They Lakers will miss Artest's defense and hustle, I think. Other than Barnes and Blake in small spurts, the Lakers don't really have any remaining dirty work players. I don't think Walton has even played one minute in this series.
I must have misread your last post. You think the lakers are done, huh? Even if they steal a game in Dallas, they're definitely not done at all. Even if they fall down 3-1 going back to LA, they still have a shot to make this a 7 game series, IMO.
Do you think we're seeing Kobe Bryant start to really slow down before our very eyes? He's only 32 years old but he's been in the league since he was 18. Is that 15 seasons? Wow.
Not sure they will miss Artest. He was arguably the MVP in round 1. Has disappeared in this series. The Lakers don't really need him to beat Dallas. Artest is more important against OKC to guard Durant, or Boston to guard Pierce, or Miami to guard LeBron. Without Butler, Dallas doesn't really have a 3 that needs to be locked up on D.
Luke is out of the rotation, but I bet he plays big minutes today.
I do think the Lakers are probably done.
Will actually give me a lot more free time, because I'm not going to watch the rest of the playoffs (or most games anyway).
If LA wins game 3, then we got a series, but given how they have played the last two games, I don't have much confidence in them. They do have a very good history in Dallas though.
I thought Kobe was slowing down this season, but he stepped it up after the All Star break and has been very good in the playoffs. He really is a throwback. Didn't miss a game again this season. I will miss him when he is done playing. (no homo)