I don't really disagree with any of those one on one matchups, Parker has always given the Lakers problems in individual matchups since the day he stepped on the court, but they can shut him down by doubling him when he penetrates. I believe George Hill can be a big x factor against LA, especially when it comes to defending Kobe and also because he seems to be a reliable 3 shooter. I think Richard Jefferson can hold his own or perhaps even outplay Artest. I think Manu can match Kobe in many ways for part of a series if not all of it, and perhaps all of it.
I fully give the edge in perimeter play and talent on offense and defense to the Spurs, but that isn't how they beat us, and it never has been even when they were better on the perimeter.
They can shut us down in the paint, and this includes guard penetration, better than we can shut them down. And while I don't doubt Duncan is going to have something to prove should we meet them in the playoffs, he's always had problems with long defenders, and he is still suceptible to doubles. We just do not have the bodies to shut down the paint against their 3 main bigs. And what exacerbates the problem is that their outside shooters hit their open shots against us, and our miss shots against them. Matt Bonner just does not hit his open shots against LA. It's just the way it is. Roger Mason hit them last year, not so much this year. This is a problem a lot of shooters have against LA, it is psychological and Phil is excellent at knowing which ones will miss those shots.
So the Lakers can easily control the battle in the paint as they always do when they are better than we are. I don't even know that if we had shooters we could win the battle in the paint, because they have more size and more skill on their frontcourt and their shooters don't miss open threes against us.
And the other major problem is that the Lakers have a better rebounder at pretty much every position on the court except whoever is matching up with Duncan.
Anything can heppen of course but I just see a fundamental mismatch between the two teams. We mainly need more size. Our shooters not choking would help, but even if they don't I'm not sure we can overcome the size and skill mismatch between their frontcourt and ours.
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