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I concur. Should the Spurs play Memphis again in the playoffs, this what they'll try to do. They've already shown that they're willing to play a physical brand of basketball.
I'd like to see more discussion about how to beat them. I believe you have to rattle them, an all-out war.
Get very physical, to the point of perhaps getting one of your scrub players disqualified for a game or two.
Make Kobe pay a price for driving the ball. Make sure Gasol tastes elbows every now and then, make sure Odom feels the deck. Bynum's gotta wonder where the next hit is coming from - no dunks.
All of this has to happen in a game one win. You gotta break the pattern, make them think twice, make them expend the energy, face adversity.
I concur. Should the Spurs play Memphis again in the playoffs, this what they'll try to do. They've already shown that they're willing to play a physical brand of basketball.
For sure. Getting physical with the Spurs is a good strategy, especially against Manu...and Tony...and RJ...and Bonner, and...
In b4 "warrior" referenceAnd hasn't Kome been 'hobbled' with some 'injury' he has to talk about for the past 3+ seasons?
This.
Anyone who thinks PJ won't have them ready hasn't been watching the NBA very long.
Eh, there are certain matchups this year that can give the Lakers some trouble in the playoffs: Specifically Portland, Denver, and OKC. With that said, Lakers have been using the "ON/OFF" switch for the past 4 seasons....and I have no idea how it continues to work, but it has been. They are clearly in the "OFF" mode right now...but I have no doubts that they'll be able to turn it "ON" in the playoffs. By no means are they completely unbeatable, however, you have to have length, quickness at the PG position, and one player who has an outstanding series to counter whatever Kobe will do to have a chance at beating them. Spurs actually have potentially 2 out of 3, which isn't bad odds.
This Lakers team suffers mightily against quick and athletic back courts that like to come out running quickly on the fast break. The Laker starting back court is starting to show it's age. You couple that with good shooting from outside (like Portland did last night or the Spurs on the first game they played), and they look very beatable. I think if you go the slow and physical inside route, you're playing to their strengths.
I like the strategy above about sticking in a scrub to assault Kobe and all combatants spend 2 games in Stern's doghouse.
Ya asshole, you.
You can't be serious? Is this the excuse we give the Lakers everytime they hit a lull? No, not me it is looking more like they peaked too early. I watched the last three Laker losses and trust me they aren't coasting. I would say they wanted to win every game judging by the chippiness they played with. They just couldn't get the job done, but it is not because they mentally checked out.
Why would they coast? They still haven't locked up the number two seed and now, Dallas and Oklahoma City are breathing down their necks for it.
This.
The Lakers aren't coasting, they're losing. Just like the Mavs' recent 4-game skid, and the Spurs' 6-gamer before it. See also the Celtics' struggles and Miami's home loss to Milwaukee.
The Lakers have a lot to play for, considering they're neck-and-neck with Boston and Miami for HCA in those potential Finals matchups. They could also completely choke away the 2 seed, but since they have a 1-game lead and the tiebreaker over Dallas, it's not nearly as big a danger.
Nice avatar.
How soon we forget. The Lakers just got through sending a message to the rest of the NBA and themselves. They can turn it on when they want to and for long stretches.
Counting them out and saying they are in trouble is nonsense. When healthy and focused they are easily the favorites to win it all. I didn't want to believe it and got suckered in to thinking that their play had fallen off. Until...they steamrolled everyone, including the Spurs.
Nah, if we're going to win the finals, we'll have to figure those guys out and it will be an upset. Hands down. Bynum is tough to overcome when he gives effort.
No question they're the favorites until taken down. They're just not as dominant as last season, and their weakness is more glaring. All teams have a weakness here or there.
They certainly have a coach that knows how to force other teams to play to the Lakers strength.
They'll miss Phil the most when he's gone.
He is serious and he's 100% accurate. They go what, 16 and 1 trying to capture the 1 seed and when they realize it's out out reach, they throttled back.
I said before that the 6 game losing streak for SA was a good thing in that it keep the Lakers playing intense basketball instead of allowing them to cruise. They expended a ton of energy and about 25000 Angstroms of cartilage of Bynum's knee trying to catch SA. Now they are in autopilot.
Just saying it means nothing. The 1st round will be pretty telling. Obviously I would rather you be right, but I am afraid you aren't.
HCA is a carrot on a stick being carried by a runner as fast as the Lakers. The Lakers have to hope other teams lose in order to gain that ground.
They aren't intentionally losing, they just don't have the will to win games that don't really matter that much.
You really should just become a Nuggets or Mavericks fan with that lame . The Spurs don't need to become thugs to win, they have to share the ball and hit their shots. They also have to use their overwhelming backcourt advantage and play defense. We saw in the Mavericks game that they're capable of playing it.
You really should just become a Nuggets or Mavericks fan with that lame . The Spurs don't need to become thugs to win, they have to share the ball and hit their shots. They also have to use their overwhelming backcourt advantage as well as playing defense. We saw in the Mavericks game that they're capable of playing it.
Most importantly, they need to run when they have the opportunity and negate the Lakers' size by beating them down the court. When those big guys are focused on getting back on defense, they can't dominate the offensive glass.
Kobe just has something up his butt just like he did before the All-Star break
Lakers are just coasting. They have nothing to play for as they hold the tiebreak against DAL - just have to hold on to #2 and they have HCA against BOS.
Don't think playing physical against LA is the way to go. Their players are a lot bigger and stronger than the Spurs. Who's going to play physical - Bonner, Manu, TP, Neal?
The only way for SA to beat them is to use their quickness before they set up their half-court defense. TP is the key. TP, Manu and Hill have to push, push, push and drive at every opportunity. Spurs' defense will have their work cut out for them. LA's front line is so big, long, athletic, and efficient. I wish Splitter were integrated - he'd really help the defense and just let the Spurs' backcourt at it.
"Kobe just has something up his butt just like he did before the All-Star break"
It's father time's 14-incher.
- "The problem with time I've learned......eventually time always runs out."
Not Kobe. Artest. We all know how calm-headed he is.I like the strategy above about sticking in a scrub to assault Kobe and all combatants spend 2 games in Stern's doghouse.
Ya asshole, you.
He should have been expelled from the league forever for this. He's the most dangerous player in the league, just not on the floor.
Yer mad because Artest rang.
Tougeth lucketh.
Artest wanted NO part of Ben Wallace...I don't think I have seen Artest move backwards this fast since that day...most bullies are the same.
You can't really take much out of wins or losses now. Teams are gearing up for the playoffs with players getting less minutes and just playing out the remaining games.
To beat LA you do what every team should do. Play to your strenght and exploit their weakness. The Lakers bench is weaker than anyone suspected. Our bench is deeper than most will admit. Offensively you keep guys moving, making the Lakers expend the energy to defend and hopefully wear Kobe down so his jump shot in the 4th is just that much more off. You also give our bench court time so Tony and Manu are rested & can do their thing in the 4th.
Will this happen? Probably not! LOL!
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