Over the weekend a reader sent me a message about the huge toughness edge the Denver Nuggets hold over the Los Angeles Lakers. I particularly enjoyed the comments about Pau Gasol and the Fisher/Billups battle.   While I love Gasol's talent, even Shaun "I think I'll Just Fall Down Instead Of Getting Tackled" Alexander thinks he is a soft player. 

As far as the point guard duel is concerned, I happen to think that Billups would mop the floor with Fisher.  Sure, it's obvious that Fish has spent some time in the weight room over the years.  However, Billups is an absolute bull and he would finish off DFish by the second round...not unlike Manny Pacquiao did to Ricky Hatton a couple weeks ago.   

Here is the e-mail that was received...   

If that series was a street fight instead of basketball, the Nuggets would be a heavy favorite.  Only Kobe and Fisher strike me as tough guys in the Lakers starting lineup.  Here are the match ups:

Billups/Fisher – Even.  I really can’t call that fight either way.  It likely ends with a Rocky II finish, with both guys on the floor simultaneously trying to stand to beat the knockout count.

Jones/Kobe – Jones would put up a fight, but Bryant would pound it out

Melo/Ariza – this sounds like Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeely, except McNeely had a puncher’s chance

Martin/Gasol – Martin wouldn’t get a hand on Gasol . . . because Gasol would run out of the ring to get away

Nene/Bynum – Nene wins this one, mostly because of Nene and Bynum’s size.  Bynum looks like a guy who’s never had to fight because he is so big; Nene looks like a guy who has won plenty of fights because he is so big.