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[mardigan]

In since 89

[DD]

Not a problem. Kobe is undoubtedly the best, most complete player on the planet. His combination of offensive and defensive skills are unsurpassed, and I am on record in this forum as acknowledging that he toyed with the Spurs in the first game of this series. However, AFTER Kobe, the Lakers fail the talent test vs. the Hornets.

While it is true that the Hornets beat a DISPIRITED Dallas team, they did so handily, and with as little experience as they had, quite impressively. The Hornets' talent and incredibly focused point guard ( who, IMO, should have gotten MVP this year instead of Kobe who hasn't been able to lead his team out of the first round until he got Pau Gasol next to him ) kept a young, green team in the race against the defending NBA champions for 7 games. David West, Tyson Chandler and Chris Paul will some day make mince meat out of the L.A. big three of Bryant, Gasol, and Odom.

Gasol cannot handle Duncan 1 on 1 (neither could Chandler this year, but he will be much, much better next year). Odom is good, but not great. As I indicated before, the difference for the Lakers is Jackson, and Kobe's own maturation process. BUT...remember, please, that Kobe, for all his talent, was unable to put this team on his back after Shaq left. Kobe really thought he could do that. Paul almost did it by himself this year, and he is only 23 years old and doesn't have the advantage of Jackson coaching him. Next year, everybody in the league needs to look out for N.O. (and that includes the Spurs). If N.O. had a better coach, they might have taken out the Spurs this year.

So...that's why the Lakers are not as good as the Hornets.

First off, I respect your response, but I wholeheartedly disagree. For starters, you're giving Chandler wayyyyy too much credit. I think Tyson plays with a lot of heart and at times can be a handful on defense. He's becoming a great rebounder but his offensive game is relegated to alley-oop dunks only. Not only that, he's a liability at the FT line (just ask Pop, who curiously hasn't tried the hacka-method on any of the Lakers. Odom is a very underrated player. , I don't know another player in the league like him. Not trying to say he's great, but he's such a difficult matchup because of his physical attributes. Odom and Gasol are also much better passers than anyone NO has on their interior. The Laker bench is not only better than NO, but might be the best in the league. New Orleans has too many inconsistent players as well (MoPete, Bonzi, Pargo). Not only that, are you surprised a Peja Stojakovic team lost a Game 7 at home? That guy is a born choker (see airballs in 2002 WCF). Both teams are very young and have bright futures, but with the addition of Bynum next year, LA will be the favorite. Also, LA finished with a better record this year, not that that means anything...

On a sidenote, this might be considered blasphemy in Laker circles, but I also thought Paul should of won the MVP.

[spursfan09]

I am a real Spur fan. A real one who ginobelieves

[Strike]

On a sidenote, this might be considered blasphemy in Laker circles, but I also thought Paul should of won the MVP.

Won't they kick you out of the purple and yellow mafia for saying things like that?

[byrontx]

If the real Spurs come out, not that team that has been impersonating them the last couple of games, they will kick butt.

[urunobili]

until the day i die!

[MONTENEGRINO]

MONTENEGRINO for Spurs since they won draft lottery '97. I knew that Timmy will be 1st pick, I was watching him play in Wake Forest.

[Rummpd]

Long term believer and proud Spurs fan.

[koriwhat]

Sign Here: X_koriwhat_____

[Avitus1]

Signed in!

[O-Factor]

been signed in since birth.........

[samikeyp]

Spurs Fan For Life. Since before David Robinson was drafted in the 80's. What year was that?

1987

[player_twister]

GO SPURS GO

[FilSpursFan]

<== check the username...

[saspicemeister]

FANatic sice '74. Produced Spurs games on WOAI from '75 through '97. Remember 1st game in the NBA after Red got Ice from the Squires. Against 76er's. It was Dr. J's first game with Philly!

I was producing that game from the studio when a phone line went down in Podunk, USA (no satellites then!). Next morning the Express News had "Oh No Radio!" on the front of the sports section! Bummer as it wasn't our fault!

I remember the ABA ball and wonderful Hemisfair Arena!

[bigfundamental21]

Been a Spurs fan since 1988, at the exact same time I was born, I came out with a Silver & Black heart. Believe.

Same here.... fan since birth in 1973.

