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Artest is slow as and was carried last year by Battier. The only exception was Lebron, Artest did a decent job on him.
Watch some games. Blair was even top 10 in most of the mock drafts. No one wants him because of his knees, but it is not affecting him. Best rebounding rates this decade in NCAA and rebounding translates the most in the NBA, more efficient than Blake Griffin and people think he is a 2nd round scrub. Carlos Boozer was also a 2nd round scrub once too.
Artest is slow as and was carried last year by Battier. The only exception was Lebron, Artest did a decent job on him.
The loss of Ariza hurts the Lakers chances of containing Parker...
Seriously, Manu has never destroyed anybody? How about Manu 27 Atlanta 24. Have you seen him in a game against the Suns. How about the Lakers? There is a reason Kobe says his favorite player to watch is Manu.
We contained him fine in 2008 with Ariza on the bench in street clothes.
Manu Ginobili will basically murder Artest, or anyone who attempts to guard him. he is one of the most offensively potent, unguardable wings in the league. he and he alone will determine whether he plays great. same with Parker, same with Duncan. the series will come down to whether or not all these guys can stay healthy and play up to or close to their highest potential.
Artest was a beast against SA in the Sacto series in '06. I think he's still a great defender and a great player, and a tough matchup for the Spurs.
It will be interesting to see how he gels in the Lakers' system. If I'm the Lakers, or their opponents, I think you're not as concerned about his skills as much as you're concerned about his mentality. Pop needs to figure out how the Spurs can get into Artest's head in a seven game series as much as determining how to physically match up with him.
All that being said, it seems to me that Manu has played better against Artest the more he's faced him since that Sacto series. Manu is such a smart player at figuring out how to beat a guy that I think he's going to do fine against Artest and the Lakers this year. A healthy Manu will fare much better in that matchup with Artest should they be pitted against each other this year.
Phil does come up with good game plans to contain Parker. He's probably the most successful coach in the league at doing that. Hopefully our new weapons will help free TP up more this year.
and in 04 with No Ariza.
Then you WOKE UP!
Blair is a PF not a SF, nor has he shown to be great defender.
Lakers have absolutely nobody on the roster to guard Parker. See how that works?
Difference is Parker can be contained purely because he is good but not a great player..as mentioned Phil has came up with good gameplans to contain parker over the years.
Kobe is a GREAT player who can't be stopped by anybody on the Spurs.
big difference.
That was before his jumper was money... before his work with Chip... that scheme wouldn't work now... Not that I'd expect you to understand, considering you would even mention 2004 as being relevant to the argument...
Because Ginobili couldn't cut to the basket, or wreak havoc inside... other than Game 3, Ginobili was relegated to being pretty much a three point shooter... for the Lakers that's a much easier defensive game plan to execute than having to worry about two slashers... by the way Parker averaged 19.4 ppg and 5.6 apg against the Lakers in that series shooting 47.7% from the field... (other than the fg%, Parker pretty much got his season averages against the Lakers). That's hardly "contained him fine"....
Two days ago, when they re-aired the Lakers vs. Spurs game where Mason hit the game winning bucket and 1... it was Ginobili who killed the Lakers... Parker was noticeably frustrated by Ariza's length in the 4th Q... and you all don't have anyone else like Ariza anymore; that's all I was saying...
Last edited by Phenomanul; 09-29-2009 at 12:49 PM.
Put the crack pipe down for just a minute......
Artest is a good defender and he might be able to contain R Jeff or Mason, but step off of these if you're thinking he's got any chance against Manu iso on the perimeter.
I agree on both. Phil gameplans for Parker excellently, and the new Spurs could possibly free him up. We'll see. Should be fun.
He played decently, but he didnt go off and was kept around his season average. Thats what I mean by contain. I dont recall him playing all that well and I distinctly remember several of your fellow spurs fans criticizing his performance.
This isnt to say I think he sucks or that we can shut him down. Just that we can stop him from exploding, regardless of personnel.
I hear you. I'd love to have Ariza back. But our ability to contain Parker is not contingent upon him, he only enhances it. As long as Phil is around I trust him to make our defense effective against Tony, as he always has.Two days ago, when they re-aired the Lakers vs. Spurs game where Mason hit the game winning bucket and 1... it was Ginobili who killed the Lakers... Parker was noticeably frustrated by Ariza's length in the 4th Q... and you all don't have anyone else like Ariza anymore; that's all I was saying...
Like it or not... the Spurs are the only Western Conference team that is championship testested enough, or capable enough, to give the Lakers trouble... you wouldn't be here, on a Spurs forum, if you didn't think that was the case...
disagree. The best Laker teams those guys faced had shaq, Rob, and a younger derek Fisher. Pau+Bynum < Shaq in his prime. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a bit delusional.
I think this Laker team is great, with lots of matchup problems, but not as great as the three peat lakers.
this laker team has no where near the depth of some of the better ones that they have had in the past.
I don't know why I read this thread, I knew pretty much how it would go.
Laker Fan would be in here saying Artest would eat Manu's lunch, Spurs Fan would be playing the crazy card or Artest has lost a step.
That's why they lace 'em up and play 'em, we'll see........
Also, I am suprised no one has glossed Bynum "Ian" Bynum seeing his injury history.
haha yeah. exactly what i was thinking. clearly we are on the laker fan's minds if they've been hanging out around here all summer. no question about it.
Artest is still a good defender, but Laker fans thinking he is the same as a few years ago will be sorely mistaken. He has lost quite a bit of his lateral quickness.
Out of curiousity, which teams are you thinking about, and why?
Of course laker fans are concerned about the spurs. I'm concerned about a number of teams. I'm here because unlike the celtics or cavs, I actually like SA. I'd hang out at a magic forum too, their team is cool.
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