Random Thoughts on Spurs vs. Lakers First Round Series

[Horse]

Bonner actually could do some good pulling one of the bigs out of the paint.

[Horse]

Considering this, I wonder if Baynes will get any significant run in this series. Not only will it be difficult for both Duncan and Splitter to avoid foul trouble over the course of a seven game series against Gasol and Howard, but I also don't like the idea of trying to play them 40 mpg. Duncan will be spent by the 4th quarter when we need him most, and it also wouldn't save him much wear and tear if the Spurs advance to the later rounds.

Baynes obviously is still very green and doesn't have the best defensive awareness, but he is a beast on the boards, can provide some low post offense, and is at least not at an immediate disadvantage due to his size like Bonner or Blair would be. I would think that the Spurs would prefer to have the Lakers shooting from the perimeter as opposed to throwing it down low to their two stars, so as long as Baynes stays in the paint and doesn't try to do too much on offense, I believe he could do more good than bad.

I also weep at the thought of yet another playoff run with Bonner and Blair being the first bigs off the bench. Knowing Pop though, he will opt to try to survive the known as opposed to gambling on the unknown.

Maybe Pop finally learned from the memphis series. We need to just run their asses out of the building and not have to worry about minutes.

[Man In Black]

The view from LA Times is Spurs in 6.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...,7402276.story

[rmt]

Pop should play Baynes at the end of quarters 1, 2, and 3 when they get into the bonus - have him foul Howard - use up those 6 fouls. Splitter should play as many minutes as Duncan - he's only 28 why can't he go as long as TD. No Turd Towers - one of TD/TS on the court at all times.

Leonard - practice those 3s (iirc, he's gone 0-7 over the past 3 games) - he's lost confidence in that shot and passing up wide open 3s to drive into traffic.

Speed up the game - push the pace - TD and Manu, outlet the ball to Neal - Leonard, Green and De Colo, practice that fast break.

TP - stay attached to Blake - no open 3s.

Double team Howard when he gets the ball in the post.

Splitter - please defend Gasol well - IMO, he's the key (facilitator).

Pop, don't underestimate D'Antoni - Kobe will be on the bench coaching.

Pop, play your key guys heavy minutes the first 2 games (2-3 days rest before games) - get those first 2 games & put pressure on them. Spread the minutes more in the every other day games thereafter.

[Josepatches_]

-The Spurs caught an unlucky break when Kobe's Achilles tendon exploded. He's a damn good player, historically speaking, but he has been the anchor dragging down this year's Lakers team. He played no defense. On offense, he dominated the action with an arrogant iron fist. With that many great players around him, it was like he refused to even consider sharing the spotlight. He either wanted to score or tally the assist; no other outcome was acceptable. With him gone, the Lakers are a totally different team. Are they better without Kobe? They very well could be. It's too soon to state definitively either way ... but I wouldn't doubt that at all.

Agree

[DesignatedT]

Can you blame him bud?

Where did I say he should be confident bud?

Still depressing though bud.

[rmt]

And all on Howard.

Gasol tends to shrink too when the play gets physical (OTOH he shoots free-throws well). Splitter better come to defend well.

[lowdown]

I agree with all your points Timvp except maybe the Kobe take. I mean, your right about his hero ball stuff but the Lakers are going to miss his killer clutch play. I am also confused 'cause the Spurs have consistently ended their recent seasons with epic choke jobs so history might repeat itself but the Spurs have the talent to handle the Lakers if their health permits.

[Sean Cagney]

The good news with no Kobe is that a 10 point lead on Lakers is essentially a 10 point lead. With Kobe on the court, a 10 point lead is really like a 5 point lead.

I said just this to someone, you are right.

[EVAY]

Pop should play Baynes at the end of quarters 1, 2, and 3 when they get into the bonus - have him foul Howard - use up those 6 fouls. Splitter should play as many minutes as Duncan - he's only 28 why can't he go as long as TD. No Turd Towers - one of TD/TS on the court at all times.

Leonard - practice those 3s (iirc, he's gone 0-7 over the past 3 games) - he's lost confidence in that shot and passing up wide open 3s to drive into traffic.

Speed up the game - push the pace - TD and Manu, outlet the ball to Neal - Leonard, Green and De Colo, practice that fast break.

TP - stay attached to Blake - no open 3s.

Double team Howard when he gets the ball in the post.

Splitter - please defend Gasol well - IMO, he's the key (facilitator).

Pop, don't underestimate D'Antoni - Kobe will be on the bench coaching.

Pop, play your key guys heavy minutes the first 2 games (2-3 days rest before games) - get those first 2 games & put pressure on them. Spread the minutes more in the every other day games thereafter.

Is that you, coach Thibideaux?

[quentin_compson]

Saying the Lakers are better without Kobe is a bit of a stretch, I think. But they definitely play more team-oriented ball without him, and they will pound it into the low-post more. So Tim and Tiago will have their hands full. As a lot of people already mentioned, Diaw's absence will really hurt the Spurs in this series.

Still, if the Spurs play close to the best they have shown this season, they should win this series. A lot of question marks, though ...

[taps]

Good to see that expectations regarding who will be blamed if we lose are spot on. Parker.

So, if we win does that mean that Parker would also be the reason?

No, Timmy gets credit for the win.

