And April O'Neil was damn hot.
I expect Duncan to rise for this one. He said the Magic game was an 'awful feeling', I think he'll be looking to erase that feeling. If he can bring his 'A' defense it will help us a lot.
James Gist !!!!!!!!!!
How about playing Kobe one on one and let him have his scoring game while locking down on everybody. I also think that making him work on defense will help. As for the Bynum and Gasol, play them very physical. Oberto and Kurt should be on the job. But we all know that 'regular season Spurs' won't play an 'A' game unless highly necessary.
Where did he say that? Got a link or anything?
I'd like to check out Tim's opinion of last nights game, but I can't really find many quotes from Tim.
He's the last one in the locker room video. He wasn't in the post game quotes, I don't know why.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/090111.html
Edit: I did put one quote of his in the post game quote thread.
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114167
If you're ever looking for whether he spoke after a game you can ask me. I usually find him if he speaks.
Make Kobe a scorer not a playmaker.. let him get his points but clamp down on everyone else.
didn't the spurs do this in last year's playoffs? not doubling and putting only bowen on kobe?
the problem last year was our offense..we had a 20-point lead in game 1 that was lost due to our droughts..it was our weakness in last years playoffs..
Yeah spurs did that last year but the problem last year is that we could hardly score the freaking bball...
Thanks Duncan228.He's the last one in the locker room video. He wasn't in the post game quotes, I don't know why.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/090111.html
Edit: I did put one quote of his in the post game quote thread.
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114167
If you're ever looking for whether he spoke after a game you can ask me. I usually find him if he speaks.
do not put hill on kobe save that for playoffs
trying mason and see what he does
if he slows kobe mason does not even need to score to be effective
You don't have to worry. Just have TD and other bigs , going right at them, on Bynum and Gasol and get all scared(they're pussies, they'll fold). Then just get a player to get in Kobe's head and Kobe will singlehandedly lose the game for his team. He does this all the time. As long as you stay ahead in the series you'll win, because Kobe is a ing quitting little who will quit on his team.
the suns fan made a funny
I actually agree Kobe's a quitter. He requested a trade and the League took that as "Give Pau Gasol to the #1 TV market, we can't have the whole reason they're tuning in gone"
I think the Grizzlies got a better deal than the Lakers.
I actually agree Kobe's a quitter. He requested a trade and the League took that as "Give Pau Gasol to the #1 TV market, we can't have the whole reason they're tuning in gone"
Pau Gasol $16 million/year 18 points 9 rebounds
Marc Gasol $3 million/year 12 points 7 rebounds
The Lakers are paying $13 million more per year for 6 more points and 2 rebounds.
In my opinion, they should have just kept Marc, then they would easily have the money to re-sign Bynum/Lamar/Ariza/Marc Gasol.
And by next year, I'm pretty sure Marc Gasol will be in the 15 point, 10 rebound range.
Not to mention the Grizzlies also got a first round pick in exchange for Javaris Crittenton.
Oh yeah, much needed salary relief for Kwame Brown too.
If Grizz managed to keep the old gasol and get the younger gasol, they're pretty good team with oj mayo and that other scoring guy (forgot his name).
As for what I think Pop is going to do:
-Start with Bonner on Gasol. This season, Pop almost always puts Duncan on the center. Bynum is the center so that leaves Bonner on Gasol. If Pop actually does this, I think it'd be a disaster. Gasol is loooooooong while Bonner is about as short and stubby as 6-foot-10 players get.
-RMJ will start out on Kobe. Bowen will spend most of the game on him. For a couple minutes, Pop will put Manu on him if RMJ and Bowen aren't having much success. I highly doubt Pop will put Hill on Kobe and I'm hoping he doesn't break out Udoka.
Overall, I'm guessing Pop is going to use the same defensive strategy. After the series, he pointed to the offense as the problem. He said he was happy with the defense. I guess we'll find out in this game based on his gameplan if he was telling the truth.
The scary thing is I agree that the game could be decided by Bonner. If he can hold his own defensively and cause a mismatch on the other end, he could be the difference in the game. If he fails in either aspect, the Spurs will likely be toast.
Pray. Then pray some more. Thats the only way we defend the lakers and Kobe.
Put Bonner on him!!!!!! He won't survive that!!!!!
As has been mentioned, the defense wasn't the problem last year. Bowen executed the gameplan about as well as could be asked (allowing Kobe the jumpers and eliminating the free-throws) but the offense was their downfall. Granted, scheduling and injury were major factors that conspired against the Spurs and their offense, (a variable that has to be taken into account) but it led to their demise nonetheless.
