Rosen: Spurs Stopping The Lakers In '09? Unlikely

[duncan228]

Spurs stopping the Lakers in '09? Unlikely (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9130282/Spurs-stopping-the-Lakers-in-%6009?-Unlikely)
by Charley Rosen

Game time: Lakers 99, Spurs 85

Previous to the game it certainly looked like San Antonio was the only team that could prevent the Lakers from returning to the Finals. By early in the third quarter, however, this possibility was revealed as a pipe dream.
Here's how and why the Lakers so easily dismantled the Spurs:

Defense

L.A. was so quick into literally every passing lane that the Spurs needed to execute near-perfect passes to keep the ball moving. Any pass that was even slightly off the mark gave the Lakers defenders time enough to harass the eventual shooters — which is one reason why the visitors shot only 37.7 per cent, including a woeful 5-23 from beyond the arc.

While Tony Parker got into the middle quite frequently in early-offense and fast-break situations, the Lakers were able to swarm his attempts to penetrate in half-court sets. Forced to take more jumpers than he liked, Parker hit only 3 of 10 of these — including a 17-foot air-ball.

Nor were Tim Duncan's jumpers (1-4) on target.

It's always been extremely critical for the Spurs to shoot well from the perimeter. When they misfire from beyond or near the 3-point line, they always have trouble scoring sufficient points to beat good teams.

Kobe Bryant played suffocating defense on Manu Ginobili — 4-11 for nine points. When Ginobili was able to catch the ball in an attack zone, Kobe simply pushed him right and into help.

Particularly when Lamar Odom was involved, the Lakers simply switched high screen/rolls. Odom is long and quick enough to prevent Parker from carrying the ball into the paint — and also to pressure TP's jumpers.

Since Roger Mason has trouble passing on the move, the Lakers forced him into boxes when he played the point position. The result was Mason's registering one assist and three turnovers.

Andrew Bynum blocked four shots, intimidated four others, and allowed TD to convert only one of three shots from the low post.

All told, the Lakers defense made the Spurs look old and slow.

Offense

Duncan has always been an excellent help-defender, but only a slightly above average man-to-man defender. Accordingly, both Bynum and Pau Gasol were able to create extremely makeable shots whenever they took TD into the pivot.

Bynum bricked a jumper, but demonstrated several excellent moves in the pivot. He's always had great hands, and it's evident that his footwork is rapidly catching up.

If Bynum had difficulty making accurate interior passes when he was doubled, Gasol picked out open cutters and unguarded shooters with ease.

The few times that L.A. employed a double-pivot alignment (with Bynum and Gasol), they totally discombobulated San Antonio's defense.

Michael Finley did tally eight points (3-8), but the Lakers picked on his over-the-hill defense — taking full advantage when he turned his head (against Luke Walton), successfully isoing Trevor Ariza, and exposing Finley's inability to make secondary rotations when Gasol was doubled in the low post.

Bruce Bowen had extensive minutes in defense of Kobe, limiting him to two points in head-to-head confrontations — foul shots in an open-court situation. But Kobe manhandled Mason for seven points, and Ginobili for 13. Even more significantly, only one of Kobe's 17 shots was forced.

Ariza and the newly activated Jordan Farmer were buzzsaws, ripping through the Spurs' once-proud defense and shooting over it for a combined 31 points (10-15) in only 43 minutes.

The Lakers are deeper, quicker, and slicker than the Spurs.

Is it at all possible, then, for San Antonio to best the Lakers should they meet in the playoffs?

Absolutely.

But only if they go to Duncan more in the low post. Give Bowen more time in defense of Kobe. Make their open jumpers. Avoid showing double-teams too early. Sign or trade for another wing-scorer to take some pressure off of Ginobili. Somehow gain the home-court advantage.

If all these eventualities are possible, they're also highly improbable. The X-factors, however, are the Spurs' resourcefulness, ability to elevate their collective performance in the clutch, and most importantly their championship experience.

[timvp]

Didn't read it. But I'm absolutely shocked that Phil Jackson's pet writer would pick the Lakers over the Spurs. I'm sure he's unbiased.

[MaNu4Tres]

Charley Rosen is accurate with pretty much everything he says in the article. I've noticed as well how Mason gets out of control when he's passing on the move or penetrating. It's usually two the other way.

[Capt Bringdown]

Good analysis. It seems silly not to read something just because one's fragile ego can't handle the truth. So who's biased again?

