Spurs to win all

[Spursfan092120]

Wow, only Markazi picking the Lakers? They're starting out as underdogs again this year.

Lots of Spurs love in the air.

not really dude...3 out of 5 have the Lakers getting to the Finals, and only 2 have the Spurs getting there...they just seem to think mostly that the East rules...we'll have to see about that.

[lotr1trekkie]

Lakers were not that domininant in the Finals. Artest is a great addition on paper but can he be a role player on a team that has a Big 3? I feel more comfortable with Jefferson's role. He knows they want him to take offensive pressure off OUR Big 3. I expect 15 a nite from Jefferson. Our Big 3 will get 54 to 60 a nite. That is 75. We need 25 off the bench and some D in the 4th period to win.

[HarlemHeat37]

I love picks before the season even starts LOL..they're all pointless..none of us know how any of the elite teams will look with their new players, and obviously the "analysts" don't know either..

[Allanon]

not really dude...3 out of 5 have the Lakers getting to the Finals, and only 2 have the Spurs getting there...they just seem to think mostly that the East rules...we'll have to see about that.

Or you could say only 1 out of 5 analysts pick the underdog defending champs to repeat. Talk about a lack of respect. I remember when the Celtics or Spurs won, the following year they would be like a 5 out of 5 pick to win it all.

[nbaman99]

hahahaha Dallas lost on the opening night. there just suck

[TIMMYD!]

Dallas sucks.

[mytespurs]

ESPN first take analyzed picked Spurs to win all over lakers just now. and there r going to debate more little later. Lakers with all the off the court drama they dont think lakers will repeat

Go Spurs

What off the court Lakers drama? Are they referring to Artest? I think Artest wants to wear a ring, as one of espn hosts said today Kobe is the alpha dog there and Artest will respect that.

If Lakers remain healthy, their chances to repeat look very good. Of course I would love nothing better than to see the Spurs in the fnals in 2010 so we'll see...the fun is just beginning!

[mytespurs]

Wow, only Markazi picking the Lakers? They're starting out as underdogs again this year.

Lots of Spurs love in the air.

Lakers as underdog? 'Fraid not....most are picking the Lakers to repeat-it's a very rare poll that does not have the Lakers winning the west and repeating as champions.

[SouthTexasRancher]

I actually do realize this. Let's face it, the Lakers are paper tigers this year and only hyped because they're the Lakers. How can guys like Vujacic, Farmar, mBenga, Morrison, Brown, Luke be even considered NBA players? The media is trying to shove this "stacked" Lakers team hype down our throats when it's really just Kobe and a bunch of scrubs.

The Lakers gave up a sure thing and versatile player in Trevor Ariza for a 30 year-old volatile forward who's as likely to stop the offense as he is likely to run around a 5 star hotel in his chonies.

I'll say it now, the Lakers were just lucky to win last year.

No Manu, no KG, no Jameer, No Mo, No Yao, No Okur. I do get it.

I think Allanon just gave the rest of the NBA the West Coast Mafia's "Kiss of Death"...

Either that or he just won a bunch of money betting that the Cavs would get their ass kicked tonight.

[Thomas82]

here's what laker fans don't realize... By adding artest, the lakers got way less athletic. They will sorely miss ariza's defense on quick guys like tony parker. Ariza could defend the 1, the 2, and sometimes the 3 depending on the matchup. That was huge. Artest can defend the 3 really well, but that's about it anymore.

Ariza gave parker problems - in fact, way more problems than most spurs fans wanted to admit. I for one was ecstatic to hear they were letting ariza go. I was also shocked. Ariza was enormous for them, because fisher has no prayer of containing parker, and neither does shannon brown. Farmar is the quickest guard they have, and he still can't contain parker. Plus, farmar is an idiot who can't run the offense. Even though he's y beyond belief and a legend in his own mind, farmar hasn't been able to beat out the slowest point guard in the league, derek fisher. Ariza's presence covered the fact that fisher has no business trying to defend the point in the nba.

And i'm only talking about the defensive end. Artest is a black hole on offense and everybody knows it.

I think this is specifically the reason some people are not picking the lakers. On paper they are super-impressive, but the artest thing is not only volatile, it will probably prove to be less effective on both ends of the floor.

+1

[spurspokesman]

Here's what Laker fans don't realize... by adding Artest, the Lakers got way less athletic. They will sorely miss Ariza's defense on quick guys like Tony Parker. Ariza could defend the 1, the 2, and sometimes the 3 depending on the matchup. That was HUGE. Artest can defend the 3 really well, but that's about it anymore.

Ariza gave Parker problems - in fact, way more problems than most Spurs fans wanted to admit. I for one was ecstatic to hear they were letting Ariza go. I was also shocked. Ariza was enormous for them, because Fisher has no prayer of containing Parker, and neither does Shannon Brown. Farmar is the quickest guard they have, and he still can't contain Parker. Plus, Farmar is an idiot who can't run the offense. Even though he's y beyond belief and a legend in his own mind, Farmar hasn't been able to beat out the slowest point guard in the league, Derek Fisher. Ariza's presence covered the fact that Fisher has no business trying to defend the point in the NBA.

And I'm only talking about the defensive end. Artest is a black hole on offense and everybody knows it.

I think this is specifically the reason some people are not picking the Lakers. On paper they are super-impressive, but the Artest thing is not only volatile, it will probably prove to be less effective on both ends of the floor.

I try to tell people this all the time and they pull the wool over they're eyes