Having said that, a new year brings new problems.
The combination of a healthy Bynum and Ariza, combined with a full training camp camp under Pau's belt, and an added year of
continuity/chemistry/maturation, make this Laker team a much tougher foe. This team is just about bigger, stronger, longer, and/or, more athletic at every position. Fortunately, measurables aren't a death-sentence, but they do tend to put you behind the 8-ball. Unfortunately, the Lakers aren't the only one's posing questions that need to be answered in this new year.
The Spurs (whether because of injury or not) aren't playing the type of defense needed to win a championship. Sure, they've had stretches the last couple of years that you could say the same (only to find themselves in time for the playoffs) but this year just feels different. Bowen's a year older, Manu's not completely back physically, Ime's burried on the bench, the bigs (outside of Kurt recently) have been hurt or adequate at best, not to mention Finley and Mason (who looked to be the same height or shorter than Re) are being counted on to play big minutes while being less than stellar defenders. The only upgrade they've had defensively is Hill, but even his upgrade is lessened by the lack of minutes available to him. The Spurs' championship formula has always been predicated on their ability to defend, so it doesn't bode well that one of the biggest question mark's on this team is, their ability to defend.
As far as how to best defend Kobe?
I really don't see a better option than limiting his free-throws and making him beat the Spurs from the outside. Sure, I'd love to see a defense devised like the one Boston was able to employ, but the Spurs have neither the personnel, nor the ability/respect afforded to glamour teams and players to get away with playing that physical against the likes of a Kobe or the Lakers. Call me cynical, but I feel justified after what I've witnessed over the years.
While the focus of most has been on getting some help on the front line (and it's completely justifiable) an athletic perimeter defender, preferably 6'6" or taller, is a very real need. It's one reason I've hoped to see Hairston given an opportunity, since he's the closest option available to fill that role. He wouldn't be completely ideal, being a rookie in all, but maybe you get something similar to the way Jack defended Kobe in essentially his first real year. He brings strength and athleticism to the wing defensively that could at least give Kobe another look.
If not him, I'd like to see them try and get a guy like Dominic McGuire. He's got a great BBIQ, a very good athlete, he rebounds and blocks shots from the three like few others, and has a frame similar to Posey that allows him to defend in a similar fashion. Offensively he moves really well without the ball and is a very good passer, but that's pretty much it at this point. He can throw down a mean dunk every once in a while, but his finishing and shot still leave a lot to be desired. He's not the perfect option, but he could be a very nice, realistic one.
As far as defending the bigs?
My guess is the Spurs will take a very similar approach, with the exception being, Thomas and Bonner playing a much bigger role. Thomas had his moments when he finally got his chance to play in the playoffs, and Bonner's best defense might well be his offense, but I don't plan on seeing drastic changes to the teams overall defense. If Thomas and Bonner can give Tim more help on the boards, that would go a long way in the all important rebounding category against the Lakers.
The Spurs, in addition to being able to stay compe ve on the boards, have really got to be cognizant of the interior passing of the Lakers. The Lakers are really one of the best overall passing teams in the league, but after watching what Milwaukee was able to do to the Spurs, the interior-passing leading to easy buckets is a real concern. The best way to usually combat that is with ball pressure, good weak-side rotations, and preferably minimal double-teaming, but it remains to be seen whether the Spurs have the personnel to do that.
Keys for the Spurs-
Stay compe ive on the boards/limit offensive rebounds - Second-chance points could go a long way in determining the outcome.
Keep Kobe off the free-throw line - Allowing him to get his rhythm from the line, all while getting his team in the penalty, usually gets you an L.
Control the pace/ limit transition - Force the Lakers to play defense in the half-court and and force them to score in the half-court. Make the game a grind that makes them expend energy both physically and mentally.
Limit assists - The more one-on-one play the better.
Limit turnovers - Good way to keep the opponent out of transition while getting plenty of f.g.a.'s.
Hit your shots - Sounds simple enough, but the Lakers like to pack the lane, so the Spurs must make them pay.(Whether from mid-range or three)
The Big 3 - In order for the Bonner's and Hill's of the world to be x-factors, The Big 3 must play big. The Big 3's aggressiveness will go a long way in setting the tone and determining how often they get to the all important free-throw line.
They won't go to Bynum for one on one scoring in the playoffs.
rudy gay.
this game, and indeed this series, will hinge on whether or not ian mahinmi is able to hold his own against the pau allowing splitter to concentrate on bynum. this will free up duncan to go ape on offense and be a ball magnet on the boards.
/wishful thinking
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