Actually, if you play the percentages, it's unlikely for a Pop/Duncan team to win against PJ's Lakers at anytime. They own us, sad to say. I wish it wasn't so, but our record against them precludes any other conclusion.

[LakerHater]

Neither team has done nothing but win at home, until someone wins at the others house then, then.....

[lebomb]

I love my Spurs and I agree. This Spurs team isnt going to beat LA in the playoffs. We need another big to help with Bynum.

[lebomb]

Neither team has done nothing but win at home, until someone wins at the others house then, then.....


True, but LA was IN the game in Saytown with players missing.......LA kicked our butts out there with both teams at almost 100%.

Spurs need a better big next to Tiim.

[spursfan09]

It seems the Spurs are scared of the Lakers when they play in LA. Blowing 20 point leads, getting blown out.... I mean its like they bend over for LA.

[Spur-Addict]

It seems the Spurs are scared of the Lakers when they play in LA. Blowing 20 point leads, getting blown out.... I mean its like they bend over for LA.

At least RMJ gave them a cock meat sandwich in S.A

[Supergirl]

Spurs lost this game cause Bonner and Mason couldn't hit from the outside. When those guys are on, this opens things up for the team. When they're not, they're not as good. But they have good percentages, so the odd bad game doesn't worry me too much.

For 2 quarters the Spurs where competitive despite those guys not being able to hit from the outside. By the fourth Pop decided the game was lost and Duncan and Parker sat.

On to the next game. We'll see if Farmar has that good of a game in the playoffs. Or in the next game. LOL.

[tlongII]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.

[Ghazi]

lol, Blazers play no defense.

[honestfool84]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.



:lmao

how did i know you were going to say the blazers have a chance of beating the lakers?

how can you say that with a straight face? when was the last time the blazers have been

1999-2000 was the last season your team made it out of the first round.

settle down, win a playoff series, a few championships, and perhaps then you can claim your beloved team a dynasty. perhaps.

[Danny.Zhu]

True, but LA was IN the game in Saytown with players missing.......LA kicked our butts out there with both teams at almost 100%.

Spurs need a better big next to Tiim.

Agree. Besides, the Spurs' salary is currently about 11m behind Lakers. Buford needs to pay more money and get better players.

[CarefreeAZ]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.


Damon Stoudamire was wondering where his weed went - Please give it back and quit smoking it.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Agree. Besides, the Spurs' salary is currently about 11m behind Lakers. Buford needs to pay more money and get better players.

Except it's not Buford's choice. He has been told to stay below the lux tax by ownership, so that's what he has to do.

[itzsoweezee]

Spurs stopping the Lakers in '09? Unlikely (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9130282/Spurs-stopping-the-Lakers-in-%6009?-Unlikely)


[Spurs can win,] But only if they go to Duncan more in the low post. Give Bowen more time in defense of Kobe. Make their open jumpers. Avoid showing double-teams too early.

all of this is true.

[Rogue]

that's depending. The spurs will have a GREAT chance to wipe lakers out if they suck and spurs play good, and also the lakers for that matter. lakers 51% is 2points higher than spurs 49% winning possibility, however, does it make any difference between those two?

[m33p0]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.
you have to get to the playoffs. kenny smith doesn't think your team will make it.

[objective]

One thing brought up by Rosen, maybe accidentally in the point breakdown of who covers Kobe, is something rarely talked about and that's Ginobili's defense.

All people are focusing on this season is whether his offense is back, how he shoots, if he's stiff, how he drives, his turnovers, etc. But I've noticed his defense this year has to be the worst of his career. He used to be a great guy to just stick on good offensive players when Bowen was out, he sure doesn't look like that anymore. He just doesn't move on defense as well as he used to so far this season.

[ElNono]

I thought the reason we shot 37% was because we missed wide open shots, on the third quarter most notably. Heck, even Phil Jackson said their defense was so so then. I must have seen a different game than Rosen...

[Josh810]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.Wow.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs always miss wide open shots when it comes to the big game. Their offense is really overrated, and while I don't doubt they can have a good shooting game or two against the Lakers, to do so in a 7 game series just isn't gonna happen.

The way the current roster is made up, there is no way the Spurs are gonna beat LA 4 times out of 7 unless one of their starters get injured.

[td4mvp21]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.

