I vote for a ban on bleacherreport articles, who's with me?
thats what the lakers did, when they won their first one with pau, and yes pau was a huge upgrade but like i said you guys a underrating tiago theres a reason why pop has been trying to get splitter over for 3years straight!! and why he was so persistent about him even after splitter changed his mind, pop was extremely agreessive w/his pursuit san tiago
edit : lakers reached finals with pau and were killed by the celtics in 6 so its amazing what one 6 11 guy can do for your team.
Dude, Gasol was already a proven NBA player who had put up something like 18/8 year in and year out and had led the Grizzlies to the playoffs multiple times before he was traded to the Lakers.
I think Splitter will be fine, but you are setting the bar very high if you think he will be on Gasol's level right away.
I don't think it's that far fetched. I wouldn't claim it will happen at this point, because we haven't seen Splitter, Anderson and to a lesser extent, Neal play in the NBA yet. Also, we don't know if the Spurs are done this off season. I still think they could bring in Hayes or someone of that ilk. Injuries, potential declines, or further declines, etc., will all play a role in this.
But as I look at the Spurs, I see numerous pieces and various qualities and characteristics needed to beat the Lakers in a series. Ultimately though, even if this team were to play to a level befitting of their collective talent, they still more than likely need a wing who can play above average defense against Bryant in order to beat the Lakers.
The Thunder are the flavor of the month and the Mavs are annually overrated, so I'm sure those two will be the consensus "best chance at beating the Lakers in the West" teams, but I'd go: Spurs, Trail Blazers, Rockets.
Before he became a Laker he was deemed a pussy leader for the Grizz because he couldn't get them 1 playoff win. When he became a Laker and played against Boston in 08, he was again deemed a pussy player because he didn't have the physicality needed to beat a completely healthy Celtic team. As it stands, the Lakers have yet to beat a completely healthy Celtic team but you gotta give them their due in surviving and ultimately winning. But again...they aren't as dominant as many of you seem to think they are. This isn't a period of time where everyone KNOWS they're playing for 2nd place like it was during the Jordan years. It's more a period of time where the Lakers are the #1 team but the gap between teams aren't chasm like, they're more stepping stone like.
Alot depends on matchups and homecourt the finals are tough on teams that can't close out and go to seven games to decide who goes on. But the season is long and alot of things can happen where you might not see two of the best teams in the playoffs due to injuries.
As far as the West is concerned, its a wrap. LA has dominated the conf for 3 years and that's not changing. Only one team has pushed them to the limit and even that team got blown out 3 times in the series.
LA has had less success in the Finals because of lack of familiarity with the opponent but LA has the rest of the Western Conferences number and everyone knows it. Only edge teams get on LA is when LA is unfamiliar with them. Once they figure it out, the coaching staff and players dominate.
There is a reason Pop rarely gets by Phil in the playoffs. Hanging your hat on reg season victories is hilarious.
If SA was a great defensive team I'd say they'd have a chance. But who plays D there? Hill some, Duncan can the few times his body is right. But thats it.
I've yet to see a European player come in and bring a defensive mindset.
No team is going to beat LA with an offensive method of basketball and you can't out-execute them either. Best way to beat LA is to beat them up but LA has constantly loaded up with as many 2-way bullies as possible.
Boston has the fight. Miami has the unfamiliar edge. No one else stands a chance. Houston of 2 years ago benefited from having both (switching up styles mid-series after Yao went down). But no one in the West now has the necessary talent, coaching, size, and championship swagger.
Last edited by 2Cleva; 08-08-2010 at 04:38 PM.
Do you want a neutral point of view?
Yes, the article makes sense if all the IFS happen. I believe the single most important factor is championship experience and as constructed now, only 3 teams have that; Spurs, Lakers, and Celtics.
Duncan is running out of time to win again and certainly deserves to win one before Shaq. I say that mainly because TD stayed with his team throughout his career. Plus, Tim still leads his team, Shaq has been second fiddle or lower for some time now.
