disagree...we'll probably lose
you forgot that Kobe is also only in third gear and the Machine is running in Safe Mode![]()
disagree...we'll probably lose
That whole 4.5 games is just INSURMOUNTABLE![]()
Because you went from don't focus on them....to....they must focus on them next week (focus/win). The Spurs have to focus on every game. They aren't so good that they can lose focus from one game to the next. As far as long-term focus goes, the Spurs never focus on a team. They focus on themselves, growing as a team, and building toward a championship. If the Lakers are in the way, they will deal with them on a game-by-game basis, just like any other team.
Whatever you say, Laker fan.
Every game is a must win. As tight as the West has been every game counts, and could decide the division. This is more a measure to see where we are and how much work we have to do till the playoffs.
hi laker troll
There are no must win games in January.
The only really must win game thus far was for the Lakers to beat the Celtics on X-mas day. And that was purely to help dissipate the psychological stigma that LAL couldn't beat BOS.
As Troy Aikman likes to say, good teams ARE EXPECTED to win home games versus their rivals. Therefore, I expect the Spurs to come out focused and committed, with a recollection of what happened to them in last year's playoffs. Now this game wont mean much come playoff time. However it could factor into HCA. I expect the Spurs to win it.
it's certainly not a must-win, but you would be crazy to believe that this isn't an important game..it's a statement game..the Lakers and their fans know that if there's 1 team that they shouldn't count out, it's the Spurs..we know that if there's 1 team that we have to try and measure up to, it's the Lakers..
I wouldn't say it'll be a game for confidence for either team..they just beat us in a series, we're a veteran team that doesn't get shook..but there's no doubt that our guys will want to make a statement, particularly Manu, who was injured in last year's series..
obviously we should expect Kobe to come out with his A-game, since he loves games like these..
it's not a must-win..if they beat us, it's not the end of the world..if we beat them, it doesn't mean we're going to beat them in the playoffs..it's still an important game though, just like it is any time when the 1 and 2 seeds face off, especially when it's a rematch from the WCF..
I get tired of the "it's just another game" thing or "It's 1 game out of 82", I agree that it's a "MUST WIN".
Neither team has met the other yet so there is no mental edge either way. Everybody says the Lakers are coming out of the West. Everybody says remember, this is an odd year.
So neither team is getting counted out...until they meet. The loser goes on to start tweeking their roster. The winner goes on with the bravado needed to continue dominating.
Just look at the Christmas day game Lakers vs Celtics where it was "just another game"....it's been a tale of two teams since then. Celtics have gone on to lose 6 out of 8? Lakers lost 1 game when Odom went down. The psychological effect on the team counts for alot more than 1 game. If the Lakers had lost that game, there would be ALOT of Lamar trade rumors.
Teams like the Lakers and Spurs are Championship are bust, you don't sit pat and think everything is "fine" when you lose badly to the other contender in your conference.
If the Spurs win, it might send the Lakers into trading mode. If the Spurs lose badly, it might motivate the Spurs to trade a key player for something else they might need to stack up better.
The trade deadline is only a month away, it's these "must win" regular season games that may determine if your favorite player is still on your team after February 15th.
I agree man; good post.
The Spurs won't overreact after 1 loss. You can count on that. We're not the Suns (see Marion trade).
Again, there is no such thing as a "must win" in the regular season. Nope. Never. Unless it means the difference between getting into the playoffs or not.
Also, LOL @ The_Game with yet another "must win" thread. gj.
-Mars
Ha! We should just tank the season. Rabble rabble rabble rabble.
the spurs will do to the lakers what lakers did to the celtics on dec 25th, shut them up once and for all, I can feel it![]()
I don't think it's a must win, but being that the Spurs have been playing several not so great teams lately it certainly would get peoples attention with a win........................ You know those Old, Boring, small market Spurs!
i think this is certainly a must win.
It's really not a statement game at all for either team. If the Spurs lose I doubt Pop is going to put much stock into it. If the Lakers win I doubt Phil is going to care much.
The Lakers passed their test after defeating BOS. Not saying this game isn't important, but it doesn't have anywhere near the importance that the X-mas game had.
if the spurs win how much of importance is for you? if the spurs win, will they pass the test?![]()
I think it's 'a expected to win' game because of the lakers injuries and b2b. but i think that's bs.
The Lakers beat Boston twice in the Finals at home like they did on Christmas. Boston proved they were better by whooping that ass once in Staples and a couple of hidings at the Garden.
The Lakers didnt do much at all to dispell the notiont that the Celtics were, and still are the better team.
I won't address the wild inaccuracies in your post, but the memories of Game 6 were still very much in the minds of the Lakers. They had been looking forward to the X-mas game for nearly 6 months. Trust me, it definitely meant a lot for them to win that game. It didn't mean as much for the Celtics and it shouldn't, they beat LAL last season already. They didn't need to prove anything.
That's why this upcoming game doesn't mean much for LAL. They already beat the Spurs 4-1 last season. Win or lose, they know they can beat the Spurs when it counts. That won't be shattered after a b2b road loss with 3 rotation players out.
Boston knows they can beat LA when it counts, so who cares about the Christmas game?
The ass whooping Boston gave to LA was bigger than the ass kicking the Lakers gave to the Spurs, desipte it being 4-2 as opposed to 4-1. The Lakers were clearly better than the Spurs in the Conference Finals but in three of the Lakers four wins - each came down to the final 3-4 minutes. The difference between the teams was down the stretch. Lakers were far more clutch and executed better down the stretch - in fact the Spurs were pretty poor late in games. You know why that is dont you? That shouldnt be as big of a problem with a certain healthy guy.
Ans luckily for the Spurs it looks like the great Sasha Vujacic has lost a step from his Pippenesque defensive performance in the Conference Finals last year.
Meanwhile that hiding the Celtics delivered was one of epic and historical proportions. You dont live that down easily.
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