[ploto]

I find it interesting how things have come back full circle to the Spurs playing against a Lakers team with talented big men. So much for small ball!

[cheguevara]

true.

Find it funny it's D'antoni who has the mighty defensive bigs this time and must play half court ball.

truly if D'antoni wins this series we are in bizarro world

Spurs in 5

[Spurs Brazil]

It's great to start against LA. Spurs will be ready. And beat them always give teams confidence going forward. If Tony is good we win this in 5.

Tiago or TD must be on the court all the time. When they go with Clark at 4 I don't want to see Bonner or Blair, go small with Manu at SF and Kawhi at PF.

FTL.

[wildbill2u]

The Lakers will have to learn a new style (pound it down inside to their big men) with Kobe out. It will be a challenge for their coaches and players.

Our biggest liability is the health of key players like Manu and Parker along with the absence of Diaw. Even if he doesn't play offense enough, he is a big body and we are somewhat short there.

[xtremesteven33]

If this was Phil Jackson coaching the Lakers right now I would fear a big time Spurs letdown.

But its Pringles.

Spurs in 5.

[Legacy]

I wanna' see what T-Mac has to offer ASAP, dagnabbit!!

[TD 21]

Splitter should play as many minutes as Duncan - he's only 28 why can't he go as long as TD. No Turd Towers - one of TD/TS on the court at all times.

Because he's a Spur. Honestly, there's no logical reason why a guy with his relative youth and body type can't handle 35 mpg, yet a behemoth like M. Gasol can.

Foul trouble notwithstanding, I wouldn't even bother playing Blair. I'd go Duncan 38 mpg, Splitter 34 mpg, Bonner 24 mpg.

Double team Howard when he gets the ball in the post.

Couldn't disagree more. Let him go nuts and get his, as well as Gasol, just don't let the others get off from three. Not a single one can create their own shot, so the only way they can generate enough offense to win is if the Spurs overreact to being physically overwhelmed in the post at times.


This is definitely all about the Spurs, though. If they're even close to what they were, they win this in five. Unfortunately, there's no reason to think they will be, which makes this a virtual tossup. I'm convinced game one is absolutely going to decide it.

And yeah, not having Diaw is a killer in this match-up more than any other. He's their second best post/Howard defender and the trickle down effect makes it even worse. Sure, you don't want to count on Bonner/Blair in the playoffs period, but if you had to against the likes of Delfino, Jones and Motiejunas, it wouldn't be nearly as big an issue.

[Old School 44]

Yep, pressure Blake and or Nash. Have Leonard and Green harrass them to no end. Like was mentioned above, the Lakers have no one that can consistently create their own shot. And I would run and push the ball at every opportunity. Don't let Howard setup on D.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

I fully endorse Hack a Howard. Did you see how close Howard was to all out snapping last week when we played the Lakers? If you could read lips, you could see him ing at the line to himself as he missed FT's. He was visibly frustrated and lost his temper. That was one whole game. Imagine a series of him missing 60-70% of his FT's. The guy is a head case, and hacking him will be great for San Antonio.

[TampaDude]

Spurs in 5. WWWLW.

[rmt]

Because he's a Spur. Honestly, there's no logical reason why a guy with his relative youth and body type can't handle 35 mpg, yet a behemoth like M. Gasol can.
Foul trouble notwithstanding, I wouldn't even bother playing Blair. I'd go Duncan 38 mpg, Splitter 34 mpg, Bonner 24 mpg.

Don't want to see Bonner for 24 mpg in ANY playoff game unless he's there to foul DH. Would rather see small ball with Leonard (when Earl Clark is in) at PF.

Couldn't disagree more. Let him go nuts and get his, as well as Gasol, just don't let the others get off from three. Not a single one can create their own shot, so the only way they can generate enough offense to win is if the Spurs overreact to being physically overwhelmed in the post at times.

The reason why I say double-team DH is that he's a terrible passer out of the post and to preserve TD and TS from fouls. Gasol is a different story - he's a wonderful passer. If he's got the ball, stay home on the shooters and watch for the lob to DH. Let Gasol score as much as he wants - he can't score enough to beat the Spurs. If Nash comes back, the dynamics change. He, DH and Gasol can play the pick and roll, pick and pop, alley-oop.[/QUOTE]

[EVAY]

No, Timmy gets credit for the win.

Ah, so you have been paying attention, eh?

[TD 21]

Don't want to see Bonner for 24 mpg in ANY playoff game unless he's there to foul DH. Would rather see small ball with Leonard (when Earl Clark is in) at PF.



The reason why I say double-team DH is that he's a terrible passer out of the post and to preserve TD and TS from fouls. Gasol is a different story - he's a wonderful passer. If he's got the ball, stay home on the shooters and watch for the lob to DH. Let Gasol score as much as he wants - he can't score enough to beat the Spurs. If Nash comes back, the dynamics change. He, DH and Gasol can play the pick and roll, pick and pop, alley-oop.

Actually, Jamison is more the backup PF and Clark the backup SF, but I get your point and I agree. They should definitely go small when they can. Beyond getting away with playing Bonner as little as possible, the other advantage is that hopefully it takes Leonard off of World Peace. I want the Lakers to be consumed with thinking they have a mismatch and force feeding him the ball in the post.

Bad passer or not, he'll make enough basic passes that will lead to wide open threes.