Ed Helicopter Jones
07-11-2003, 05:54 PM
The Lakers are now better, but they still won’t beat the Spurs.
Ok, this sounds like a total Spurs-homer take, but before you jump on me for this viewpoint, hear the Chopper out.
The Lakers have upgraded the marquee of their roster tremendously with the additions of future hall-of-famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone.
You can’t argue with that.
But have they done enough to beat the Spurs?
I say no, and here’s why:
1.* * * * Tony Parker will continue to get better. He bested Gary Payton two years ago when he was a rookie in the playoffs against Seattle. Since then, Tony has earned a championship ring, and gained two valuable years of NBA experience, and is a mature 21. Tony’s speed kills the Lakers, and I think a 35 year-old Glove is going to be hard-pressed to match up with a now-veteran, 21-year-old Tony Parker. Usually, a quality NBA player begins to mature in his third season. Tony will be no exception. I think you’ll see a Tony Parker who plays better, and with more focus than ever.
2. * * * * The Lakers have not signed the answer to Tim Duncan. Tim found his groove going up strong against Shaq in this year’s playoffs. Shaq couldn’t stop Tim, and we all know that Karl Malone is Tim’s b!tch. A healthy Shaq might do better against Tim, but I’m not going to bet the farm on Shaq getting THAT much healthier this off-season. Malik Rose, too, always plays well against both Karl Malone and Shaq, and that won’t change. In a seven game series I’d take Duncan/Rose/Willis/Brown over Shaq/Malone.
3.* * * * Manu Ginobili. He’s the X-factor. The Lakers had no one who could match his energy in the playoffs this past season. Bruce Bowen wears Kobe out during a game, leaving Kobe with nothing left in the tank to match Ginobili’s activity late in a contest. Kobe getting less touches won’t help either, as I believe Kobe heats up late in games because he is allowed to take every shot. The new-look Lakers won’t afford Kobe as many looks as in the past, which could potentially cause him to go cold – shooters have to have the ball in their hands. Bowen will continue to blanket Kobe, but who will cover Manu?
4. * * * * The Lakers moves have been made. They’ll do some tweaking, but I don’t anticipate any more significant changes. The Spurs can look at the Lakers lineup, and add players to reinforce their weaknesses as they see fit. The Spurs even have the option of waiting to make a move after the season begins. They can add a player or two now, evaluate their how the team is coming together, and pull the trigger on another deal after the season begins. Pop has always successfully tailored his roster to matchup with the strongest team in the West. He built the Spurs to beat Utah a few years ago, and then to stop LA, so believe that Pop will bring in key guys who are capable of matching up with this new Laker lineup.
5.* * * * The Spurs are now significantly younger and faster than are the Lakers and are only going to get better. Despite being the defending champs, San Antonio will be the underdogs again this season, which is a great position to be in. The Spurs might very well be the first defending championship team in the NBA to maintain its nucleus of talent, yet enter the season as the underdogs. As the NBA champs you couldn’t ask for more than to be able to fly under the radar and be underestimated by your opponents. The Lakers moves have guaranteed they’ll be the team to beat, and that the Spurs will be hungry to prove themselves once again come playoff time next year.
The Spurs will beat the Lakers in the playoffs again this coming season, my friends.
Write it down now.
Ok, this sounds like a total Spurs-homer take, but before you jump on me for this viewpoint, hear the Chopper out.
The Lakers have upgraded the marquee of their roster tremendously with the additions of future hall-of-famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone.
You can’t argue with that.
But have they done enough to beat the Spurs?
I say no, and here’s why:
1.* * * * Tony Parker will continue to get better. He bested Gary Payton two years ago when he was a rookie in the playoffs against Seattle. Since then, Tony has earned a championship ring, and gained two valuable years of NBA experience, and is a mature 21. Tony’s speed kills the Lakers, and I think a 35 year-old Glove is going to be hard-pressed to match up with a now-veteran, 21-year-old Tony Parker. Usually, a quality NBA player begins to mature in his third season. Tony will be no exception. I think you’ll see a Tony Parker who plays better, and with more focus than ever.
2. * * * * The Lakers have not signed the answer to Tim Duncan. Tim found his groove going up strong against Shaq in this year’s playoffs. Shaq couldn’t stop Tim, and we all know that Karl Malone is Tim’s b!tch. A healthy Shaq might do better against Tim, but I’m not going to bet the farm on Shaq getting THAT much healthier this off-season. Malik Rose, too, always plays well against both Karl Malone and Shaq, and that won’t change. In a seven game series I’d take Duncan/Rose/Willis/Brown over Shaq/Malone.
3.* * * * Manu Ginobili. He’s the X-factor. The Lakers had no one who could match his energy in the playoffs this past season. Bruce Bowen wears Kobe out during a game, leaving Kobe with nothing left in the tank to match Ginobili’s activity late in a contest. Kobe getting less touches won’t help either, as I believe Kobe heats up late in games because he is allowed to take every shot. The new-look Lakers won’t afford Kobe as many looks as in the past, which could potentially cause him to go cold – shooters have to have the ball in their hands. Bowen will continue to blanket Kobe, but who will cover Manu?
4. * * * * The Lakers moves have been made. They’ll do some tweaking, but I don’t anticipate any more significant changes. The Spurs can look at the Lakers lineup, and add players to reinforce their weaknesses as they see fit. The Spurs even have the option of waiting to make a move after the season begins. They can add a player or two now, evaluate their how the team is coming together, and pull the trigger on another deal after the season begins. Pop has always successfully tailored his roster to matchup with the strongest team in the West. He built the Spurs to beat Utah a few years ago, and then to stop LA, so believe that Pop will bring in key guys who are capable of matching up with this new Laker lineup.
5.* * * * The Spurs are now significantly younger and faster than are the Lakers and are only going to get better. Despite being the defending champs, San Antonio will be the underdogs again this season, which is a great position to be in. The Spurs might very well be the first defending championship team in the NBA to maintain its nucleus of talent, yet enter the season as the underdogs. As the NBA champs you couldn’t ask for more than to be able to fly under the radar and be underestimated by your opponents. The Lakers moves have guaranteed they’ll be the team to beat, and that the Spurs will be hungry to prove themselves once again come playoff time next year.
The Spurs will beat the Lakers in the playoffs again this coming season, my friends.
Write it down now.