Stein: Can The Spurs Beat L.A. In A Seven-Game Series?

[Supergirl]

I hope the columnists keep betting against the Spurs, the Spurs always play better as underdogs.

[xtremesteven33]

I hope the columnists keep betting against the Spurs, the Spurs always play better as underdogs.

[Baseline]

If I were the Lakers, I would be seriously concerned about the Spurs. They are 2nd in the West after more injuries than they have had during the entire Duncan era.

I don't know how many games the Spurs have played this year with the Big Three at full strength, but it can't be more than 10-15 games. One of the Three has been either out or recovering from an injury practically all year. The only stretch really was before the all-star break while Manu was still healthy.

So, if the Big Three are healthy (meaning 80% or more) in the playoffs, along with the addition of Gooden, the Spurs can beat LA. No question about it. they will have to play confidently and not play tight or scared, but they can certainly do it.

My opinion is that Manu will be on a serious mission when he finally gets back on the court. His passion combined with Gooden's energy will give us a serious lift. I think it might be enough to get us over the hump.

[xtremesteven33]

That is if LA makes it to the WCF's......

Dum DUm DUMMMM

[Ginobilirules]

there is a very realistic strong chance that if the spurs are at least close to being decently healthy that they will beat the lakers 4-3 in a tough battle. the lakers are the best team this yr no quest about that, they'd beat the celts this yr too 4-2 if they meet them again, but the spurs would also beat the celts or cavs 4-2 this yr. but the spurs will give the lakers plenty of problems due to gooden's ability to help give gasol, odom, or bynum plenty of trouble and help wear them down. you guys are also forgetting that the spurs are the most physical team in the league, and can wear down the lakers in a seven game series. the lakers are strictly finesse, verl little physical with only odom, bynum, and ariza being their only physical players. we have a very good chance of beating this laker team, but it would be 4-3 if we do. most of the players we have are very physical in their shutdown defense thomas, oberto, gooden, duncan, bowen, mason, udoka, ginobili, even bonner's gotten more physical in his improved d"" only fin, parker and hill might be less physical.

[mytespurs]

If I were the Lakers, I would be seriously concerned about the Spurs. They are 2nd in the West after more injuries than they have had during the entire Duncan era.

I don't know how many games the Spurs have played this year with the Big Three at full strength, but it can't be more than 10-15 games. One of the Three has been either out or recovering from an injury practically all year. The only stretch really was before the all-star break while Manu was still healthy.

So, if the Big Three are healthy (meaning 80% or more) in the playoffs, along with the addition of Gooden, the Spurs can beat LA. No question about it. they will have to play confidently and not play tight or scared, but they can certainly do it.

My opinion is that Manu will be on a serious mission when he finally gets back on the court. His passion combined with Gooden's energy will give us a serious lift. I think it might be enough to get us over the hump.

I wish! I still think the Lakers are a better overall team: younger, deeper, and motivated after last year's championship. I don't if the Spurs can hang with them even with a healthy Manu and Gooden. We'll just have to wait and see....you know, it almost seems a given to think they'll meet in the WCF.....but that's not necessarily the case......there's a chance neither team will be there....though I think the Lakers, with HC advantage, will be there moreso than the Spurs......I may sound like a Lakers fan but I'm really not.....I'm just calling it as I see it......GO SPURS!

[21_Blessings]

That is if LA makes it to the WCF's......

Dum DUm DUMMMM

Much more likely that the Lakers cruise to the WCF than the Spurs. The Spurs barely made it last year despite having basically a bye in the 1st round against the Suns.

[J_Paco]

Much more likely that the Lakers cruise to the WCF than the Spurs. The Spurs barely made it last year despite having basically a bye in the 1st round against the Suns.

Come on, L.A. swatted the headcase Nuggets and undersized, while also inconsistent, Jazz away like flys in their soup last season. L.A. had a 10X easier road to the WCF, as they probably will this year, unless the #4 or #5 seed grows a pair and challenges them.

[Don Quixote]

If I were the Lakers, I would be seriously concerned about the Spurs. They are 2nd in the West after more injuries than they have had during the entire Duncan era.

A big if!

The Lakers do not fear the Spurs one bit.

If, and I mean IF, the Spurs see L.A. in the playoffs (WCF), it will be a sweep. Maybe 4-1 Lakers.

[xtremesteven33]

Much more likely that the Lakers cruise to the WCF than the Spurs. The Spurs barely made it last year despite having basically a bye in the 1st round against the Suns.

Spurs had the toughest playoff bracket of any team last year....

Lakers had the Nuggest and Jazz

[21_Blessings]

S

Lakers had the Nuggest and Jazz

Jazz put up a better fight than Spurs.

Spurs barely came out alive against an extremely overrated Hornets team.