I'm not sure if you're trolling like you normally do or you really believe that the Blazers could beat the Lakers in a 7 game series. But either way you're wrong.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Originally Posted by tlongII http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/images/Style_Templates/Flashskin/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3055655#post3055655)
"The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team."

Uhhhh, OK. However, let me say this about that...

The Lakers have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Celtics or Magic in the Finals. They are both sooooooooo much better than the Lakers. The only team in the West that can conceivably derail the Celtics in the Finals are the SPURS. You seem to forget that the Spurs season doesn't begin until the Rodeo comes to town. We just experiment during the first half of the season. Pop, unlike any other coach uses the first 40-45 games to work out his battle plan heading into the playoffs. After all Pop is a Military man! This season will be 5 NBA Titles out of the last 10 years. Better than any other franchise in the 4 major professional sports leagues. Go back and look at the last 9 years records at this time of the season and you'll see that this is our usual spot...yet 4 of those 9 years we went on to win the NBA Championship. This year will be no different.

[703 Spurz]

It seems the Spurs are scared of the Lakers when they play in LA. Blowing 20 point leads, getting blown out.... I mean its like they bend over for LA.

Or the Lakers being 22-4 at home could have something to do with it?

[703 Spurz]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.

Blazers.

Of course.

The odds of you saying that....

Hmmmmm

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs always miss wide open shots when it comes to the big game. Their offense is really overrated, and while I don't doubt they can have a good shooting game or two against the Lakers, to do so in a 7 game series just isn't gonna happen.

The way the current roster is made up, there is no way the Spurs are gonna beat LA 4 times out of 7 unless one of their starters get injured.

:tu

You live with the 3-ball, you die by the 3-ball. This team still cannot create enough offense for itself if their 3-ball isn't falling. As usual, these missed 3-pointers compound their demise by creating instant transition opportunities for the opposition.

Unlike the Celtics, the Spurs, as currently constructed, do not have enough offense firepower and defensive pressure needed to attack the Fakers. They simply cannot match the Fakers length and ahtleticism. Fakers are quicker to the ball, quicker to rebounds. Spurs are simply not good enough defensively to take away anything the Fakers do well. Then they compound matters with careless turnovers, bad passes and poor decision-making.

[Bender]

I thought the article was pretty good. timvp you should read the article... and offer us a rebuttal if you disagree with it...

[slayermin]

Disappointing loss but not unexpected. The Lakers were too good to lose this game. I was hoping we would pull it out but oh well, we still have a very good team.

The season just got interesting, imo. This loss just reinvigorated my love for the Spurs. Like every year, I just hope we have a healthy squad going into the playoffs.

[raspsa]

Yeah, things get tough when they go cold from the perimeter. The Lakers have the size to bother TD and TP when they attack the rim. The Spurs defense is simply not as good as in year's past.. too many open shots, too many trips to the FT line for opponents.

[mrspurs]

5-23 from where we love to shoot from. And Timmy having no help what so ever in the paint. Today we were to slow and to short.

[NewJerSpur]

One of the other reasons for the loss today: lack of ball movement. It seemed the Lakers were chasing Tony and Manu all over the court and pressured them into making bad decisions and costly, momentum-swaying TO's. Even Finley was taking shots off of the dribble one-on-one when his game at this point focuses more on shooting off of screens and such. The ball just never really moved from side to side or touch many hands on the Spurs' team during one possession. Combine that with Manu and Mason (primarliy due to early foul trouble) not shwing and this was a recipe for disaster. Pop will definitely look at the film and correct this moving forward.

[Solid D]

The Lakers played pretty decent D but they weren't in the passing lanes as much as Rosen makes it seem. I do think the Lakers bothered the Spurs' rhythm a bit, but there were so many open shots the Spurs just clanked.

He was accurate regarding Kobe's D on Manu but it also took energy from him to do so. The real defensive star today for the Lakers was Lamar Odom. He really clogged the lane and he bothered shots, both in the half-court and hustling back in transition. He was the perfect help defender and he should be given that credit.

[ShoogarBear]

Have to admit this one wasn't the usual Rosen hate-fest. He didn't even mention David Robinson once.

Decent articles from McDonald and Rosen within the space of 24 hours? What are the odds?

