Trumped Again By The Lakers

[nil.ball]

Is Oderm even signed yet? Lets not start to be too perssimistic.

[MarHill]

The difference between the Spurs and the Lakers is that the Laker core is all in their prime right now. They just won a championship as well, let's not forget that. They were not the team that lost in the 1st round to Dallas despite having HCA. That was the Spurs, that loss IMHO shows just how far SA has dropped in a few short seasons.

The Spurs have two aging stars who are definitely on the downhill of their respective careers, especially in terms of health. Can the Spurs withstand a brutal regular season and draining post season? Given their track record these past two seasons I think that is a legitimate question to ask.

DrHouse,

Heres the point...that a lot of Lakers fans and even some of Spurs fans forget. The last 2 down years for the Spurs they averaged 55 wins. (56wins in 2007-2008; 54 wins in 2008-2009), also they tied for the division le in 2007-2008 which they lost the tiebreaker to the Hornets and 2008-2009 won the division. BTW, it is considered the toughest division in the league.

And during those two seasons....the Spurs had the 2nd or 3rd best record in the Western Conference for most of those seasons. I could see if the Spurs had drop to 45-50 wins and barely got into the playoffs or missed the playoffs. Then I would say the Spurs' time had clearly passed.

Also, TD's game has never been made on pure athleticism alone. Yes, his knees are concern but he showed in game 5 against the Mavs (even though they loss the series) he still has game.

The Spurs FO tried to ride out 2007 championship team until 2010 and stayed status quo for the past two seasons and didn't bring in any young athletic players around the Big 3. Well, after two tough playoff losses...the FO has responded to the challenge by getting RJ (filling a weakness at SF) and will get a big in FA (either Wallace or McDyess or someone else) and got a steal in the draft with Blair at #37.

Even though...some of Spurs fans had felt very disappointed because of the playoff loss. But no team is guarantee to win it every year. And sometimes fans of all good teams forget that!!

The Lakers had their down period after Shaq left in 2004. For the three seasons, Kobe didn't have the right talent around until last year when they traded for Gasol. He even wanted to leave LA and be traded to Chicago or NY.

My point....superstars need the right pieces around them in order to win a championship and everybody has to be healthy as well.

Lastly, I always thought it would take Manu a full season to come back from an injury like his. Considering...he didn't have to have surgery this off-season. I believe he will be healthy and ready to go next season.

The Spurs have adjusted just like the Lakers to remain compe ve in the tough western conference.

And if the Spurs remain healthy....I believe they will have a legitimate shot to win it all!!

Just like the Lakers and Celtics.

But....please don't automatically assume the door is shut on the Spurs because of the last two post seasons. Remember it has seven years since the Lakers won their championship!!

Every team goes through ups and downs and the question is what do you do to respond?

The Spurs have decided to respond like the Lakers did in 2008. And I'm looking forward to both teams being healthy next season and get after each other to see who is the best in the West!!

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Manu does not have the body that Kobe has. He hasn't shown any ability to stay healthy these past two seasons while Kobe has played just about every game. You can't compare the two.

And Duncan's remaining athleticism is dwindling. He's no longer the intimidating presence he once was defensively and he can't carry the load on offense as he gets noticeably tired at the end of games when he has to do too much.

I can't name any Laker core player that suffers from any of these problems. They are all in their primes and in peak athletic condition. That's the difference, look at the facts and you'll see that you are wrong and I am right.

I seriously hope that you dont consider Bynum and Fisher to be "core players" because Fishers athleticism and overall ability to score the ball is dwindling... and as for Bynum he hasnt shown the ability to stay healthy HIS WHOLE CAREER!

[SteelerNation]

I hope Spurs fans dont think Bonner is better than Bynum because the way it looks that is who the Spurs will be stuck with at center when the season opens.

[WildcardManu]

I hope Spurs fans dont think Bonner is better than Bynum because the way it looks that is who the Spurs will be stuck with at center when the season opens.

bynum

[kbrury]

I hope Spurs fans dont think Bonner is better than Bynum because the way it looks that is who the Spurs will be stuck with at center when the season opens.

Especially since the signing period hasn't even started yet.

[carrao45]

This is a big risk for LA. We're talking about Ron Artest, here. The dude is not stable. Throw him into that drama-filled environment with the LA media fishbowl, and anything can happen. You up the pressure on Artest and bad things have a tendency to happen.

Not to mention the fact that he isn't the defender he used to be and can be a huge chucker on a team where Kobe gets all the shots. And Kobe is a ty teammate and domineering personality... this has all the potential of a gigantic trainwreck. Ariza is 6 years younger, doesn't demand the ball, and only getting better.

This is highly volatile. I don't understand why the Lakers take this gamble. It seems highly unnecessary when the Spurs can't keep Duncan and Ginobili healthy for the playoffs and they don't have any other real compe ion in the West.

If PJax can handle Dennis Rodman then he can handle Ron Artest

[NewJerSpur]

If PJax can handle Dennis Rodman then he can handle Ron Artest

Phil is older now and doesn't have a strong-minded supporting cast on the court to back him.

[carrao45]

Phil is older now and doesn't have a strong-minded supporting cast on the court to back him.

Fisher, he is strong minded. And Kobe is as well, plus Ron had a lot of respect for Kobe.

[Strike]

Agree with everything here....only problem is I heard from special sources that the league might allow the Lakers to trade a couple of autographed Jersey's from past players to the Nets for Harris. Take it for what it's worth.

What? Surely you can't be serious! No way the Lakers would be forced to give up THAT much!!! That just wouldn't be fair!!!