[Jace]

I'm a huge Spurs fan(new here as well) but I have some serious doubts as to their ability to compete with the Lakers. Tim is aging and is hurt and I doubt playing will help his knee Manu is hurt and isn't even playing at the moment Bowen is aging and can no longer do the defensive job on Kobe that he used to do They don't have an athletic C to help Tim out...

[mystargtr34]

A full strength Celtics team is still slightly better than a full strength Spurs team, because they play better Defense. Much, much better Defense.

The Cavs are a tough read, all their vitals tell you they are one of the favourites, if not the favourite for the le, IE Margin, Defense, Super Duper Star. But, they havent faired that well against the good teams. Having said that, i picked them to win the East at the start of the season and i stick by that.

Both Boston and Cleveland could definately beat the Spurs, and even the Lakers too. In fact, both Boston and Cleveland would be clear favourites against the Spurs.

IMO the Lakers are the favourite, and the best team in the League. If they dont win the le, i think you could consider that an upset.

If they dont get to the Finals, then thats a huge upset.

[SenorSpur]

I don't know why "experts," keep saying LA is the clear favorite in the west - they are not. No one knows how they fair against a healthy SA, and until they can prove they beat a healthy Spurs team I'm going to suspend judgment.

Because they have the league's best record and they are the reigning Western Conference champions. What more proof do you need? I can't stand their asses, but they won the West last year and no one can dispute that. Until some other team from the West knocks them off, it is what it is. They are the favorites.

It would have been a different series last year had the Spurs had probably their second best scorer playing healthy in situations where they were desperate for ppoints down the stretch. Game one is a perfect example of this. Spurs win game one AND get the bull no call on Barry and that series is 3-1.

If you think that Ginobili's health is the only reason the Spurs lost that series, you're clearly missing the big picture. Besides the issue with Ginobili's health, the Spurs were routinely outquicked, outhustled and outrebounded by a younger, quicker squad, whose size and length clearly bothered the Spurs. Why do you think Pop and R.C. went to great lengths to upgrade both the SG and backup PG positions this year? They've taken steps to get younger and quicker and it still may not be enough.

Why everbody is conceding that LA is basically unbeatable is beyond me when they beat the Spurs with one their best players at 50% and got a bull call which should have been foul.

I am loyal Spurs fan too, but that doesn't or shouldn't cloud the reality. There was nothing to suggest the Spurs could've won that series last year. With the infamous health issues this team currently has, along with an unsettled rotation, there is nothing to suggest that the Spurs can take down the Fakers this year either. By no means am I conceeding the race to the Fakers. They are not invincible and I think they are still soft, but very, very talented. Still they are a bad matchup for the Spurs because the Spurs simply cannot attack them defensively the way the Celtics can. That's the other point you're missing. The Spurs may have upgraded themselves offensively, but they are not the finely-tuned defensive stalwarts they've been in years past. They have declined noticeably there. A likely consequence of having a predominantly older team. You can cite Bowen's decline, Tim's bum knee and the fact that you have several players (Bonner, Finley and Mason) who are simply not good defensive players, as key factors in that decline. Pop sold his soul for more offense. However it has been to the detriment of their usual defensive excellence.

LA needs to beat the Spurs w/ a healthy Manu to prove they are better than them. As far as I can tell, they are only better than a Spurs team with a 50% Manu, which isn't all that impressive.

We've all heard Pop issue the ingredients to winning a championship. Good health, a little bit of luck and playing your best basketball at the right time. Right now, the Spurs have too many moving parts and unsolved variables to consider them a team that is clearly capable of knocking off the Fakers. There's still some time left, but time is growing short. Until the Spurs start clicking on all cylinders, it would be foolish to, once again, think they're championship-ready. And by the way, a championship-caliber team doesn't lay down against inferior opponents, as we saw Monday night in OKC.

The bottom line is always winning. If you don't win, no one is going to remember or care about who came in second place or all the footnotes as to why you didn't. Those don't matter. It's silly of us fans to sit here and denegrate the Fakers for having success against us. After all, they're down a key player too. Are they making excuses? No. They're just winning in spite of it all. I hate them. However, I cannot spit on the fact that they are the favorites for good reason.

[Spursmania]

La is playing the best ball and has the best record. Not that the best record means much (Ask Dallas) but they sure are playing well and they are healthy. I don't think they need Bynum, he's just insurance.

The Spurs have their work cut out for them. And, really if the Lakers don't win the Championship it will be a HUGE upset.

Oh and Senor Spur, ditto everything you said. I completely agree.

[mytespurs]

Because they have the league's best record and they are the reigning Western Conference champions. What more proof do you need? I can't stand their asses, but they won the West last year and no one can dispute that. Until some other team from the West knocks them off, it is what it is. They are the favorites.


