Actually, it was Bynum's emergence that calmed Kobe down. LA had the top spot in the West with just those two.
Add Odom, Artest and Brown and I think the Lakers are extremely solid. Bynum's health is what would scare me as a Lakers fan. I still think Gasol is what puts them over the top however.
They're a stacked team, no doubt, which will make seeing them lose even that much more gratifying.
Bruno, I've not been one known to gamble, or for that matter to drink, smoke, fight or take up with women of ill-repute, but I'd be willing to put a wager against this "destruction" to be imposed by the Lakers.
Who am I kidding? Gambling, drinking, fighting and taking up with women of ill-repute are some of my favorite past times.
Pick your poison...I'm going to say that the Spurs would give LA all they could handle, either beating them or taking them to 7 games. If the Spurs/Lakers play in the WCF do you want to put your money (or some other compensatory item) where your mouth is my friend? Or are we merely talking here?
They were actually tied with the defending champion Spurs with the same record, the day of the Gasol trade.
Burned.
But they weren't Charlie Sheenin.
But yes, they may have been tied at the time of the deal (29-16) but they were sitting pretty at 25-11 at the top of the West when Bynum got hurt (against Memphis ironically enough).
I remember it clearly. Next night LA had to go all out to beat Seattle in OT with Kobe going off and he said post-game that Bynum made them champion contenders and wished them well. Then it went to counting on LO as the #2 and it was about to go downhill fast.
No doubt Pau joining has kept LA at the top but it was Bynum that defused the Kobe situation.
Study up. What we both said was correct.Burned.
Why is it that you magically appeared in March when the Lakers started playing well all of a sudden anyway?Study up. What we both said was correct.
I agree except we're not losing at Denver or at Atlanta. And Pop may start his guys during the Laker game during the final week to get them used to playing LA and to hopefully keep the regular season record advantage (aren't they 2-1 right now?).
I'm a wuss so I don't bet.Pick your poison...I'm going to say that the Spurs would give LA all they could handle, either beating them or taking them to 7 games. If the Spurs/Lakers play in the WCF do you want to put your money (or some other compensatory item) where your mouth is my friend? Or are we merely talking here?
Do you really think Spurs can match up with Lakers if they keep playing at the level they've had for one month?
Agreed.
These recent losses have really exposed cracks in the Spurs foundation that the sterling record has covered up.
First, the Spurs are an average defensive team, at best. They can summon up stops against certain opponents. However because they do not have great length, roster versatility and athleticism, they are very vulnerable in certain matchups against certain teams.
Second, and this is an old point, they are at an extreme deficient in the frontcourt. Something is out of whack when Duncan, at his advanced age and declining skill level, is still the best interior defender on the team. Something is wrong when the basis for the offensive philosophy is so woefully dependent on long-distance shooting. Something is wrong when Pop continues to stress the importance of getting stops and having a defensive mindset, but is preaching this message to a roster comprised primarily of players, whose do not have the requisite skillset required to defend.
People can deny it all they want, but the bottom line is the Spurs, as currently constructed, are not capable of overtaking the Fakers in a seven-game series. Barring an injury to key player or suspension, that is likely not going to change.
The Fakers have owned the matchup advantage over the Spurs, and the rest of the NBA, for about the past 2 seasons. It doesn't appear that much has changed - and unfortunately neither has the Spurs frontcourt.
At this current level? Oh heck no.I'm a wuss so I don't bet.
Do you really think Spurs can match up with Lakers if they keep playing at the level they've had for one month?
On paper, I think we killed in the paint...the Lakers bring Bynum, Gasol and Odom. We bring TD, an undersized Blair, and an aged McDyess. I think Artest is capable of wearing guys out with his defense and physical play. I think PJ can match up with Pop in the thinking man's coaching department. We have no one who can truly stop Kobe.
But there's something about the Spurs that tells me when the games count they are going to be right there. TD, Parker and Manu know time is running out and I think they won't underestimate this opportunity. I'm aware that there is no longer a Bruce Bowen to make big stops or a Robert Horry to hit the big shot, but I think this team has a lot of pieces that the prior teams didn't. Blair can play bigger than he is. McDyess has a higher playoff gear. I'm interested to see Neal in the playoffs. Hill, IMO, still has more to his game than we've seen so far. RJ can still be a force when he's motivated, he's proven that. There's no one better than playoff Manu. Tim will be more like the Tim of old in the playoffs. I think TP may have his best post season ever. When this team clicks they are nearly unstoppable.
I feel like there's more than we've seen with this bunch. I think it will take a supreme effort and the grace of God to get past LA, but for some reason I feel like it's going to happen.
Spurs 2011 playoff record: 16-6.
All you fear mongers will see the light! It's pretty silly to assume la or dallas will run the table. Grow a sac and have faith in your boys. You think they can change the team now?
Keep reading: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...s-taken-a-dip/The numbers don’t lie: Spurs’ D has taken a dip
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 5:16 pm by Tim Griffin
There’s no doubt the Spurs are coming off one of their worst defensive efforts of the season. They allowed Miami to hang 110 points on them in a convincing 110-80 loss that ranks as the team’s largest margin of victory of the season.
It continues a couple of noticeable trends. Miami hit 53.8 percent from the field, becoming the fourth consecutive team to improve the field-goal percentage from the previous game. A streak like that hasn’t happened for the Spurs’ defense all season.
+1. I said it earlier in the thread as well, that TD, Manu, and TP know this might be the last shot they ever get to win it all. With a possible lockout looming, this may be it. You know those 3, along with McDyess, are going to give everything they have in them to get that trophy this year....At this current level? Oh heck no.