[Strike]

If PJax can handle Dennis Rodman then he can handle Ron Artest

I'm sure Rodman playing with Michael Jordan had nothing to do with that. And, let's face it. Kobe is not Jordan.

[carrao45]

I'm sure Rodman playing with Michael Jordan had nothing to do with that. And, let's face it. Kobe is not Jordan.

PJ, Artest, and Rodman discussion turned into a Kobe/MJ comparison in just two posts. some kind of record IMO

[NewJerSpur]

What? Surely you can't be serious! No way the Lakers would be forced to give up THAT much!!! That just wouldn't be fair!!!

Yeah that is a lot, but in this economy the NBA is willing to work with teams to make dreams come true.

[Shastafarian]

If PJax can handle Dennis Rodman then he can handle Ron Artest

Ron Artest isn't Dennis Rodman. Rodman was crazy yes, but he was controlled crazy. He knew what he was doing and didn't really care what other people thought. Ron is just plain bat crazy. He's not in control. No one can control him. It's just luck that he hasn't done something completely nuts in the past year. Oh he snuck into the Lakers locker room and snuck up on Kobe in the shower? My mistake.

[NewJerSpur]

Fisher, he is strong minded. And Kobe is as well, plus Ron had a lot of respect for Kobe.

That's my point, only two vets and one of which tends to letirally get physical when flexing his figurative muscle.

[Strike]

PJ, Artest, and Rodman discussion turned into a Kobe/MJ comparison in just two posts. some kind of record IMO

Touched a nerve, did I?

[carrao45]

Touched a nerve, did I?

Not really, I appreciate Kobe's game, as well as MJ's. I dont feel the need to compare the two, and i dont know why you do

[SouthTexasRancher]

Well, I was happy.

Until last night when I learned that the defending champion Lakers would be signing Ron Artest, the game's best perimeter defender who can also hit a shot.

The Spurs had opportunities to get the mercurial Artest via trade and/or free agency since 2001 when the Bulls offered him to San Antonio for scraps.

Homers like exstatic feared that he would go nuts like he did in Indiana about 5 seasons ago.

Well, I hope his performance with the undermanned Rockets showed you something.

Now the Lakers are more powerful than ever and the Spurs' offseason positioning is all for nothing.

Fvck.

What a stupid idiot. Why don't you just stick your head in the commode and keep flushing till things get better. After all you are a ghost. Can't hurt!!!

[Spurs_210]

I hope Spurs fans dont think Bonner is better than Bynum because the way it looks that is who the Spurs will be stuck with at center when the season opens.

I hope Lakers fans don't think Fisher is anywhere near Parker's level cause he's not...

[Strike]

Not really, I appreciate Kobe's game, as well as MJ's. I dont feel the need to compare the two, and i dont know why you do

Neither do I. Actually, Kobe Bryant is my favorite NBA player not named Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili Or Tony Parker. I have all kinds of respect for Kobe, despite the fact that I'm a die-hard Spurs fan. But to say that Phil Jackson was the only reason for Rodman's stability (if you can put the words "Rodman" and "stability in the same sentence) gives a bit too much credit to Phil and not enough to playing alongside #23, in my opinion. And also, in my opinion, I don't think Kobe compares to Jordan mentally. If Artest makes the Lakers better and he doesn't do something comparable to a mental meltdown, good for him and the Lakers. I just don't see it happening just because Phil Jackson is the coach.

[carrao45]

I hope Lakers don't think Fisher is anywhere near Parker's level cause he's not...

I hope Spur fans dont think Manu is anywhere near Kobe cause he's not...
I hope Spur fans dont think Manu can stay healthy cause he cant...
I hope Spur fans dont think RJ will be as good cause he wont be...
I hope Spur fans dont think anyone on their team can guard Odom cause they cant...
I hope Spur fans dont think Pop is as good as PJ cause he's not...

[carrao45]

Neither do I. Actually, Kobe Bryant is my favorite NBA player not named Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili Or Tony Parker. I have all kinds of respect for Kobe, despite the fact that I'm a die-hard Spurs fan. But to say that Phil Jackson was the only reason for Rodman's stability (if you can put the words "Rodman" and "stability in the same sentence) gives a bit too much credit to Phil and not enough to playing alongside #23, in my opinion. And also, in my opinion, I don't think Kobe compares to Jordan mentally. If Artest makes the Lakers better and he doesn't do something comparable to a mental meltdown, good for him and the Lakers. I just don't see it happening just because Phil Jackson is the coach.

I think Kobe does compare to Jordan mentelly, but even if he doesnt, Artest he a ton of respect for Kobe, and will listen to him, and PJ

[Strike]

I think Kobe does compare to Jordan mentelly, but even if he doesnt, Artest he a ton of respect for Kobe, and will listen to him, and PJ

We'll see if that supposed respect carries over now that they're teammates and not opponents. Either way, good luck to the Spurs AND the Lakers in the 09-10 season. I love seeing them meet in the playoffs even though the Lakers come out on top more often than not.

[carrao45]

We'll see if that supposed respect carries over now that they're teammates and not opponents. Either way, good luck to the Spurs AND the Lakers in the 09-10 series. I love seeing them meet in the playoffs even though the Lakers come out on top more often than not.

It would suck to be a fan of a different team in the West. Because everyone knows its gonna be the Lakers or the Spurs in the Finals

[Strike]

It would suck to be a fan of a different team in the West. Because everyone knows its gonna be the Lakers or the Spurs in the Finals

See: TLongII