sonics
Quality post.
I would add the Spurs are barely eeking out wins against even subpar teams. Nearly every game I've seen this season has come down to a last second shot or overtime. That's not a good sign IMHO. Championship teams typically don't struggle against weak compe ion and then get blown out embarrasingly by the elite teams.
The Spurs are Tier 2 below the Tier 1 teams which are BOS, CLE, ORL, and LAL. Good enough for #2 in the WC, but at this point that ain't saying much.
That's another thing I forgot to mention. the Spurs margin of victory is 3.3... the Lakers are at 8.8, Celtics 10.0, Cavs 10.3, and Magic 8.1
In fact, the Blazers (4.0) and Nuggets (3.8) have higher margins than the Spurs.
Some people don't take that stat seriously, and the difference between a 4 and 5 point MoV usually isn't that much, but the gap between 8.8 and 3.3 is pretty significant, especially over a 47 game sample size.
I give the Spurs a chance out of reverence for their past accolades, but this years Lakers are probably better than those Suns of '05 and '07 teams and '03 Mavs that Spurs played en route to their championships and the Magic/Cavs/Celtics are much better than the '03 Nets (49-33), '05 Pistons (54-28), and '07 Cavs (50-32)....but we'll see what happens.
The San Antonio Silvers Stars
Lakers still slight favorites over Spurs but the rest are all of a bunch of wannabees with the possible exception of Houston that could get scary good IF EVER HEALTHY
Lakers
I would have agreed with you at the beginning of the season, but while the Spurs have not managed to play solid defense for 48 minutes yet, there are signs of improvement. The Lakers have regressed considerably on the defensive department. The Spurs offense is actually improved from previous years, probably the sole reason we're winning these tight games allowing over 100+ PPG. Still not on the Lakers level, but that has a reason also, which I explain below.
You need to understand that Pop realizes that as long as we're fresh for the playoffs, the regular season is relatively meaningless. Go take a look at the minutes per game for Ginobili and Bowen (Even Duncan's have come down considerably lately. They're skewed right now because he played a lot of minutes when Manu and Tony were out) and you'll see what Pop is doing.
He's also still playing with the rotation (we pretty much debuted a rookie last night, Hairston), which is fairly surprising at this point in the season.
The reason Spurs see a major improvement for the last 3 or 4 games is basically Ginobili. He's now back to driving to the basket almost twice as much as he's taking jumpers, and when he scores 20+, we're very, very hard to beat. Even by the Lakers (Look at Ginobili's numbers from last season WCF, and even the games this season, and you'll see what I mean).
Blazers
Bonner is a big men with no inside game... he might score some threes, but he's a liability on defense... I don't see him being able to contain Odom's quickness
Last I checked we have Bowen, AKA Kobe stopper, and Pop wants you to think he's lost a step ... because he clearly has not, not even one little bit.
Second, Manu was our leading scorer last season IE he was good for a lot more than "1-2", but expecting you to know the facts is a lesson in pointlessness. Manu's already stated he feels 100% and the last three games (30+ in two of them) just show without a strong, physical team D, no one will be stopping him this season. But continue on thinking anyone -- ANYONE -- on the Lakers ballclub has a chance of even containing him. You had a better argument saying Bynum could contain Tim, but even that's out the door now
Last I checked, Ariza ing traveled in the biggest play of the game against the Spurs on Jan. 14th, while Mason hit the gamewinner and got fouledOther than that, Ariza is 10 times the defender Sasha is. He even has the ability to annoy Parker with his length. His versatility brings more than anything Bonner, Hill or Mason gives the Spurs, that much is for sure.what a ing . Mason/Hill/Bonner bring much more to the table than one man, who didn't annoy Parker at all - Parker just made a couple careless plays. Three-time All-star Tony Parker never got annoyed by players like Marion or Joe Johnson, who are better defenders than Ariza and get more ref respect. Don't take it you've watched the Spurs play much outside of the tired ones last WCF.
Team D takes whole seasons to perfect.. Bynum out during this key stretch run dooms LA's le chances, which IMO were slim even if they did make it to the Finals. Their biggest problem was interior D. Whether you like it or not, Parker and Manu will be getting to the paint, and thats when you're going to wish PJ had a run a few more defensive drills earlier in the season, or at least found some way to keep Kobe from injuring BynumLakers in 5, again, without Bynum
Except Bynum will be back for the playoffs this time. Suckers.
Damn you are such a ridiculous homer I don't even know where to begin.Last I checked we have Bowen, AKA Kobe stopper, and Pop wants you to think he's lost a step ... because he clearly has not, not even one little bit.
Second, Manu was our leading scorer last season IE he was good for a lot more than "1-2", but expecting you to know the facts is a lesson in pointlessness. Manu's already stated he feels 100% and the last three games (30+ in two of them) just show without a strong, physical team D, no one will be stopping him this season. But continue on thinking anyone -- ANYONE -- on the Lakers ballclub has a chance of even containing him. You had a better argument saying Bynum could contain Tim, but even that's out the door now
Last I checked, Ariza ing traveled in the biggest play of the game against the Spurs on Jan. 14th, while Mason hit the gamewinner and got fouled
Team D takes whole seasons to perfect.. Bynum out during this key stretch run dooms LA's le chances, which IMO were slim even if they did make it to the Finals. Their biggest problem was interior D. Whether you like it or not, Parker and Manu will be getting to the paint, and thats when you're going to wish PJ had a run a few more defensive drills earlier in the season, or at least found some way to keep Kobe from injuring Bynum
I guess the ing thrashing the Lakers delivered in the last game didn't teach you anything. The Spurs problem isn't Manu, Parker, or Duncan. It's the fact that they have no legiitmate front court depth to stop a Bynum/Gasol/Odom frontline.
But keep thinking Matt Bonner and Kurt Thomas are going to get it done for you.
z0sa you really are a big homer lol
the spurs won't beat the lakers even if bynum is out...spurs are simply overmatched
we are no longer in 2007
@ the Laker homers calling out Spurs homers.
Not the Lakers
Not the Blazers
I guess its the Hornets.
While we are all pretending nothing happened last night as a message was sent to the leaugue(celtics),the lakers for sure. MVP!
With Manu finally resembling the Manu of old, and Mason playing really well also, I am starting to think that the 'odd year' luck will continue for the Spurs. Maybe Duncan does get that 5th ring before Shaq after all.
Let's say the Spurs do make it to the Finals.
Does anyone think they can realistically beat BOS or CLE in a 7 game series without HCA?
Give me a break. They will get slaughtered by both teams. The only team in the WC that stands a chance against the EC is the Lakers w/ Bynum.
Yes.
The Lakers already had their chance and got owned by 40+ points in the deciding game. Time for the Dyasty of our era to keep that perfect Finals record.Give me a break. They will get slaughtered by both teams. The only team in the WC that stands a chance against the EC is the Lakers w/ Bynum.
i brought out the biggest Laker homer on this board
It depends on how much we have improved at the end of the season. People forget that we still don't have our starting SF yet. He's due back in mid-March. Add to that the fact that we are so young that we can't help but learn and improve as the season continues to progress. We're already seeing improvement in Oden and Bayless. Steve Blake will be back in the lineup in a week. We have the talent to beat anybody. It's just a matter of seeing it mature quickly.
Not without a trade, adding Roger Mason is not enough to win the le. Cavs, Celtics and Lakers are all better as it stands now.
Last season moron. No Bynum. No Ariza.
We beat the Celtics this season with both of them in the lineup.
Yup. Anyone who says otherwise is a pure homer. Plain and simple.
Favorite?
Whomever is healthiest at the time of the playoffs.
DD
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