Reply With Quote
"If" is the key word when you're talking about Gooden, Mar. You really don't know what you're going to get from him night-in and night-out. He's like Odom in that respect.
How can you say that...the Spurs are nowhere near the Lakers level. Especially if the Big 3 is healthy and ready to go.
I can respect the debate to say the Lakers are the favorite to come out the west..fine. But, to say the Spurs are nowhere near the Lakers are flat out wrong. They've held the number 2 seed for awhile and without early injuries to Tony and Manu during the first month of the season I believe would have a shot for the 1 seed.
That's just flat out arrogance and not paying attention to your opponents.
"If" is the key word when you're talking about Gooden, Mar. You really don't know what you're going to get from him night-in and night-out. He's like Odom in that respect.
Also, while Bynum guard TD better than Gasol. He can't stop TD and everyone knows that.
The Gooden signing gives the Spurs more options to mix and match with their bigs. That will be his importance.
Also, Ariza isn't a lockdown defender. Remember the first Lakers-Spurs regular season game...Manu went around Ariza easily. Is Ariza a capable defender...yes. But a lockdown defender...absolutely not!!
Don't forget the Spurs have won three of the last six les. So getting to WCF isn't the goal...it's winning it all too!!
Maybe so.....
But Gooden is playing for a contract and if he shows up and plays well for the Spurs that will be more money in his pockets in the offseason.
He has good incentive to play well.
Also, he will give the Spurs at least six more fouls and a chance to keep TD fresher down the stretch of the ball games and that could be the biggest difference the Spurs need.
Odom is not critical to anything the Lakers do.
It's KGB: KOBE - GASOL - BYNUM
Odom will be moved back to the bench where he belongs when Bynum gets back. What he does is icing on the cake.
It's gonna take more than KGB to beat the Spurs in a 7 game series..
Ok then, DrHouse.....
Why was all the analysts (ESPN, SI, FoxSports, and NBA.com) going crazy about Odom's great play in Jan and Feb. Especially on that road trip against Cleveland and Boston.
You can't just dismiss that...and post he doesn't matter.
He does and will be the most important piece for the Lakers' le hopes.
Actually Bynum did a very good job limiting TD. He will force Duncan away from the rim and make him take tougher shots that he makes with less frequency. In short, he will allow the Lakers to single cover Duncan all game while he's on the floor.
This is what you saw in the last game. Duncan was single covered, which allowed Kobe to play doberman defense on Manu who he completely shut down. And while Parker got off in the 1st half, he was nowhere to be found in the 2nd.
This is the same song/dance that's happened 4 times this decade. Phil Jackson knows how to beat the Spurs. When the talent levels are equal Phil wins every time.
I can dismiss that.
When the team is at full strength Odom is not a major piece. He is right now out of necessity because there is nobody else to fill Bynum's rebounding/shotblocking role.
Marhill, tyring to talk common sense with blessing 21 is useless. He doesn't want to have a serious and/or informative debate. You're just wasting your time. He'll just curse and say arrogant phrases. In his mind Lakers can do no wrong, and can win the Larry with only 3 players in the line-up. He's a joke...
Again, in one regular season game...I can dismiss that Bynum's defense on TD as well. However in a seven game series...where you can make adjustments and Pop does a good job of adjusting in a series...Bynum won't be able to stop TD. Just like Bowen can't stop Kobe.
Again, I respect Kobe's defense but he wasn't playing Manu the entire game and if he did in a series he would get tired and it would affect his offense.
Also, Spurs have more shooters with Mason and Bonner and Finley can still knock down shots.
Moreover, Spurs have beaten the Lakers in the playoffs and of course they didn't play each other in the middle of the decade where the Spurs were clearly the better team...so I don't go crazy about that record. I can see if they played each other every year...then it would mean more.
Thanks, Spursmania!Marhill, tyring to talk common sense with blessing 21 is useless. He doesn't want to have a serious and/or informative debate. You're just wasting your time. He'll just curse and say arrogant phrases. In his mind Lakers can do no wrong, and can win the Larry with only 3 players in the line-up. He's a joke...
I don't mind a good debate. That's what this forum is for.
But to make crazy comments like this....does nothing for the legitimate debate between the Lakers and the Spurs.
That is like me posting the Lakers don't have the talent to win it all. That's stupid and disrespectful. But as the Spurs can be beaten....so can the Lakers.
No you don't get it. 4-1. Let that sink in.
