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He shouldn't play. He shouldn't rush back. Unless Alston has a nervous breakdown, they should let him suit up but not play.

They can get it done without him.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 07:07 AM ET  06.02 by GhosTown

He shouldn't play. He shouldn't rush back. Unless Alston has a nervous breakdown, they should let him suit up but not play.They can get it done without him.

I don't think it's a matter of them not needing him, I think it's him who wants to play... Being in the finals is not a given every year so he's probably pressuring the magic to suit up.. He could provide some inspiration and a spark off the bench...

getting in the mix NOW may not lead to a smooth transition for the team...

I understand the guy wants to play and it would be great if he were at full strength but after all of this time off, is he really in game shape and ready to contribute immediately? I think he should've at least played in the last round if he were going to play in the Finals. The Finals is no time to work on reintegrating a player. You have 7 games to win 4 and you can take no chances.

At this point its not worth it... barring an injury to their point guards he will be a detriment to the team. It will take time for his wind, timing and speed to get to the prime shape all the finalists are in. But the key to the series is Bynum. If he does not start and play effective long minutes Orlando will have field day.... Dwight will misuse the tissue papers in Odom and Gasol. That was what they missed last year... y'd hope they learn from it but you never know what y'll get from Phil Jackson's shrewd mind.

With or without him would be okay for the Magic. He knows the team and the team knows him so chemistry won't be a problem. The major problem is is he in game shape? If he is not then it's not worth it. Can he still shoot like he did before he got hurt? If he is just coming back because it's the championship then it's very selfish of him.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 07:10 AM ET  06.02 by JAMAICANmeANGRY

I don't think it's a matter of them not needing him, I think it's him who wants to play... Being in the finals is not a given every year so he's probably pressuring the magic to suit up.. He could provide some inspiration and a spark off the bench...

you don't screw around with your chemistry & rotations now
he absolutely should get a token 5 minutes of garbage time if
orlando is THUMPING LA in the last gae of the series......
but other than that- cheer from the sidelines

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:24 AM ET  06.02 by jgb

you don't screw around with your chemistry & rotations nowhe absolutely should get a token 5 minutes of garbage time iforlando is THUMPING LA in the last gae of the series......but other than that- cheer from the sidelines

I don't think Nelson is going to be the difference-maker in this series. So it doesn't make sense to jeopardize the future for any benefit he may provide.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:46 AM ET  06.02 by Hllywd: Old Schoolin'

I don't think Nelson is going to be the difference-maker in this series. So it doesn't make sense to jeopardize the future for any benefit he may provide.

agreed-
he is better than both their current Pgs- but a 'rusty' nelson
would not be any SIGNIFICANT upgrade at this point-

Derek Fisher can't defend quick guards. Rafer Alston is one of them... Why risk the team's future by trying to use WMD's when it works with grenades.

I'm not the violent kind, that was just a metaphor...

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:33 AM ET  06.02 by Lostwill

But the key to the series is Bynum. If he does not start and play effective long minutes Orlando will have field day.... Dwight will misuse the tissue papers in Odom and Gasol. That was what they missed last year... y'd hope they learn from it but you never know what y'll get from Phil Jackson's shrewd mind.

I don't see how Bynum is going to play a lot in this series. Because he doesn't match up with the Magic. If he plays at 4 or 5 spot with Gasol then the Lakers will not be able to match up with Lewis. And if he splits minutes with Gasol then DH should have a huge game. Also if the Lakers are playing from behind Bynum can't be on the floor because he isn't considered an offensive threat vs DH. DH should get a lot of easy baskets by running back against Bynum because the Laker bigs like to pound the boards and if they don't convert, watch out, DH is going to beat them back and get dunks. But the strength of the Magic is they have a lot of shooters. And the Lakers are good at rotating out to one or two good shooters, but the Magic have 4 good shooters and a big man that can offensive rebound misses. It is going to be hard to find those shooters and be back in rebounding position. Also one of the things the Lakers have been getting a way with in the playoffs is giving open shots to players that are not offensive threats. That worked well against Brewer(UTAH), Hayes(HOU) and Kmart(DEN) but all the Magic players can score so it is going to be interesting to see who the Lakers double off, and DH is going to command a double. I think DH is going to have a lot of opportunities to score in this series because the smart thing to do would be force DH to score 40pts, if the Lakers decide to double him and allow the Magic to go 15/30 at the 3pt line. The Magic in 4. But I think phony phil knows he can't match them behind the arc so he is going to guard the 3-ball and give up 2s to DH. Then switch, it up late and hope the 3ball doesn't start falling for the Magic. But as we have all seen lately, the 3-ball falls a lot for the Magic. Magic in 5.

