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To non-believers: BELIEVE!
I found this article, I don't agree with it and he's stuck in last year mode underestimating the Lakers.
But I thought you Spur fans would enjoy it from Pro Basketball News:
Enjoy it while you can, L.A.
By Sam Amico
Pro Basketball News
LOS ANGELES - The Lakers should take their day off and do nothing but party. They hold a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals and appear, in a word, invincible.
But I am here to tell you it won’t last. I am here to tell you the Lakers are playing over their heads. I am here to tell you the Spurs will win the series.
I write this after watching L.A. dismantle San Antonio 101-71 in Game 2 at the Staples Center -- a game in which the Lakers turned the fourth quarter into 12 minutes of garbage time.
I write it just a couple days after watching the Spurs blow a 20-point lead in the second half of Game 1.
And I write it with confidence despite knowing all that.
I repeat: The Spurs will win the series.
Let’s face it, this isn’t the first time they’ve been in a hole. This isn’t the first time the defending champs have looked like everyday chumps.
In the conference semifinals against New Orleans, the Spurs overcame a series deficit twice (they trailed 2-0 and 3-2 before winning Game 7 on the road -- and were blown out in all three losses). And they match up much better with the Lakers than they did the Hornets.
So far, the Lakers have made shots the Spurs have dared them to take. They’ve hit runners in the lane, fallaway 3-pointers, layups in heavy traffic. Meanwhile, every time the Spurs take a shot, you can almost see the rim cringe with fear.
Neither scenario will continue, especially once the series shifts to San Antonio on Sunday night.
Seriously. Do you really think the Lakers will continue to shoot 55 percent from the field, as they did in Game 2?
OK, maybe Kobe Bryant will. But as for everyone else -- gimme a break.
And do you really think Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic will continue to outplay the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, as he clearly has in the first two games?
Please.
Yes, Kobe will keep things close. I don’t expect the Lakers to lose four straight. They might be able to steal Game 5 at home. But let’s not kid ourselves.
If you follow the NBA, you know the Spurs are just now beginning to consider this a series. This is what it takes for them to avoid feeling bored.
Another thing that won’t continue to take place: The dominance of Lakers forward Lamar Odom. Or should I say the unexplained favorable calls Odom has received from officials in L.A.
In Game 2, Odom flattened Spurs guard Tony Parker when Parker drove to the basket. Parker sat on the floor and clutched his leg. No call.
On the next possession, Odom missed a dunk that ricocheted off the back of the rim. Long after the miss, a whistle blew. Foul on Spurs forward Tim Duncan.
Soon after that, Odom goal-tended a Spurs layup and grabbed the rebound. No call.
Since when, pray tell, did Odom suddenly become deserving of treatment that’s usually reserved for the game’s brightest of stars?
And we wonder why no one can win on the road in the playoffs?
Not to worry, Spurs fans. Duncan will be the one getting the calls at your place -- and everything tends to even out by the end of the series.
Right or wrong, that’s just the way it works in the NBA.
Speaking of Duncan, he will eventually become the difference in this series. He is the reason the Spurs will win it -- even if Parker and Ginobili continue to perform like pro basketball’s version of Abbott & Costello.
That’s because the Lakers don’t have anyone who can come close to guarding Duncan one-on-one. Not defenseless Pau Gasol, not helpless Ronny Turiaf, and certainly not Odom. Eventually, the Lakers will have to double-team him. Eventually, the Spurs will start making perimeter shots when Duncan passes out of the low post.
Eventually, the Spurs will become the well-oiled machine we all know and love. And once it begins, no one team can stop it.
Of course, that’s just the offense I’m talking about.
Once the Spurs find their rhythm at that end of the court, they always play considerably better on defense, the staple of their four les. Once they defend like they always do (at least, like they do when it really matters), the opponent’s role players suddenly get wobbly-kneed. Then guys like Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Luke Walton suddenly turn to mush.
It happens all the time, and when it finally happens to the Lakers, not even Spidey will be able to save them -- no matter how may games Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire attends.