Ringing time is running out for a lot of players. Some will get one, many won't. Those that have a well-rounded team have that chance and the only teams without championship experience seem to be the Mavs, Thunder, Magic, Bulls, and Blazers. The Heat are unproven since they have played 0 games together. Most of that talk is nonsense.
Last year, Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs all flipped a late switch. None were expected to last long in the post season. Spurs just turned theirs on a little too early. Remember when they beat the Celtics and Lakers on the road, and Cavs and Magic at home? Impressive games. SA would have had a great chance to beat the Celtics had they made it to the finals. You would have to believe that again this year should the Spurs and Celtics meet up.
A WCF featuring these two teams at full strength would be epic.
im not at all holding our season victories as playoff victories im just saying that you guys act like the spurs cant beat you guys end of story when in fact it seems like phil makes it a point to avoid the spurs and even kobe has said he would rather play anyone else because we have good battles.
i thought our team had what it took but clearly i was wrong they proved to be coward role players (bogans/mason/bonner) mason and bogans couldnt hit a shot to save their life and played with no passion neither did tony parker.
i think parker will be forced to play with passion because of his contract year and i believe he will play hard for pop one last time, manu and tim needed help bad and you could tell they were frustrated with their tty ass role players. blair was getting less than 10 min in playoffs that will change manu has a year of no summer play and health kobe JUST HAD KNEE SURGERY SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HE CN BOUNCE BACK HES YOU GUYS ONLY LIFE SOURCE!. tiago splitter will help the spurs tremendously and yes i know hes not gasol but with duncan (even at his age) you dont need to be gasol to have a major impact the main reason i believe we will beat the lake show is because WE ACQUIRED A GOOD 7FTER/ A MAJOR SCORING THREAT IN ANDERSON AND HAVE MORE PLAYERS THAT PLAY WITH PASSION WHAT WE HAVENT HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME
LA respects the Spurs, as do I. But they aren't beating the Lakers.
Passion isn't beating the Lakers and neither have great PGs, especially who aren't great assist guys. Last time Kobe had knee surgery LA went to the Finals as well and that was a disfunctional team with Shaq, GP, & Malone.i think parker will be forced to play with passion because of his contract year and i believe he will play hard for pop one last time, manu and tim needed help bad and you could tell they were frustrated with their tty ass role players. blair was getting less than 10 min in playoffs that will change manu has a year of no summer play and health kobe JUST HAD KNEE SURGERY SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HE CN BOUNCE BACK HES YOU GUYS ONLY LIFE SOURCE!. tiago splitter will help the spurs tremendously and yes i know hes not gasol but with duncan (even at his age) you dont need to be gasol to have a major impact the main reason i believe we will beat the lake show is because WE ACQUIRED A GOOD 7FTER/ A MAJOR SCORING THREAT IN ANDERSON AND HAVE MORE PLAYERS THAT PLAY WITH PASSION WHAT WE HAVENT HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME
Just pointing out the following.
Does this include Pau Gasol?I've yet to see a European player come in and bring a defensive mindset.
Yup - 100%.
He's tried to toughen up the last 2 years and he uses his length to block shots but he's hardly a great defender.
LA having Bynum gives him the freedom to avoid playing physical players on both ends. His length fits perfectly with LA's team and system but he hardly brings a defensive impact individually in presence or at ude. All about the unit where he is concerned.
Top 3 big man in the game? No question. But does he bring a defensive mindset? Nope.
One is wont to say that because he plays for LA that he is all everything as the 4-letter directs the mindless to do so.
So you're saying Bynum is the All-world defender? Is that the reason that LAL fans claim that he's an injury waiting to happen and should be traded before he gets hurt again?
Again...2x defending champs, that's the result...but do you call them dominant?
Hardly, Perkins being injured meant that Boston would have to give 110 percent to win and they couldn't.
Agreed with the OP, Lakers won't be getting out of the West. Too many if's for them and they're due for some injuries and 6-24's already been declining.
Hey Pot...meet Kettle.