BACKCOURT: In the backcourt Kobe will destroy whoever guards him and will slow down Hedo or Lee but wont stop them completely they still will score 25-35 points between them if not more and Alston/Anderson will not dominate Fisher/Brown but will be slightly better. BENCH: bench play should be in the lakers favor for sure but walton,sasha,farmar,powell have been non factors and odom and brown have been inconsistent while Pietrus and Gortat have played like studs, what this will come down in my opinion is the FRONTCOURT: will Gasol/Bynum be able to contain Howard numbers on offense and keep him in foul trouble on the defensive side? will Ariza be able to contain Lewis's shooting while scoring himself? will Hedo be productive or a non-factor with Kobe guarding him OR will Howard dominate on the offensive side against marshmellow soft Gasol and Bynum and keep them from scoring as well, will Lewis stretch the floor so much with his 3 ball that Ariza will not be able to double team on Howard or contain him either? will Kobe be spent just like LBJ was on trying to win by himself especially since he will have to play a star this series something LBJ did not do in the ECF...alot of questions but if the frontcourt of the lakers can answer those questions in their favor they will win in 6 if not Magic in 6......

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 11:06 AM ET  06.02 by GhosTown

don't see how Bynum is going to play a lot in this series. Because he doesn't match up with the Magic

huh ?
why the hell did they sign him to a MASSIVE deal then ?
- he's a CENTER-
he NEEDS to match-up with Dwight and at least bother him-

Who exactly DOES he match up well with ????
- a guy without kneeslike J Oneal?
- a lumbering waste of space like Dampier?

- stop coddling the damn guy- he's a PROFESSIONAL and
needs to STEP UP for the lakers to win

The front court will be question mark for both team. If Gasol, Bynum, and Odom shows up every night then the Lakers will take it in 6 games. Pietrus could be the X factor for the game. If Pietrus can slow down Kobe a little and also make his shots then the Magic have a fighting chance. We'll find out who has the most heart in this championship. Both team are pretty balance but the Magic is dependent on everybody making shots. Alston also needs to protect the ball more and should be very selective with his shot making and decision making. Alston is part of the blame for Houston's lack of success in the playoffs. I hope he does not bring that.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 01:40 PM ET  06.02 by Guam Baller

If Pietrus can slow down Kobe a little

I think he can-
if he can guard LBJ (a little) he should be able to guard Kobe
(a little) since kobe is a tad shorter & not as strong as LBJ

It would be nice for the Magic to have Jameer Nelson playing but there is no need to rush him back from injury and risk further damage.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 02:08 PM ET  06.02 by jgb

I think he can-if he can guard LBJ (a little) he should be able to guard Kobe(a little) since kobe is a tad shorter & not as strong as LBJ

Pietrus did give Lebron a hard time and Pietrus didn't play that much. Pietrus likes to get on the oppossing players grill/face and he will probably do that w/ Kobe.

see how game 1 goes...then make decision.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 02:08 PM ET  06.02 by jgb

I think he can-if he can guard LBJ (a little) he should be able to guard Kobe(a little) since kobe is a tad shorter & not as strong as LBJ

Good point. Kobe is a better matchup for Pietrus than Lebron was. And Pietrus will challenge Kobe on both ends of the floor. I think Orlando should start Pietrus in this series, instead of bringing him off the bench. That way they can attack Kobe from the beginning of the game and Orlando wll have 5 players that need to be guarded.

Kobe cheats on defense - he doesn't like to come out to guard three point shooters that's why Ray Allen killed him last year... given the matchup was personal... Orlando is worse... they are bigger shooters and can score inside against Lakers bigs or throw over the top to Dwight Howard for easy dunks... there will be blowouts in this series and I look forward to "Kobe couldn't do without Me" - Part II.. if they win Bynum will be rapping... if they loose the honors goes to Shaq...