[td4mvp21]

The Spurs have to make their shots. It was literally LAUGHABLE the way the Lakers were not even contesting their shots - and the way we were clanking them. All they did was sit in the paint and let us shoot. The same strategy that beat us in 2004. What angers me is that this Spurs team has great shooters and is much improved from that 2004 team. Also, I noticed Parker and Ginobili were almost scared to make any contact. They should have at least made contact to try and get to the line. They can make tough shots with contact but they shied away from the basket hardcore today.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Lakers played pretty decent D but they weren't in the passing lanes as much as Rosen makes it seem. I do think the Lakers bothered the Spurs' rhythm a bit, but there were so many open shots the Spurs just clanked.

He was accurate regarding Kobe's D on Manu but it also took energy from him to do so. The real defensive star today for the Lakers was Lamar Odom. He really clogged the lane and he bothered shots, both in the half-court and hustling back in transition. He was the perfect help defender and he should be given that credit.


So Solid D, how tough is it gonna be for the Spurs to win a series against the Lakers with the way the current roster is made up? Do you have confidence that Pop can get this team to playing Spurs like D come May?

This loss is somewhat frustrating in the sense that the first half was played at the Spurs tempo (although LA did break 50 points by halftime)

[NewJerSpur]

The Spurs have ZERO CHANCE of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. They are just too small. The only teams in the West that can conceivably derail the Lakers are the Blazers or a healthy Rockets team.

I will say that if they could mount a furious run after a major turning point in their season with the coaching/front office changes that they have just made (ala the Golden State Warriors after their 2006/07 trades that propelled them into the postseason) I would like to see the T'Wolves topple both the Suns and Mavs for that #8 spot to press the Lakers a bit before their 2nd round bout. Sure Minnesota is young and still not the most disciplined team as a resutl of their youth and inexperience but they are athletic and are playing with more or a (wolf-like) hunger under McHale. They've got a long way to go and I know the west will be tough to crack this year, but they are playting on a different level than the rest of the bottom feeders. Watch out Blazer fans.

[Solid D]

So Solid D, how tough is it gonna be for the Spurs to win a series against the Lakers with the way the current roster is made up? Do you have confidence that Pop can get this team to playing Spurs like D come May?

This loss is somewhat frustrating in the sense that the first half was played at the Spurs tempo (although LA did break 50 points by halftime)

I still think the Spurs can beat the Lakers if they play nearly perfect and they are healthy. The nearly perfect means fewer breakdowns on defense. Finley, Mason and Bonner have made plenty of mistakes both in their half-court D and their transition cross-matching. Example, Bonner not sticking to his transition assigment to protect the rear, since he was back first and allowed Ariza to score.

All that said, this ended up being a "watch and learn for next time" game for the Spurs.

Do I think the Spurs need to add a player? Yes, absolutely, and the answer is not Austin Croshere...as much as I respect his experience. Some may say Ian Mahinmi could really help if he were healthy, but I'm not sure he would have made a difference because of his propensity for fouls. There aren't any Bigs out there who can help at this juncture, without disrupting the team by moving a key role player. I'd like to see the Spurs give Hairston another shot and see if he can bring some scoring, hustle and energy. Udoka can play tough D but he's not giving the Spurs any punch to their offense.

Pop's got some coaching to do to get this team playing good enough D to beat the Lakers or any serious contender.

[Gutter92]

Their DEFENSE was the reason we went 5-23 from beyond the arc? Funny, I thought it was all the WIDE OPEN 3's we missed today..

[SenorSpur]

I still think the Spurs can beat the Lakers if they play nearly perfect and they are healthy. The nearly perfect means fewer breakdowns on defense. Finley, Mason and Bonner have made plenty of mistakes both in their half-court D and their transition cross-matching. Example, Bonner not sticking to his transition assigment to protect the rear, since he was back first and allowed Ariza to score.

All that said, this ended up being a "watch and learn for next time" game for the Spurs.

Do I think the Spurs need to add a player? Yes, absolutely, and the answer is not Austin Croshere...as much as I respect his experience. Some may say Ian Mahinmi could really help if he were healthy, but I'm not sure he would have made a difference because of his propensity for fouls. There aren't any Bigs out there who can help at this juncture, without disrupting the team by moving a key role player. I'd like to see the Spurs give Hairston another shot and see if he can bring some scoring, hustle and energy. Udoka can play tough D but he's not giving the Spurs any punch to their offense.

Pop's got some coaching to do to get this team playing good enough D to beat the Lakers or any serious contender.