Phil Jackson OWNS Greg Popovich. He is the only coach in the NBA who can say actually that. He will outwit Greg when it matters every single time so long as the talent levels are equal.
We've seen this song and dance many times. The Spurs will try to beat LAL from outside and they will lose. Let me repeat, no jumpshooting team that plays mediocre defense is going to beat the Lakers in the playoffs. We've seen the blueprint for what it takes to beat LAL in the playoffs.
You need to have the best defense in the league, a solid defensive plan against Kobe, and the ability to stop their other weapons from going off. The Spurs simply don't have what BOS and DET had in those years. And if Bynum is back, FORGET ABOUT IT. You don't have a CHANCE.
Again, I know the record......you post it everytime we have one of these arguments.
Again, that record is skewed because the Lakers were not good in 2005-2007 and the Spurs would have beaten them easily in those years because they were the better team.
Now the Lakers are good again and I'm glad for that actually. But, the Spurs have a legit shot to get to the finals this year because they have better pieces around the Big 3 this year offensively.
Even if Bynum comes back, the fact the Spurs signed Gooden (whom the Lakers wanted to keep away from SA) gives them an extra big to mix and match with the Lakers.
If the Spurs are healthy...I like their chances now more than ever...because they have all the pieces to win it all.
We will see....once and for all in late May.
Just heard on the radio that Odom is suspended 1 game.
I'm going to try a Dr House special.
If the big 3 is healthy LA can already prepare the material for fishing.
Tim is the best big of this serie, no way Odumb or Bynum or Gasol stop him he'll go for his usual 20 10.
TP is going to kill the lakers, he is stronger than last year, his JS is now a consistent weapon. On a 7 serie game, he will go for a 30 10 at least 4 times against LA.
Manu is Manu, if he is hot there's nothing you can do he will go for a Kobewise stat easy. He will come in this serie well rested and he will be hungry.
Kurt is doing a good job since the ASG break, his D will improve again during the POs he will take care of the business.
Gooden will give what the spurs need: rebounding, interior presence.
Besides of that every game in this serie with a tight scoring at the end of the 4th will be for the spurs, the spurs are much more clutch than the lakers, see Money Mason 3's, Manu impossible lay up, Tim maybe the clutchest of all and TP.
No way in a healthy spurs team loose a 7 serie against the fakers.
Odom is a rich man's Boris Diaw.
In all honestly, I don't see the Spurs getting by LA if Bynum is healthy.
Really? Lakers get Bynum...Spurs get Mason, Hill, Gooden, and Bonner(yes, we had him last year, but this is a different player). We're a of a lot better now. You don't think that will change anything?
The Spurs defense is not capable of slowing down the Laker's offensive juggernaut this season. They didn't come close in either matchup.
The facts just don't back up anything you are trying to say. And we're not even discussing Manu Ginobili, who has a very high probability of re-injuring his ankles and hobbling into the playoffs yet again. If he's not 100% this conversation is useless, the Spurs have no chance.
You rely on faith and hope that the Spurs can beat the Lakers. I look at the facts in front of me and clearly see a decisive advantage in favor of the Lakers should they be lucky enough to have their health. Without Bynum, I'm not nearly as confident and I am willing to concede the Lakers could lose to any number of teams in the WC.
Lakeshow also has Ariza and a year of experience for their first time WCF players last year. At the same time, SA will have a 100% Ginobili.
I think SA is a lot better this year, but I just don't see it happening.
Well...we'll have to agree to disagree..I think the Spurs have the right pieces. We were missing another big that can be athletic and tough next to Timmy..we got it in Gooden. Gonna be a good series.
I'm sorry but MAYBE Gooden can be considered athletic...
but not tough
Odom suspended for 1 game.
I'm just stating facts:
-Tim is the best big in this serie, you add a good KT and Gooden and you balance the frontcourt of LA
-TP is much stronger than last year during a 7 serie game he will kill at least 3 or 4 games the lakers with his JS
-You're right on Manu we don't know but we are speaking about if both team 100% healthy, so if healthy, Manu will be a big difference he almost didn't play this year
- Kobe is not 20 years old anymore and he played a long very long regular season
- G Hill is a very good rookie and he is showing some great D on the 4ths he could be the factor x of that serie
- Bonner is no more a liability neither finley
- Mason is money and he is clutch
- You can expect 15 to 20 min of a rested Bruce on Kobe shoulder
I consider that today the spurs have all the ingredients to win a serie against the Lakers.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions