Radmanovich and Farmar are match ups nightmares.. i haven;t seen a roster this good since ourselves in 2003... it's a scary picture guys... Spurs in 7 with a Manu miracle
If both teams are "on," and healthy...I go for the Spurs. Mainly cuz when Manu is "on"...he's as good, or better than Kobe...and I'll take Duncan over Gasol, and Parker over Fisher. Of course, it then would depend on Bynum putting up some huge numbers. He's damn good, but we'll see how good in playoff time.
Manu is the x-factor in this. If he's not "on"...then it's anyone's guess.
Oh, and if Bowen shows up...
You know those old men can't get it up in back to back nights or years.
LA in 6.
Perfect example of A - why you shouldn't do drugs and B - that ignorance IS bliss.
-Bowen holds Kobe to 20.5/game
-Duncan shows up Gasol by getting him in fould trouble many times
-Thomas makes a good showing
-Ginoibli has a decent showing
-Parker does good
DUNCAN,DUNCAN,DUNCAN!!!
Spurs is 5......
Next year maybe Laker fans......
Spurs in 5. Lakers win Game 1. Spurs wake up and destroy them, despite horrible officiating and the media's constant yammering about a possible Celtics-Lakers Finals.
Gasol is injured after playing over his head the last 20 games of the season, and Kobe's finger finally cathes up to him, with Bowen's defense not making the situation any easier. He has a career low in playoff points, and Manu sets the record for most consecutive 40+ point playoff games, Finley breaks his record of 8 threes in a playoff game, making 10, and Duncan pulls rank on Bynum down low, going for 32, 18, 6 and 6 in the clincher.
You really think that just because the NBA doesn't want the Spurs back in the Finals that will stop them? Come on, raining on media darling's parades is the Spurs specialty these days.
SPURS VS LAKERS...
Man oh man... it's gonna be such a good series. I'm not gonna talk smack about the lake show, because in all honesty, they are legit! They are scary good right now, and I for one hope to God that we meet in the playoffs. It would be a series that will probably be replayed on ESPN classic 20 years from now. I still predict a Spurs victory in 7 games... but it will be close! I can't wait.
If the Spurs and Lakers don't face off in the playoffs I'll be very disappointed. This site is going to go nuts if it we do.
I disagree. I think most smart experts are giving the Lakers the benefit of the doubt. What's to doubt about the 3 time champion in the last 5 years?
Ahhhh, the rancid stench of Spurs homerism.
As much as I really, really hate to say this (because I really ing dislike the Los Angeles Lakers), the Lakers are a legitimate contender, and they will take your team to 7 games. With just Bynum anchoring the middle, they'd stand no chance against the Spurs, but the addition of Gasol is monumental. It elevates them from 1st-or-2nd round fodder, to a team that's almost a guaranteed lock to make it to the WCF.
That said, I still like the Spurs in 7 games, and I'll be rooting for your team if that's the case.
If it was right now I say the Lakers in 6. Even with Manu going mental.
Come to playoff time, and the spurs in full power, spurs in 7.
cant argue with numbers
http://spurs.realgm.com/articles/68...nu_ginobili_isn
Authored by Elliot Cole - February 18, 2008 - 1:37 pm
It’s easy to leave a guy like Manu Ginobili off of the All-Star team. He doesn't have a big media presence, he is notorious for flopping and in the collective public opinion of the San Antonio Spurs he’s buried somewhere underneath Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Eva Longoria (not literally, shame on you).
It’s also easy to say that Ginobili’s best years are behind him, or that the Spurs are struggling this year and don’t deserve a second All-Star. But then you take a look at the numbers and a paradigm shift the size of Manu’s nose smacks you in the face.
Ginobili is averaging 20.1 points a game, nothing to sneer at but modest for an All-Star shooting guard. But he also plays fewer minutes (31.1 per a game) than anyone selected for New Orleans, mostly because Popovich and the Spurs’ brass want to keep him fresh for the playoffs.
Take into account his budgeted minutes, now spread out his scoring over a full game. Over the course of 48 minutes, Ginobili averages 31.2 points a game. That’s 5th in the league. Ahead of Dwyane Wade. Ahead of Western Conference starter Allen Iverson. Ahead of Nowitzki, Yao, Boozer and Roy.
Ok, so he’s a better scorer than everyone thought, especially considering that he already has two other All-Star caliber talents on his team. But the thing about Ginobili is that he does everything. Need a rebound? Manu snags an impressive 5 a game from the guard position, including a 15 board night against Toronto (per 48 his average tops Kobe and Roy). Steals? Ninth in the NBA at 2.66 over 48 minutes. Playmaking? He’s 28th in the league in assists per 48 at 7.1, a career high. And get this: only 3 non-point guards are ahead of him (Roy, Wade, and Lebron).
Think about that.. outside of the NBA’s point guards, he’s the 4th best assist guy in the league. While we’re at it that once again puts him ahead of Kobe, who has gotten buckets of media love for passing the ball more this season.
Need shooting? Ginobili is 22nd in the league in 3-point shooting. But few players mesh outside shooting with Ginobili’s ability to get to the stripe. Per 48, only 11 players get to the line more than Manu, and he doesn’t even have the long hair to draw fouls for him anymore.
Of course, Manu’s never been a numbers guy. He’s all about intangibles, up there with Kobe as one of the most compe ive players in the modern era. He shoots an amazing 53% in “the clutch”, not to mention 91.9% from the free throw line when the game is tight. Need more? He’s created 22 assists in the last 5 minutes of tight games, but he’s only committed 1 passing turnover. A 22:1 assist to turnover ratio when the defense is set and the game is tight from one of the most balls-to-the-wall players in the league.
Finally, one last stat that trumps them all. When Manu Ginobili is on the bench, the Spurs have been outscored by two points this season. When he’s in the game, the Spurs have scored 250 points more than their opponents. He doesn’t fly like LeBron or have the finesse of Kobe, nor does he have the power of Pierce or the speed of Iverson. But Ginobili is in the same league as all of them, and deserved to be in New Orleans. Then again, maybe Spurs fans want him to be a little pissed off. After all, he’s only averaged 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists a game over their last 2 wins.
Duncan and KThomas will completely shut down Gasol and Bynum and Kobe cant guard both Parker and Ginobili. Spurs in 5 with an Horry Dagger to toppled the Lakers
Lies, damn lies and statistics.
When Ginobili gets into double figures in All-Star apperances, is respected as the best player in the game, and starts carrying a franchise - then he can try to stack resumes.
Ginobili is like a Lamar Odom-type player. Definitely better than LO (because of his mental game) but excels because he can play off a great player (Duncan) and doesn't have to be the main man nightly. He can do a lot of work from the shadows - he's not the one teams are gunning to stop first nightly.
Spurs 4-1 easily - LAL will steal a game due to calls. LAL is very over-rated, especially defensively, and playing a cupcake schedule right now.
Precisely, and it's almost March.
That gives the Lakers a month and half to work out rotations and solidify their chemistry. Not much time.
Spurs in 6
I always love a guy who can accept that there is a better team than his lakers!
Don't forget Tiaggo Splitter!
BTW, we have had one of the toughest SOS in the league to date. The Lakers are #3 on the list and the Spurs are #18.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/stats/...sortColumn=sos
ok, but your guys also give up over a 100 points on defense. I definitely think you guys are better than Phoenix and Dallas. New Orleans will be ousted in the semi-finals b/c of a lack of experience in playoffs (that will be the only reason too!)
Sa vs La....Spurs in 6 b/c we get stops when we need to and the young Bynum will be educated on championship-level basketball by SA. HOWEVER, LA will win championships in the near future.
i really hate to say that too....
I wouldn't say not being able to get past the first round is exactly 'carrying your team', would you?
Or, excuse me - maybe you just meant carrying your team to the first round, right?
I hate Shaq, but I love how once he leaves, the lakers can't:
A. get past the first round (2006, 2007), or
B. make the playoffs (2005)
Yeah - that's not really carrying your team.
-David
With KT on the roster the advantage the Lakers had in the post is gone. Spurs backcourt is better overall than the Lakers. TP+Manu > Kobe
This is simplistic way to see things but I don't see the Lakers winning 4 out of 7. I think this will be spurs in 5 or 6.
Please give me something of that you are smoking. You are just delussional.
There is no way the series is less than 6 games, and 7 is a real possibility.
Obviously, I like the Spurs odds. To be honest though, the Lakers are currently the team I'm most concerned about in the playoffs (though Boston is concerning as well - no sense in worrying about them over the Lakers).
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