Agreed. However in a game like this, the Spurs margin of error is small - very small. They can ill-afford even one quarter of cold-shooting, careless turnovers and defensive breakdowns - much less an entire game. They have to be absolutely perfect in order to win against this team. It's a a tall order.

[NewJerSpur]

The deep ball kept us in the game during the 1st half, but when the shots weren't falling the Lakers didn't allow us to get much else and it didn't help that neither the ball nor any bodies were really moving on offense.

[slayermin]

I wonder if the Spurs could steal the keys to the Staples Center for a couple of nights so they could shoot around in there.

Going from the Crossroads Highschool gym to Staples might have something to do with our shooting woes. Though Austin Croshere would have felt right at home since he went to Crossroads. Maybe he is the answer against the Lakers. J/K

[Capt Bringdown]

They can ill-afford even one quarter of cold-shooting, careless turnovers and defensive breakdowns - much less an entire game. They have to be absolutely perfect in order to win against this team. It's a a tall order.

In other words, we have no chance of beating them. Even when we're at our best, we still fall asleep for a quarter or two.

Last year marked the death knell of SPAM. The Lakers and Celts have raised the bar, it's no more a matter of sleepwalking through the regular season. Actually, I think SPAM has been dead since '05. We got lucky in '07 that the Mavs were knocked out.

[SouthTexasRancher]

WOW...it must be the economy! Are you folks really Spurs fans? Nah, I didn't think so. Some here are sounding like little wimps who run from a fight. Pop's Spurs have done it this way since he found the magic button to push during the 1999 season. He is smart enough to know that you don't play playoff basketball this early in the season. You'll be gasping for oxygen by April/May and dead on your feet come June. He saw last season when New Orleans took us to the limit in 7 games, watched in horror as guys 6'7" and taller were sleeping on the floor of their jet on the NO tarmac only to wake up stiff as a board, then fly into LA later that day and basically go straight to the Staples Center where we played on adrenaline for 2/3rds of Game 1 and then hit the wall in the last 1/3rd of the game. Pop saw what many of us saw...a Spurs team worn out with fatigue and a useless Manu. That is not making an excuse at all. We just were not young enough or athletic enough or refreshed enough (oldest team in the league) to overcome certain things. LA was totally rested and they beat us fair and square but, they were not the better team. Just like we were the better team when we lost the 7 game series to Dallas the year when Miami came from 2 down and won 4 straight over the Mavs to take the NBA crown. We would have beaten Miami because of many factors...a whole lot more Finals experience against a team that had only one player who had played in a Finals game...Shaq! And last year our guys were a much better match up in the Finals against the Celtics. Timmy has owned KG in playoff games. Had Manu not had the ankle injury we would have matched up better at all positions including the bench. But, it wasn't meant to be!

So here we are losing one (1) stinkin' game to the Lakers on their floor with them wanting it more than our guys after we beat them earlier this month. But, one game does not a season or a championship make. Go back and look at the records of teams in the last 9-10 years of playoffs. I don't know if one team during that time that ended up with the best regular season record even made it to the Finals. It is that way in all sports. You want to be 'HOT' and firing on all cylinders going into the playoffs, not in January. During our 4 trophy years we lost the regular season battle to many of the teams we played in the playoffs, only to run them out of the building in the playoffs.

If you're giving up at this point then you ain't anything more than a quitter. Who knows maybe Pop and RC have a super trade in the works....such as Ime, Ian, and Jacque for Kobe, KG, LeBron or maybe getting Kareem, Russel, Bird or Michael out of retirement. Heck maybe they're getting younger by the hour like that Brad Pitt (Angelina is HOT, HOT, HOT!!!) movie. OK, seriously, give our guys a chance...at least till the end of the regular season. If they disappoint you at that point then raise hell, send Pop or Peter Holt an email (like that will make a difference) or join the military and go shoot a bunch of al Qaeda and Taliban between the eyes. That'll make you feel DAMN good.

[wijayas]

Actually, if you play the percentages, it's unlikely for a Pop/Duncan team to win against PJ's Lakers at anytime. They own us, sad to say. I wish it wasn't so, but our record against them precludes any other conclusion.

A 35-35 head-to-head record over a ten year period cannot determine which team owns which.

While we are not on Lakers level yet, we should not demean ourselves as if we are the Kings!

[melo061]

A 35-35 head-to-head record over a ten year period cannot determine which team owns which.

While we are not on Lakers level yet, we should not demean ourselves as if we are the Kings!

