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LA won last playoffs. Spurs have a lot to prove still, but this game shows we're much closer to the Lakers than many would like to admit. Our role players are stepping up in a big way on offense. We have the ability to play well enough to beat them.
If I'm a Laker I wouldn't be concerned with the Spurs unless we drop the next game in which these two teams meet in LA
LA won last playoffs. Spurs have a lot to prove still, but this game shows we're much closer to the Lakers than many would like to admit. Our role players are stepping up in a big way on offense. We have the ability to play well enough to beat them.
There are some reasons why the Lakers should be scared of the Spurs:
- their own high pick'n'roll defence.
- the Spurs have plenty of good shooters to put on the naked wing and know how to execute the ball reversal properly.
- the Spurs will have a good chance of winning the rebounding battle.
- the Spurs have 3 guys to throw at Kobe.
- the Spurs have a jump-shooting big who can be good enough on the defensive end to slow down one of the Lakers bigs in limited minutes - creating serious problems to the Lakers defence when he's on the floor.
- the Spurs have 3 players who can score +20ppg.
Lack of clutch players is not one of the reasons. Clutchness is mostly a myth. Teams generally win 50% of games decided by 5 points or less, no matter how good or how bad they are. It's just a perception. The Lakers have plenty of role-players who won't lay an egg on crunch time.
This article is premature. If they go to Staples & win...then they could possibly be scared.
Cause We're Gonna Be There In The End. That's Why Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Wishing the Lakers good luck in the next round.
Haha! U Ese!!!!!!
Puro San Anto 210!
Kobe isn't interested in playing defense in spite of what you have heard. He couldn't stop Manu if he wanted to. I have to admit though, it is also difficult for Manu to guard Kobe one-on-one, but that is to be expected. I think you guard Kobe by committee. I am more concerned with how Ariza shut down TP's penetration. That is what really hurt us more than anything. TP better start learning to hit that mid-range shot better because he can't always rely on penetrating and kicking out. TP looked obviously flustered with Ariza guarding him. I think George Hill did a decent job with his minutes out there. The Spurs may need to play more "small ball" to match up against the Lakers.
Manu Ginobili is a role model for Lakers reserves
LA Times Lakers Blog
Though the Lakers were missing two key reserves, their bench still played well against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
It's just that San Antonio's bench was more productive. Well, to be fair, Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili was great.
Ginobili had 27 points. He was nine for 15 from the field, four for eight from three-point range. He also had three steals.
The Lakers' bench of Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Josh Powell combined for 25 points on 11-for-20 shooting. They also had 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
But what one can't forget is that Ginobili has won the NBA's sixth man of the year award, so he's used to coming off the bench.
-- Broderick Turner
LAKERS: A great deal of work remains
By Elliott Teaford
LOS ANGELES - There was no formal practice Thursday, but that didn't mean the Lakers rested after their two-game trip to Texas. There remains a great deal of work to be done before they can breathe a sigh of relief, or as close to one as they can manage at this point.
First, there's the Orlando Magic, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clippers, Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs.
Rest is a relative term as far as the Lakers are concerned.
"You have to be ready because there is no break," 7-footer Pau Gasol said after the Lakers' 112-111 loss Wednesday to the Spurs in San Antonio, which came 24 hours after a 105-100 victory over the Rockets in Houston.
"We have Orlando, Cleveland and San Antonio (coming up), so it's a good homestand but challenging at the same time. We have to take advantage of home court and play well against some of the top teams in the league."
The Spurs showed the Lakers they are as formidable as ever, with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker leading the way.
"It was typical Spurs-Lakers stuff," Kobe Bryant said after leading the Lakers with 29 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds Wednesday.
"That's how it is. I hope they got it out of their system and there are no more bullets left."
OUT OF POSITION
Trevor Ariza generally is regarded as a small forward. But with injuries to guards Jordan Farmar (knee surgery) and Sasha Vujacic (back spasms) and forward Luke Walton (foot), Ariza's role has been expanded. Coach Phil Jackson has asked him to guard opposing point guards, for instance.
"We've got a lot of versatile players, Kobe and Lamar (Odom)," Ariza said. "You can put me in there, if you want to. I just play basketball. I just try to do what I can do."
Ariza, asked about his strategy for chasing pint-sized guards, smiled.
"I try not to give them a lot space, try not to let them beat me because a lot of them are quicker than I am," he said. "I just try to use my length. I like guarding people who are good. It's a challenge. I'll be ready."
Ariza frustrated Parker somewhat, but then again I saw him brick a couple wide open jump shots down the stretch. I doubt another fourth quarter meltdown occurs again next week.
Parker still had a good game. We could have done without the passes to Tim's feet.
I almost feel bad that Spurs fans around the world are getting their hopes up that they are a better team than the Lakers.
You'll come back down to earth next Sunday when you see what a healthy, well rested, Laker team can do to you.
