Any guesses as to how we'll match up with the Lakers on defense?
Parker - Fisher
Manu - ?
Bowen - Kobe
Duncan - ?
Oberto - ?
What I'd like to see is who guards 7'1 Pau and who guards 6'10 Odom.
That should make or break the series right there.
On the Laker side.
And I suspect Trevor Ariza will be back as a starter guarding Manu leaving Kobe on Bowen and then on Parker in the 4th. Ariza might get some time on Parker as well.
Duncan will guard Gasol primarily and Oberto on Odom...
Manu will pick up Radmanovic
duncan>pau.
and oberto/horry/thomas = odom.
I agree that Duncan is > Pau but not by a landslide like it would have been in years before.
Odom on the other hand is much better than Oberto. Horry and Thomas have no chance guarding Odom...he's too quick.
I can't wait for Oberto on Odom. Forgot what you saw in the regular season, playoff LO is a whole other beast. He has apparently figured out that his jumpshot is and he is just driving to the basket every chance he gets. He tore Boozer a new one, and I don't expect an even slower Oberto/Thomas to keep up without fouling.
I think the one common dominator in each opponent the Lakers have faced is that nobody has really had a guy that could stick Kobe 1-1. The Nuggets tried Martin, Kleiza, Najera....didn't work. The Jazz tried Brewer, Harpring, CJ Miles, Korver.....didn't work. The Spurs have Bowen/Udoka which is clearly going to be the toughest set of defenders Kobe has faced........he is going to have to force the Spurs to send double teams at him for Pau and LO to score as efficiently as they have been doing. This means he must beat Bowen/Udoka off the dribble.
I definitely expect our offense to be slowed a bit, but thankfully SAS doesn't put up a whole lot of points. If the Lakers can get near 100 ppg they will be fine. If they are scoring down in the 90ppg range they are done. This series is going to be great because both teams are so evenly matched up. The Lakers can play on the road, so SAS can't rely on getting easy home wins like they did against NOH.
It comes to how Pop decides to defend him. He may do what he did to Marion in 05 and elect to shut the third guy down. And limit the other two.
Don't see how Manu can guard Radmanovic. He's 4 inches shorter and 30lbs lighter.
Odom will eat Manu up.
Oberto will guard Odom, and I think Udoka will be thrown at Odom as well
Manu will take the perimeter guys like Luke, Sasha, Radmanovic and see spot minutes on Kobe
Duncan will be tested on Gasol, but we'll see. Gasol will probably get all our bigs thrown at him. See who bothers him the best.
It'll be like guarding an inferior Peja. I think Manu would do fine. Especially if he's gotten healthier for this series.
Don't see how Ime can guard Odom, who's 5 inches taller. I'm thinking the Spurs won't be able to match up in size with the Lakers.
Udoka should guard Odom. No one else matches up well to him. Duncan guarding Gasol too could get him in foul trouble. I don't think the spurs match up too well against the Lakers.
I hope you're right, but it seems like Manu will be at a serious size disadvantage.
That would mean Udoka starts. Doubt that will happen.
It's hard for the Spurs because they grab Bowen to guard Kobe.
I suspect Fabricio to be guarding Odom and Manu on Radmonvic. But Rad's a 6'10 jump shooter and Manu is too short to bother his shot.
If Radmanovic shoots well, that's a major disadvantage for the Spurs at both the PF and SF position. I think Phil stuck with Radmanovic because he felt that the Spurs would be coming.
I highly doubt that. Phil wouldn't tweak the starting lineups especially this far into the playoffs. Plus, Ariza hasn't even played ONE game yet and to expect him jump right into the starting lineup ? Ain't happening. I hope I'm wrong. Regardless, he better get more playing time than Luke.
Yeah either way Duncan is forced to guard a key offensive player while the Lakers can rest one of their players on Oberto or Thomas. Oberto can't keep up with Odom in the speed category. Odom is too good on the dribble. Fisher is also a very good defender and will keep Parker in check. I predict Lakers in 6.
Manu is an unpredictable pest who steals from bigs and gets into their heads.
My question is who are the Lakers going to send on D against US?
Excellent question....Radmanovic would have a hard time guarding Ginobili...My question is who are the Lakers going to send on D against US?
On D, the Lakers
Pau on Duncan
Odom on Fabricio
Radman on Bowen
Kobe on Manu
Fisher on Parker
or
Odom on Manu (maybe ? )
Rad on Fabricio
Kobe on Bowen
Clog the paint with Odom and Pau.
Fisher is underrated, but check Tony Parker? What are you smoking?Fisher is also a very good defender and will keep Parker in check
That's a pretty fair match-up......I think this series will come down to benches...Pau on Duncan
Odom on Fabricio
Radman on Bowen
Kobe on Manu
Fisher on Parker
I was thinking Ime strength wise. But I can see Ime making mistakes and being quickly taken off him if Odom keeps shooting over him.
it's either Manu or Ime when they're on the floor who will be on Odom at times.
probably Fin will guard Odom too.
Odom is our match up problem, and I hope he pulls a Shawn Marion on us.
I think the most we can hope for is Kobe dominating the ball and Bruce forcing him with hard shots as far as defense goes.
Yep, in every series, Fisher was supposed to be the biggest mismatch (AI, Deron) but somehow he always finds a way to hold his own. Fisher is not the weak link on the Lakers. He's not the quickest defender, but he does all the little things to get an edge, plus you have to respect his outside shot. The guy understands playoffs basketball.
When I remember the Diaw problem in the first round, I am afraid it will not be easy to deal with Odom.
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