The PJ/Kobe duo have a winning record over Pop/Duncan. Just saying.

[Spork KIller]

For the Idiots who want to compare themselves to the great Dinasties of the NBA:

Lakers - Spurms comparison:

Have played 11 times head-to-head in the Playoffs with the Lakers winning 8 of the 11 contests. Ouch!! :wow

Phil Jackson - Gregg Popazit head to head comparison:

Jackson owns a 4-1 advantage over Popazit, 18-8 if we count game by game in every series.

So there is no doubt who is the Lakers bitch!!!

Whoever wrote that stupid article needs to check the data before posting bogus information.

[Spork KIller]

And this will probably hurt the most:

Pissed poor Spurs fans:



PLAYOFF HISTORY: (Not Counting Last Years Playoffs)

The Spurs and Lakers have met in seven times in the playoffs with L.A. holding 20-10 advantage in games played … in the 2001 NBA Playoffs the Spurs were swept by the Lakers who went on to win their second straight NBA Title… the Spurs swept the Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals on the way to winning the 1999* NBA Championship .the Lakers swept the Spurs out of the first round in 1986 and 1987 … in the 1983 Western Conference Finals the Lakers defeated the Spurs 4-2 and in the 1982 Western Conference Finals L.A. swept San Antonio swept San Antonio 4-0

[kace]

Duncan has always been an excellent help-defender, but only a slightly above average man-to-man defender. Accordingly, both Bynum and Pau Gasol were able to create extremely makeable shots whenever they took TD into the pivot.
.


very true. Duncan is destroyed by every good big this season more than ever. if any spurs' big can defend the best bigs in the league, we're in trouble.



The Lakers are deeper, quicker, and slicker than the Spurs

Is it at all possible, then, for San Antonio to best the Lakers should they meet in the playoffs?

Absolutely.

...............................

If all these eventualities are possible, they're also highly improbable. The X-factors, however, are the Spurs' resourcefulness, ability to elevate their collective performance in the clutch, and most importantly their championship experience.

don't know this guy, if he's usually biased or not, but he's right here. i can't see how we can beat LA in the PO, even i still trust the Spurs to find a way.

but i really don't like this team's habbit to surrender against a better opponent. we basically won in PO when we were better but why not try when we're the real underdog. if we give up games like this in PO against LA, it will make me sick.

[polandprzem]

I did not read it as well.

But Rosen is the guy who from one game in a season can conlude all season and say how it will end.

[HORNSWOGGLE]

And this will probably hurt the most:

Pissed poor Spurs fans:



PLAYOFF HISTORY: (Not Counting Last Years Playoffs)

The Spurs and Lakers have met in seven times in the playoffs with L.A. holding 20-10 advantage in games played … in the 2001 NBA Playoffs the Spurs were swept by the Lakers who went on to win their second straight NBA Title… the Spurs swept the Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals on the way to winning the 1999* NBA Championship .the Lakers swept the Spurs out of the first round in 1986 and 1987 … in the 1983 Western Conference Finals the Lakers defeated the Spurs 4-2 and in the 1982 Western Conference Finals L.A. swept San Antonio swept San Antonio 4-0

and even through all that ownage, the spurs have still managed 4 trohpies, how many do the suns have? ;)
:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

[Gutter92]

@SouthTexasRancher

2 teams made the Finals last year with the 2 best records in the league

[Rummpd]

Spurs hit wide open shots in 3rd quarter early and whole different game. Too much stock made of this annual "embarrasment loss on ABC on a Sunday".

[George Gervin's Afro]

With the current make up of our team there is no way we beat the lakers 4 out of 7. This team cannot win a championship. Should we look forward to a second rd exit?

[SouthTexasRancher]

@SouthTexasRancher

2 teams made the Finals last year with the 2 best records in the league

Gutter99.........

You are correct. Thanks...!

I just found this and with a quick glance it appears it works out about half the time...i.e., teams with the best regular season record making it all the way to the NBA Finals. In the upper right part you can click on any season to see the overall records/standings

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings?season=1999

As much as I hate to admit it nobody was going to beat the Celtics last season the way they were playing.

[ShoogarBear]

As much as I hate to admit it nobody was going to beat the Celtics last season the way they were playing.

Correction: nobody was probably going to beat the Celtics the way they played in the Finals.

They would have been eliminated in the first round in the West playing the way they did against Atlanta and Cleveland.