Considering that the 4-letter already wants either LA or Mia to win, I mean ...even spurs.com has a banner for MIA Heat Tickets... the establishment.
Phil & Kobe ain't getting that 3peat.
CHAGO(I know it's spelled Tiago but that's how my Brazilian friends say it)....get used to hearing it, he's the next X!
We have to wait and see what our new players can do against LA. We're bringing in the top player from Europe, and we have James Anderson who is a scorer. Even though Manu and TD have gotten older, we have TP at full strength and with the emergence of Hill, the familiarity with the system in RJ and Blair, i can say that we have a fight here.
Spurs are getting bounced by the Hornets, then the Hornets are bouncing the Lakers in 6 . Hornets lose to Heat in 7 in triple OT. According to Bleacher report
This prediction has been confirmed by BRHORNET45
lmfao!!!!!!!!!!!
LA doesn't have the west wrapped up, not even close. and the more LA fans come on this board searching for LA-related topics and spend their time trying to argue against the possibility (desperately) that the Spurs can beat them, the more we know SA is in your minds and you fear them.
mingus - I've been around a long time, regardless of how LA has played.
MIB - ESPN. I don't even watch SC. But if they are saying LA and Miami it's likely because they are the 2 most talented teams, with LA/Phil showing they'll be there time and time again. Anyone can see that.
Re: Bynum - fans are stupid and impatient. They saw how the offense sometimes would move with LO/Pau (although not last year) but ignore the defensive problems it has. Bynum there has a trickle down effect. Eases things on Pau, dual shotblockers, his easy baskets bail out the offense, especially with a lot of good passers but no great ones - especially at the PG position. Also, they complain about the injuries but if he can finish - the season, its all that matters. Finished the past 2 and LA blinged it up. 65+ games is about normal for true big men anyway (Howard the exception).
3 times winning the conference. In the context of this convo and who wins the West - they are dominant. Last 2 years, it wasn't even close for that crown. A Eastern Conference foe who LA hasn't seen as much throws them wildcards. Perkins hurt knocks Boston, Bynum playing hurt all series knocks LA. But that series was almost over in Game 4 except Baby Davis/Nate Robinson played the best 4th quarter of their lives because Boston was on the ropes.
How can he be a top 3 big man in game if he doesn't think of individual defense? He's relying on his team mate for defense. Can that be considered as a top big player? I don't think so.
If you really want to mess up the ranking then I'd put Bogut on top of Gasol. By this I would consider him as a top 5 or maybe lower overall (depends on how injury plays with other bigs) then top 3 big offensively.
I say Lakers have a good shot to 3-peat but nothing is promised ...
As for the spurs i have nothing but respect for Pop, manu and ESPECIALLY duncan.
But Phil has 2 3 peats ...Kobe and Dfish have been part of one ...when the Spurs were giving us our toghest tests they were such a great defensive team ...
What i saw againstthe suns was team trying to outscore the suns ...
If i was a betting man i would bet on the Lakers in the west ...
But glad to see that hope srings eternal ...i thought last year was a down year for this site ...ESPECIALLY the whole it's only November, December and january crew vs. the "sky is falling camp" of spurs fans.
I think the spurs will be a formidable and i was shocked that they could get swept by ANYONE (i know the Lakers did it ONCE) especially the suns.
Killakobe81 - Phil has 3 3-peats, not 2.
SpurSpurSpurs - The same way SA often protected Duncan by putting an older DRob, to Rasho, to even Dyess on tougher matchups. I recall once SA was playing Dallas and Duncan was on a swingman who couldn't shoot (can't remember the name) - that way he could roam and protect the basket.
Dwight Howard is the best defensive player in the game but even Orlando always sends double-teams to help him in the post.
Pau's D fits LA's system but he's not a defensive presence, neither is any other European player. Just not their kind of ball.
I respect SA's core and coaching - they just don't have enough round them to beat the Lakers.
Meant defensive big. But considering interior defense is paramount - it works. Everything else rings true.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