I bleed silver and black!

GO SPURS GO!

BELIEVE!

[samikeyp]

I remember the ABA ball and wonderful Hemisfair Arena!

yes!

Seeing a game in the Arena was a great time. Those who weren't able to, you missed something great.

[saspicemeister]

Then you remember Terry Stembridge doing play by play?! Great guy. Made a killing on the side will oil wells! :O)

Always loved Captain Late! Silas was a cool dude! Good to see another HemiFan!

[samikeyp]

Terry Stembridge, Al Sturchio, the late great Pat Tallman.

Greats of my youth. Every time I hear Stan "fingernails on a chalkboard" Kelly, I miss Pat Tallman even more.

[saspicemeister]

The Spurs have been evolving for years. Look at the former Spurs now scattered across the NBA in every level of Management and Coaching. And with 4 Championships (and I truly believe a 5th this year) the world is seeing that a redwood takes years to grow.

I have to laugh when I hear someone say "Wow, these guys just popped up over night!" Yea, right! You could see the Jumbotron move from the ear splitting sound of HemisFair as we played true smackmouth with the Lakers! What a rivalry! Musberger will never be welcome here!

Great article in the paper on Eddie Morris, the Spurs radio engineer..now there's a real pro!

If I'm talking old school in the wrong place, please direct me to the right forum!

[rascal]

Could somebody explain this whole "real" fan thing?

Do you genuinely believe that following a team long-term makes you somehow better than someone joining this year?

Seemingly every board has posters who throw out the dreaded accusation of being a "bandwagoner."

Pfffft.

Weren't we all beginners at one time? How dare you develop some sort of superiority complex.

Let me be the first to invite you onto the Lakers bandwagon! I don't care if you've been a Lakers fan for 5 minutes while I've been my entire existence!

Join the party! Join the fun!

Anyone who admires that arrogant Jack Nicholson has bad taste.

[rascal]

Terry Stembridge, Al Sturchio, the late great Pat Tallman.

Greats of my youth. Every time I hear Stan "fingernails on a chalkboard" Kelly, I miss Pat Tallman even more.

Agree. Kelly is horrible. Sounds corny "Here come the spurs" or "Spurs ball".

[saspicemeister]

Email Lawrence Payne at the Spurs and tell him we want Jay back and "Shame" for the way they let one of the greats go! I rank Jay's dismissal right up there with the one Jones gave Tex and Tom. No class.

[rascal]

yes!

Seeing a game in the Arena was a great time. Those who weren't able to, you missed something great.

And the spurs won playing an exciting brand of basketball, up and down the court, fast break . That would lead to a more exciting time for the fans at the Hemisphere.

They were the run and gun spurs, believe it or not to those that don't remember. They never could get that strong post player that would compliment the rest of the team so they never won it all but those times still were some of the best.

[rascal]

First off, I respect your response, but I wholeheartedly disagree. For starters, you're giving Chandler wayyyyy too much credit. I think Tyson plays with a lot of heart and at times can be a handful on defense. He's becoming a great rebounder but his offensive game is relegated to alley-oop dunks only. Not only that, he's a liability at the FT line (just ask Pop, who curiously hasn't tried the hacka-method on any of the Lakers. Odom is a very underrated player. , I don't know another player in the league like him. Not trying to say he's great, but he's such a difficult matchup because of his physical attributes. Odom and Gasol are also much better passers than anyone NO has on their interior. The Laker bench is not only better than NO, but might be the best in the league. New Orleans has too many inconsistent players as well (MoPete, Bonzi, Pargo). Not only that, are you surprised a Peja Stojakovic team lost a Game 7 at home? That guy is a born choker (see airballs in 2002 WCF). Both teams are very young and have bright futures, but with the addition of Bynum next year, LA will be the favorite. Also, LA finished with a better record this year, not that that means anything...

On a sidenote, this might be considered blasphemy in Laker circles, but I also thought Paul should of won the MVP.

Good post, I agree and very objective also saying you thought Paul should have gotten the mvp.

The Lakers had top seed, the Lakers have gone further in the playoffs. The Hornets were not yet ready to go far in the playoffs and the first sign of high pressure they folded and played tentatively. There is no justifying saying the Hornets are the better team.