On paper, I think we killed in the paint...the Lakers bring Bynum, Gasol and Odom. We bring TD, an undersized Blair, and an aged McDyess. I think Artest is capable of wearing guys out with his defense and physical play. I think PJ can match up with Pop in the thinking man's coaching department. We have no one who can truly stop Kobe.
But there's something about the Spurs that tells me when the games count they are going to be right there. TD, Parker and Manu know time is running out and I think they won't underestimate this opportunity. I'm aware that there is no longer a Bruce Bowen to make big stops or a Robert Horry to hit the big shot, but I think this team has a lot of pieces that the prior teams didn't. Blair can play bigger than he is. McDyess has a higher playoff gear. I'm interested to see Neal in the playoffs. Hill, IMO, still has more to his game than we've seen so far. RJ can still be a force when he's motivated, he's proven that. There's no one better than playoff Manu. Tim will be more like the Tim of old in the playoffs. I think TP may have his best post season ever. When this team clicks they are nearly unstoppable.
I feel like there's more than we've seen with this bunch. I think it will take a supreme effort and the grace of God to get past LA, but for some reason I feel like it's going to happen.
Spurs 2011 playoff record: 16-6.
At this current level? Oh heck no.
On paper, I think we killed in the paint...the Lakers bring Bynum, Gasol and Odom. We bring TD, an undersized Blair, and an aged McDyess. I think Artest is capable of wearing guys out with his defense and physical play. I think PJ can match up with Pop in the thinking man's coaching department. We have no one who can truly stop Kobe.
But there's something about the Spurs that tells me when the games count they are going to be right there. TD, Parker and Manu know time is running out and I think they won't underestimate this opportunity. I'm aware that there is no longer a Bruce Bowen to make big stops or a Robert Horry to hit the big shot, but I think this team has a lot of pieces that the prior teams didn't. Blair can play bigger than he is. McDyess has a higher playoff gear. I'm interested to see Neal in the playoffs. Hill, IMO, still has more to his game than we've seen so far. RJ can still be a force when he's motivated, he's proven that. There's no one better than playoff Manu. Tim will be more like the Tim of old in the playoffs. I think TP may have his best post season ever. When this team clicks they are nearly unstoppable.
I feel like there's more than we've seen with this bunch. I think it will take a supreme effort and the grace of God to get past LA, but for some reason I feel like it's going to happen.
Spurs 2011 playoff record: 16-6.
I wished I was as optimistic as you but my SPAM hype machine is a little broken.
Maybe I will be back on your side in one month when the playoffs will start. It's up to Spurs to use that extra gear (if they have it).
Love this post.At this current level? Oh heck no.
On paper, I think we killed in the paint...the Lakers bring Bynum, Gasol and Odom. We bring TD, an undersized Blair, and an aged McDyess. I think Artest is capable of wearing guys out with his defense and physical play. I think PJ can match up with Pop in the thinking man's coaching department. We have no one who can truly stop Kobe.
But there's something about the Spurs that tells me when the games count they are going to be right there. TD, Parker and Manu know time is running out and I think they won't underestimate this opportunity. I'm aware that there is no longer a Bruce Bowen to make big stops or a Robert Horry to hit the big shot, but I think this team has a lot of pieces that the prior teams didn't. Blair can play bigger than he is. McDyess has a higher playoff gear. I'm interested to see Neal in the playoffs. Hill, IMO, still has more to his game than we've seen so far. RJ can still be a force when he's motivated, he's proven that. There's no one better than playoff Manu. Tim will be more like the Tim of old in the playoffs. I think TP may have his best post season ever. When this team clicks they are nearly unstoppable.
I feel like there's more than we've seen with this bunch. I think it will take a supreme effort and the grace of God to get past LA, but for some reason I feel like it's going to happen.
Spurs 2011 playoff record: 16-6.
Actually Dallas tends to beat the good teams and lose to the bad ones. Maybe its a bad sign they are playing a bunch of cupcakes.
BTW, our record is so great because we don't lose to the cupcakes. We beat them every time. Unfortunately, all the cupcakes will be studying for the lottery during the playoffs, which means we will have to beat the teams that we have struggled against during the season (when those teams have been healthy).
Cheers Chopper and crc21209. I think you both have great takes. We didn't get our current standing by luck. It will pay off in dividends in the post season. The chance of the Lakers or the Ponies catching us is more than highly unlikely...it's not happening. We will come into the playoffs the #1 seed throughout with a highly motivated and talented team. The Spurs will give anybody in the league a major challenge, and yes you need to sack up if you feel differently. It will come to who is healthiest and hungriest. We might be beat to , but this is it... the last dance.
Chopper...your optimism is infectious...but I still hold the stance SenorSpur and many others hold. The Spurs just don't have the personnel to push past a healthy Lakers team...or possibly even Mavericks.
That said, I support this team to the end...whatever that end may be. Hopefully the end will be as you predict.
Mavs are good, but the Spurs losing to them would be an upset, even with the Spurs playing rather mediocre ball and terrible defense.
I only get fired up when the playoffs are near. Like the Lakers, I cruise in the reg season.Why is it that you magically appeared in March when the Lakers started playing well all of a sudden anyway?
You obviously see it in Tim, Manu, Tony, and McDyess's eyes that this is the year to win a le. They have been playing well lately. Like Chopper said, these guys will play hard.
However, I don't get that vibe from the rest of the group, excluding Gary Neal. The guys who aren't really playoff tested. They are more than capable of taking over games. Hill did it against the Mavericks. RJ showed it in Game 2 last year against Dallas. Bonner, while it's proven he fails in the playoffs, is having a career year. Blair is a wildcard to me. You either get 15 and 10 Blair or dumb IQ Blair. I just don't see the hunger or confidence from these guys like I do with the big 3 and McDyess. Hence, why I'm not confident about going up against LA in a series.
Uhhhh.........OK! Are you watching the games?
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