Unlike Avery Johnson, Phil Jackson isn't stupid enough to allow the opposing team to dictate the tempo. In their first meeting this season, Bynum had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a ten-point Laker victory.
In the second game, Bynum had 17 points and 16 rebounds despite the Warriors winning the game by two.
Andris Biedrins wasn't able to stay out of foul trouble in the two games against Ronny Turiaf. What makes anyone think he could do it against either Bynum or Gasol?
The Warriors best low-post defender in those two early-season games was DJ Mbenga, who is now a member of the Lakers.
The Warriors are also 3-15 against the Lakers over their last 18 meetings against them. Needless to say, the Lakers would prefer to play the Warriors than any of the other seven teams currently in the playoff race, except for the Mavericks.
8) Chris Bosh calling out his teammates shouldn't be ignored...
When Chris Bosh called his teammates soft after their loss to the Nuggets on Sunday he unintentionally fired the first warning shot toward his impending free agency in 2010.
He clearly wasn't happy with how the team was playing and his teammates responded by helping him beat the Pistons in Toronto last night. The question now becomes whether last night's game was a permanent change or just an aberration.
The Raptors were the third-seed in the Eastern Conference last season and currently sit in the seventh spot. They are one game back of the fifth-seed and a first-round playoff match-up with LeBron & Company.
Regardless of their seeding, I don't see the Raptors making it past the first-round of the playoffs against either the Pistons, Magic or Cavs.
There's no denying the they have had injury issues all season long. But with teams like Philadelphia and Atlanta seemingly on the up-and-up and teams like Miami and Washington expecting the return of healthy superstars, the Raptors are in danger of being in a position where Bosh could explore other options in two years.
The team has to do it's best in free agency over the next couple of off-seasons to make them attractive enough for him to commit his prime years to playing in Toronto.
9) Mutombo an example to all...
The NBA recognized Dikembe Mutombo on Wednesday for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to the game of basketball.
Richard Justice wrote a glowing piece in today's Houston Chronicle about Mutombo's achievements, including raising $29 million to build a hospital in his native Congo, $15 million of which he donated himself.
If the rest of the NBA's players would use their fame and fortune to draw attention to injustices and worthwhile causes they would off-set every ounce of negativity thrown their way.
Dikembe Mutombo made the world a better place. How many athletes can say the same thing?
10) If the playoffs started today...
The Western Conference would look like this:
1) Hornets vs. 8) Warriors
2) Rockets vs. 7) Mavericks
3) Lakers vs. 6) Suns
4) Jazz vs. 5) Spurs
The Eastern Conference would look like this:
1) Celtics vs. 8) Hawks
2) Pistons vs. 7) Raptors
3) Magic vs. 6) Sixers
4) Cavs vs. 5) Wizards
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