I know what's coming. I’m about to get bombarded with hate mail from psychotic Laker fans.
But they should know that I love their team. I love watching Bryant, the best and most explosive player in the NBA since Michael Jordan. I’m not even sure anymore that Jordan was better in his prime. I am not a “hater.”
Nor am I a Spurs fan. Honestly, I respect both teams the same, and I’d be happy if either advanced to the Finals. I have no problem with the Lakers winning another le.
But that will be hard to do since they won’t even make it out of the conference finals.
This isn’t the first time I’ve predicted a Lakers loss in the playoffs. A few years ago, they held a 2-1 series lead over the Suns in the first round. At the time, I guaranteed the Suns would come back to win it.
Then they lost the next game to fall behind 3-1.
Needless to say, I heard from every last Lakers fan in the land. And that is why Laker fans should be forewarned -- because after the Suns won three straight to claim the series, I e-mailed every one of those fans back.
I won’t hesitate to do the same after the Spurs win this one.
And they will. I just know it.
Last edited by Allanon; 05-24-2008 at 07:30 PM.
To non-believers: BELIEVE!
That's the truth about Vujacic. He's a poor man's Ginobili, and that will be proven in both games in San Antonio.
I firmly believe that the Spurs will win this series. They're playing possum on those pansies led by a wanna be Colonel Sanders.
I hope the author is right. Hopefully the Spurs can wake up.
We can still win the series but it's not likely given Jackson's track record. The majority of Game 1 tells me the Spurs can beat the Lakers when they are at their best. The problem is we are so inconsistent this year, particularly our role players. When one of the Big Three isn't scoring, no one else can. Last year, Finley was really consistent. This year he'll have a good game every 3 or 4 games.
I agree with the author of this article.
Vujacic = next Beno
Wow. Ballsy article.
I truly believe in that article.
Funny how many Spurs fans agree with that article.
Who woulda guessed?
You know what I think?
Nobody can stop Kobe Bryant. But there's no new information in that statement.
But what is killing the Spurs - in addition to Kobe - is the long left arm of Mr Odom.
Oberto can't stop him. Not yesterday, and not tomorrow.
Phil knows.
Pop knows.
Now you know.
I am a die hard fan of Spurs... but come on...
This guy is insane !
Someone should tell the dude that wrote that article to put down the crack pipe.
Horry can stop kobe...GO cheap shot rob!
Nah.
Horry's greatest career moment was as a Laker.
That was BIG SHOT ROB...In SA he's CHEAP SHOT ROB...Kobe can't shoot if he's rolling on the floor.
One of the better around.
Sam Amico is ing with Joe Spurs fan. I could see him laughing his ass off as he takes a drink of pinot oir in between paragraphs.
Spur's fans would consider this his career highlight
for our sake i hope this guy is right on the money.
believe.
Nah, more like this:Spur's fans would consider this his career highlight
No, not really.And they match up much better with the Lakers than they did the Hornets.
The Spurs had the advantage at 4 of 5 positions and all bench players and coaching staff against the Hornets, and the Spurs have an All-Star at the Hornets' one mismatch.
There is a fan on the left taking a picture; WTF ??????Nah.
Horry's greatest career moment was as a Laker.
That's a reflex
Wow, Doug Christie with hair.
The Spurs have looked old and done time and time again this year but are still alive. Personally I won't consider them so unless they fall behind 3-0 or 3-1.
It's not even a matter of age in my opinion, it's simply a matter of jump shots. The Spurs all year have been reliant on the 3 ball for the purpose of offense and floor spacing. the 3-ball was absent in the first 2 games, but statistical trends indicate they'll shoot better at home. I expect the Spurs to win the next 2 games, and make things interesting.
People thought they were done in January-February, done during their late 4 game losing streak and subsequent offensive inep ude back to back to back against the Jazz, Blazers, and Suns... and done after the 0-2 hole against the Hornets. When will people learn it ain't ova until it's ova?
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