Size matchup vs Lakers

[rascal]

Bonner plays small so take him off the list of bigs.

[My Fault]

Funny Laker fan assumes the Spurs won't have it in the tank after a full season but Andrew and Kobe who just both underwent sugery will be fine after a full season. Not to mention Kobe's broken finger. There's question marks on both ends. Homers

[mingus]

the fact of the matter is if it was as simple as LA being that much better than SA, scared Lakers' fans wouldn't be on on the Spurs part of the forum going "in depth" about how much of an advantage LA has. LA's good, but they're not a sure thing, that's for sure. if it was you wouldn't be on here arguing about it, because it wouldn't need any arguing.

[Seventyniner]

The Lakers aren't going anywhere, mostly because Phil Jackson is still there. If you switch Pop and Phil, the Spurs probably make the Finals this coming year (and at the very least push Miami to seven).

[2Cleva]

Funny Laker fan assumes the Spurs won't have it in the tank after a full season but Andrew and Kobe who just both underwent sugery will be fine after a full season. Not to mention Kobe's broken finger. There's question marks on both ends. Homers

I pointed out that same thing. Agreed both sides have same question marks.

However Kobe and Bynum have showed they can win while needing surgery. SA hasn't shown they can win when not healthy.

[ohmwrecker]

I don't see that the Lakers have a huge size advantage over the Spurs. Gasol is great, but Bynum hasn't been 100% since . . . pretty much ever. Lamar Odom is a tough match up for the Spurs at the SF, but with the acquisition of Barnes (who will likely back up Artest) and the loss of Powell, Odom is probably going to see more minutes at PF where he will provide an advantage to the Spurs. If Bynum is not healthy and the Lakers have to rely on Ratliff and Mbenga, they are in big trouble.

[2Cleva]

I don't see that the Lakers have a huge size advantage over the Spurs. Gasol is great, but Bynum hasn't been 100% since . . . pretty much ever. Lamar Odom is a tough match up for the Spurs at the SF, but with the acquisition of Barnes (who will likely back up Artest) and the loss of Powell, Odom is probably going to see more minutes at PF where he will provide an advantage to the Spurs. If Bynum is not healthy and the Lakers have to rely on Ratliff and Mbenga, they are in big trouble.

So full of fail
- LO rarely played SF for LA the past few seasons.
- Not just height but length. Pau, Bynum, LO is as long as they come.
- Powell barely played. Caracter will take his role well.
- Mbenga isn't qith LA.

Now for Bynum. He showed he can suck it up and provide at least defense when needing surgery. He also played 65 games (same as Pau and about avg for NBA centers) so I believe he's turned the health corner but the jury is out,

[ohmwrecker]

So full of fail
- LO rarely played SF for LA the past few seasons.
- Not just height but length. Pau, Bynum, LO is as long as they come.
- Powell barely played. Caracter will take his role well.
- Mbenga isn't qith LA.

Now for Bynum. He showed he can suck it up and provide at least defense when needing surgery. He also played 65 games (same as Pau and about avg for NBA centers) so I believe he's turned the health corner but the jury is out,

I said he was a bad match up at SF, not that he spends most of his time there. My point was that he is not as big of a threat in the post. He plays that "point forward" role in the triangle which requires that he spends more time on the perimeter.
Yes. They are all tall and long . . . where did I say that they weren't?
Powell gave you guys some decent minutes. The jury is out on Caracter. I'll believe when I see it. I don't know what this "Mbenga isn't qith LA." means. Did he sign somewhere else? Is he definitely not coming back? Either way, the Lakers will probably have to get another "insurance" big.

Full of fail? You will have to do better than that.

[picc84]

I'm just amazed at how completely the LA philosophy has changed over the past few years from 2008, when they beat everyone with offense. The team has been rehauled with a full commitment to defense and its paid dividends.

Look at the Boston team, despite having 3, possibly 4 HOF's on their team, they can't score for , and haven't been able to since they were created in 2008. But they win with defense. Same for LA.

This pertains to the Spurs because the last time they had a team full of gritty defensive players instead of playing offensive gimmicks like Bonner, they got to the WCF, and only lost because Kobe went nuts. With Kurt Thomas, Bowen, no Bonner, they couldn't really score that well but they could lock down on defense. Thats how they got to the WCF.

Since then, they've replaced Thomas with Bonner's erratic 3-point shooting and replaced Bowen with RMJ and , and their team doesn't look anything like it did a few years ago. Admittedly Duncan has declined sharply, especially on the defensive end, but the Spurs aren't defense first anymore, and you can tell the difference just by watching. And the bad thing is, even with the sacrifice for offense they are still a somewhat ty offensive team.

When's the last time an offensive team went all the way? Even the 06 Heat turned into a defensive monster during the playoffs, Zo, Shaq, and Haslem were shutting down the paint.