Whats all this scoring in the paint Laker fans keep harping on? Gasol is a jump shooter, not a post player, he gets his points outside the paint and on break out dunks and free throws. Bynum played well overall but he relies on others to get him easy looks, hes not a post up scorer yet and I dont see him ever being a dominate bigman.
Both teams shot lights out and in a jump shooting contest I like our chances, we have great shooters. I would be more concered with front court scoring if the Lakers were getting alot of layups.
I dont think we are getting hopes up, but the lakers to me looked like a better team last year. I think Bynum if a poor fit. Trading him for another guy who can run the floor and another wing player would really put the lakers over the top.
My question was could the Spurs score enough points to beat the Lakers cause our D is not as good as last year. I think that question was answered. If Ian plays this year which I think he will and gives us the athletic shot blocker and rebounder we need, someone who can matchup with Lamar or Gasol I think we are neck and neck with you guys.
The Spurs will never beat the Lakers in a jumpshooting contest.
The only way they can finally beat them in the playoffs is if they slow the pace down and keep the scores in the high 80's to low 90's. That's the only way they will win. If they forgo their defense and try and outshoot LAL they will lose.
As said many times before, we should wait till the Spurs win one in LA before making any outlandish statements.
I also think Ariza is a bigger difference than Bynum is when compared to last year's LA roster.
The Lakers are already a better team this season than last year. They are better in every single statistical category there is so I don't know why you would say that. They still have another half a season to gel together, they will be better in the playoffs. They have the best record in the NBA and a whopping 5 game lead over the next team in the WC.
Hey remember, last night we were up 11 then tried to slow it down and you guys took the lead late. Bonner and Mase are better shooters than anyone you guys have. Manu is very good as well and Fin can get white hot.
I'm just saying the Spurs are probably not going to be successful changing who they are just to beat a very good team in the Lakers. You win playing to your strengths, not going away from them.
I agree the Spurs got better offensively this season, but they've never been known as a team that wins with their offense. They've always won with their championship defense. I just have a hard time seeing the Spurs win another LOB without going back to the recipe that made them successful in this decade.
There is a model to beating the Lakers going back to '04. It doesn't involve high scoring games with no defense.
Im not looking at it from a statistic point of view, cause Gasol didnt start with the Lakers. What Im saying is that with Gasol at the 5 you guys can outrun anyone. Bynum, looks lost on offense, seems to take looks away from Gasol.
Trading Bynum for someone like K Martin who thrives in a run game and is a very good defender, and lets say the nugs throw in a first rounder and L Kleiza to me makes you guys more dangerous. I dont see Bynum being a Laker for the duration of his contract and you guys could make a move and lock up a couple les if your willing to part with him.
I agree but the problem for us is right now we are not a great defensive team, and unless we find another shot blocker...with Bonner and Fin starting we just are not gonna be a top 3 defensive team so we are gonna have to outscore teams.
Currently the Spurs are a top 5 defensive team in the WC. I predict that Bowen and Thomas will be worked into the rotation and play more minutes than they've been getting. The Spurs will be the best or the 2nd best (depending on the medical situation in Houston) defensive team in the WC by the end of the season.
They have no chance of being a better defensive team than the Eastern powerhouses. But they can win the EC due to their superior defense, rebounding and grind-out offense.
Yeah we will get to see the return of 2 out of 3 all-nba first team scrubs in Vuja ,Walton, Farmar. Dr House you are straight up dumbass but thats nothing new unfortunately your not as bright as your tv character.
The Lakers SHOULDN'T be scared of the Spurs. You can't go into a playoff series (assuming these teams survive the crazy Western Conference) thinking the other team is scary or better than you.
The Lakers SHOULD respect the fact that there are now players in the Spurs lineup to erase their primary weakness last year -- vast offensive droughts. I don't see that happening with Mason and Hill on the court, not to mention a healthy Manu. This is a team that not too long ago ran Phoenix (Phoenix! THE prototype for an offensive juggernaut!) out of the building in the playoffs (twice!) by dominating on offense.
There are players on BOTH teams that are difficult to guard. The Lakers don't have a prayer of stopping Parker. If Manu's hot, he's undefendable. Duncan in the playoffs... well... we know what kind of force he is. Throw in Mason and Hill, and a team that turns the ball over... well... never, and you realize that this is a championship caliber team.
And likewise, Bowen can only limit Kobe, at best. Gasol is killer if his jumper is dropping (and it always is against us) and the Lakers assortment of players will inevitably be there. I don't know if Odom will be the force that he has been though, and I think a lot of Laker fans are hoping Bynum will pick up the slack, but Odom is the worst mismatch we have, if he declines, it will be big for San Antonio.
It's a chess match. It's not about fear. It's about respecting your opponent enough to know that in a playoff series you have to go 100% the entire series and leave it all out there.
Last edited by Cry Havoc; 01-16-2009 at 03:03 AM.
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