will always suck. I don' see them going over 500 this year.

How will they always suck?  It was only 3 years ago when Vince was here, and we were a top team in the east.  We made the playoffs 3 years in a row.  Grow up, and do your homework.  If you are going to reply, at least say something intelligent.  And there is no way you can be the Cardinals of basketball when you have last years GM of the year running your franchise.  The guy brought in 9 new players.  thats a HUGE offseason.  There is no denying the Raps are MUCH improved now.  Not only that, Colangelo also gave us new uniforms and completely re-did the Raps locker room wich wasnt even 10 years old to being with.  Its time to turn the page, this is the new era for raptors fans.

[Sparegeez]

The Raptors are the Arizona Cardinals of Basketball. No matter what players they get, they will always suck. I don' see them going over 500 this year.

How will they always suck?  It was only 3 years ago when Vince was here, and we were a top team in the east.  We made the playoffs 3 years in a row.  Grow up, and do your homework.  If you are going to reply, at least say something intelligent.  And there is no way you can be the Cardinals of basketball when you have last years GM of the year heading your franchise.

They didn't do a damn thing in the playoffs and this year they are so overrated. They are not better than the Lakers homie, but I'll give you the Hawks .

[PLANT]

The Raptors are the Arizona Cardinals of Basketball. No matter what players they get, they will always suck. I don' see them going over 500 this year.

How will they always suck?  It was only 3 years ago when Vince was here, and we were a top team in the east.  We made the playoffs 3 years in a row.  Grow up, and do your homework.  If you are going to reply, at least say something intelligent.  And there is no way you can be the Cardinals of basketball when you have last years GM of the year heading your franchise.

They didn't do a damn thing in the playoffs and this year they are so overrated. They are not better than the Lakers homie, but I'll give you the Hawks .

Id like to discuss this with a non-biased Lakers fan, or at least someone with some intelligence that I can take seriously.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^That guys not a Laker fan.

Anyways, LMAO@Raptors being better than the Lakers this year. That's a good one, homie...The Raptors are pretty much a new team, killing ANY chance they had of being better than the Lakers. I guarantee they will not have a better record than the Lakers, GUARANTEE, and this is in the eastern conference...And no, I'm not making any bets with you, because I'm still waiting on the stuff from our last bet!!

[rik]

haha no way they're better than the Lakers.

[PLANT]

Honestly, I dont even see the Lakers making the playoffs this year.  At best, the 8th spot.  They didnt do shit in the offseason, so you should hope that Bynum is THAT much better this year.  And you dont realy think that Farmer is going to make a difference, do you?  The Raps will finish above 500 and make the playoffs.  Book it.

[PLANT]

Why do you guys think the Lakers are better?  Kobe is the only player thats better than someone on the Raptors.  Bosh>> Odom.  Fred Jones, Anthony Paker and Mo Peter are better than anyone else on the Lakers.  Bargnani COULD be better than all your guys execpt Kobe and Lamar.  TJ Ford>> Smush and Farmar, Calderon=Smush.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Lakers-
PG Smush Parker...Jordan Farmar/Shammond Williams
SG Kobe Bryant...Sasha Vujacic/Aaron McKie
SF Vladimir Radmanovic...Luke Walton/Maurice Evans
PF Lamar Odom...Brian Cook/Ronny Turiad
C Kwame Brown...Chris Mihm/Andrew Bynum

Coach: Phil Jackson

vs.

Raptors-
PG TJ Ford...Jose Calderon/Darrick Martin
SG Anthony Parker...Fred Jones/PJ Tucker
SF Morris Peterson...Joey Graham/Kris Humphries
PF Chris Bosh...Andrea Bargnani/Jorge Garbajosa
C Rasho Nesterovic...Pape Sow/Uros Slokar

Coach: Sam Mitchell




...Pretty clear as to who's the better team.

[rik]

Fact of the matter is the Lakers are better than the Raps. Lakers will have a better record than the Raptors. Lakers will make the playoffs and the Raptors won't.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Honestly, I dont even see the Lakers making the playoffs this year.  At best, the 8th spot.  They didnt do shit in the offseason, so you should hope that Bynum is THAT much better this year.  And you dont realy think that Farmer is going to make a difference, do you?  The Raps will finish above 500 and make the playoffs.  Book it.

LMAO. Dude, you're either a huge Raptors homer, or you simply don't know your basketball...Lakers addressed their biggest need for the triangle this off-season, and that was a pure shooter (Radman). We had a wonderful draft day (Jordan Farmar, JR Pinnock, Maurice Evans), we added vetern experience (Shammond Williams), we had major progress from our younger players (Devin Green, Andrew Bynum, Brian Cook, Kwame etc.)...basically, to say Lakers aren't making the playoffs is not only a huge joke, but a mockery of your own knowledge...PeACe

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Why do you guys think the Lakers are better?  Kobe is the only player thats better than someone on the Raptors.  Bosh>> Odom.  Fred Jones, Anthony Paker and Mo Peter are better than anyone else on the Lakers.  Bargnani COULD be better than all your guys execpt Kobe and Lamar.  TJ Ford>> Smush and Farmar, Calderon=Smush.

Now you are talking crazy. I am a fan of both the Raptors and the Lakers, and I can tell you there is no way the Raps are better. They are loaded with talent, but they still are a young team. Don't be surprised if they miss the playoffs this year as they get time to meh with each other. Kobe is better then any 2 players combined from the raptors (minus Bosh). When it is all said and done Bosh will be seen as a better player then Odom, but as of 2006, Odom>Bosh. Plus the Lakers have a better coach.