If you think that Ginobili's health is the only reason the Spurs lost that series, you're clearly missing the big picture. Besides the issue with Ginobili's health, the Spurs were routinely outquicked, outhustled and outrebounded by a younger, quicker squad, whose size and length clearly bothered the Spurs. Why do you think Pop and R.C. went to great lengths to upgrade both the SG and backup PG positions this year? They've taken steps to get younger and quicker and it still may not be enough.


I am loyal Spurs fan too, but that doesn't or shouldn't cloud the reality. There was nothing to suggest the Spurs could've won that series last year. With the infamous health issues this team currently has, along with an unsettled rotation, there is nothing to suggest that the Spurs can take down the Fakers this year either. By no means am I conceeding the race to the Fakers. They are not invincible and I think they are still soft, but very, very talented. Still they are a bad matchup for the Spurs because the Spurs simply cannot attack them defensively the way the Celtics can. That's the other point you're missing. The Spurs may have upgraded themselves offensively, but they are not the finely-tuned defensive stalwarts they've been in years past. They have declined noticeably there. A likely consequence of having a predominantly older team. You can cite Bowen's decline, Tim's bum knee and the fact that you have several players (Bonner, Finley and Mason) who are simply not good defensive players, as key factors in that decline. Pop sold his soul for more offense. However it has been to the detriment of their usual defensive excellence.



We've all heard Pop issue the ingredients to winning a championship. Good health, a little bit of luck and playing your best basketball at the right time. Right now, the Spurs have too many moving parts and unsolved variables to consider them a team that is clearly capable of knocking off the Fakers. There's still some time left, but time is growing short. Until the Spurs start clicking on all cylinders, it would be foolish to, once again, think they're championship-ready. And by the way, a championship-caliber team doesn't lay down against inferior opponents, as we saw Monday night in OKC.

The bottom line is always winning. If you don't win, no one is going to remember or care about who came in second place or all the footnotes as to why you didn't. Those don't matter. It's silly of us fans to sit here and denegrate the Fakers for having success against us. After all, they're down a key player too. Are they making excuses? No. They're just winning in spite of it all. I hate them. However, I cannot spit on the fact that they are the favorites for good reason.

EXCELLENT POST SENORSPUR!! This is something Spurs AND Lakers fans should appreciate.

[SenorSpur]

I will also say this. The Spurs are THE only Western Conference opponent with the most legitimate chance to taking down the Fakers. If all conditions are right, as I've mentioned earlier. If the Spurs can't finish the job, the Celtics will have to do it again.

[mytespurs]

I will also say this. The Spurs are THE only Western Conference opponent with the most legitimate chance to taking down the Fakers. If all conditions are right, as I've mentioned earlier. If the Spurs can't finish the job, the Celtics will have to do it again.

Do you think the Celtics can do it again?

[TheManFromAcme]

EXCELLENT POST SENORSPUR!! This is something Spurs AND Lakers fans should appreciate.

SENORSPUR.

Outstanding read. My respects for your insightful comments and analysis.

You da man!

[SenorSpur]

SENORSPUR.

Outstanding read. My respects for your insightful comments and analysis.

You da man!

Appreciate it, manfromAcme (love the handle).

Just wanted add a bit of balance and objectivity.

[SenorSpur]

Do you think the Celtics can do it again?

I do.

It seems to me that the Spurs matchup better with the Celtics than they do with the Fakers. Just a thought.

[new_N_town]

we will get sonned AGAIN how embarrassin

[2Cleva]

I do.

It seems to me that the Spurs matchup better with the Celtics than they do with the Fakers. Just a thought.

I'm curious - why Bos over LA? I'm interested in reading your thoughts. My quick argument against.

1 - Assuming Bynum is back, it forces Boston to defend every position instead of punking Odom.

2 - LA should be over the mental hurdle after beating Boston twice - sending them to a funk after each game.

3 - LA can defend Rondo just like they do TP.

4 - No Posey or anyone off the bench to defend Kobe. PP would have to do it and it would wear him out. Flip side, LA has Ariza to chase Allen or PP - instead of going with Sasha.

5 - HCA.

[21_Blessings]

1 - Assuming Bynum is back, it forces Boston to defend every position instead of punking Odom.

2 - LA should be over the mental hurdle after beating Boston twice - sending them to a funk after each game.

3 - LA can defend Rondo just like they do TP.

4 - No Posey or anyone off the bench to defend Kobe. PP would have to do it and it would wear him out. Flip side, LA has Ariza to chase Allen or PP - instead of going with Sasha.

5 - HCA.

Quoted for reality.

[SpursDynasty]

The Lakers won't even make the WCF's this year...they are just coming out and shooting some hoops and are mostly a jump shooting team that depends on lucky shots to fall. Reminds me of 2007 Mavs.