Reply With Quote
Only guy that bothers me is Gasol.
Other than that. Meh.
We all know the current Spurs struggles, both on health and game... but I want to focus a bit on actual matchups.
In the last game, Pop played Tiago on Gasol and TD on Dwight. I'm not sure that's the way to go. While it's true that you want to keep TD near the basket at all times and Gasol likes to pull out more, the Lakers really have nobody that can penetrate from the perimeter on a consistent basis (MWP would be the exception, but he just barrels to the basket). Putting Tiago on Dwight makes it easier to foul Dwight without TD racking up fouls. Also Tiago has had much more difficulty trying to play outside the paint, where Gasol like to operate these days.
The rest of the Lakers are fairly average and below-average players. But they can shoot. It will be key for guys like Green, Kawhi, TP, etc to not go help or double-team. Stay in front of your guy, fight through screens and make them put the ball on the floor.
Steals and transition will be another aspect the Spurs need to focus on. Lakers like to turn the ball over, and they're pretty bad in transition D.
For the Lakers the gameplan is fairly easy: pack the paint, and make the Spurs beat you from outside. Spurs will likely run pick & roll to death, but Lakers will be happy to give up the shot every time.
Only guy that bothers me is Gasol.
Other than that. Meh.
Here is one concern.
I'm pretty confident that we'll be outscored by a lot when/if Blair is on the court.
I'd keep Duncan on Dwight. Duncan, the last couple years, has been great against him.
If you put Splitter on Dwight, the possible (likely) ramifications:
-Splitter's lack of physicality could be exposed.
-Splitter could get in early foul trouble -- and then the Spurs would be really F'ed without Diaw.
-It'd likely be a cross match, which would mean even more running for Duncan.
-Duncan muscling in the post will cause less wear and tear than "chasing" Gasol (even though there's not much to chase with him).
Besides, Duncan has been great at staying out of foul trouble. He might get in foul trouble against D-Ho but that's a chance the Spurs have to take, IMO.
One other disadvantage for the Spurs to consider is that these Lakers are used to play 40mpg night in and night out... basically, I doubt we'll see much bench play from the Lakers. Spurs on the other hand are not that used to the extended minutes play, and will have to rely on the bench sometimes playing against starters.
So you're saying the Spurs should only foul Dwight on controlled Hack-A-Dwight situations and just let him get his throughout the rest of the game?
That's kind of what I'd like to avoid. I figured if Tiago does get in foul trouble, Lakers will be likely in the bonus anyways, and you can just send in Bonner/Banes and start hacking away.
IMO, if TD gets in foul trouble, god helps us all.
-Splitter plays Gasol well. Tim usually plays Howard well. Better to have Tim closer to protect the rim If they can adequately defend the Lakers front court without a double team, i don't see how the Lakers can put up enough points tbh.
-The lakers perimeter rotation is essentially their bench tbh so they can play 40+mpg for all i care.
- Rebounding will again be key. Kawhi/Green are going to have to step up rebounding wise in the series.
-If the Spurs don't defend every Laker perimeter player extremely tight (Blake, Meeks, Jamison, Artest, etc.), Pop should be fired after the series tbh.
then we're gonna have to rely on Tny P
Keep Duncan on Dwight and Tiago on Pau. Splitter is the more agile of the 2, and I don't trust Tiago to win rebounds against Dwight. Tim is expert at staying out of foul trouble.
If Parker can hit jumpers from the free throw line extended, this series ends in 4.
The Lakers are severely flawed. They want to play inside out, but outside of Blake, have no consistent 3 point shooters. I would love to knock Blake, as he's been overrated as a shooter throughout his career, but he's having a fine season from 3. Meeks is their 3 point "specialist" who ended the season shooting under 36% from range. Jamison, MWP, Clark, Morris are all somewhere between 33 and 36% as well. Typically an inside-out team wants guys shooting north of 38%, like when the Magic had Rashard, Turkoglu, Alston, etc. With Nash out, the Lakers are in deep , as we'd like to double their post guys with anybody except Blake's man.
On offense, just bring Dwight out on pick and roll
Every laker guard/forward is worthless from the 3pt line down tbh. If the Spurs can adequately defend the 3, then LA struggles to score above 90.
the only way Splitter has a chance vs Howard is if they front him and send Leonard down from the baseline to help on the catch and rotate back
Lakers will play slow on offense
ball will hit halfcourt around 17 about every play
takes about 7-10 seconds to set up an entry pass
and if the front delays the time then theyll be forced to rush bad outside shots
Gasol is a great passer though and Howard can monkeyball with the best of them
thats why Tim is just better off on Howard
when guarding the pick and roll spurs need to stop the midrange from coming off a screen
unfortunately so are ALL spurs outside Duncan in the last 10+ gamesrest of the lakers are average to below average players
Hoping Parker can play well. I'm sure Kawhi will do good but I'm worried Danny will be cold.
Sorry..Spurs playing 5 vs 8 against the biggest $$$ generating team in the NBA
Spurs are gonna have to blow 'em out every game to win.
Any game that's only 10-12 pts in the 4th is gonna get reffed for the Fakers
Add in the open animosity btwn Stern and PATFO.....
That being aid GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!
Neal & Green are primed for big series IMO... they will both get a ton of good clean looks against the lakers and their paint packers. Green especially will be the key to the series and he will come through with flying colors.
Might Baynes be used for sporadic "hack-a-Howard" moments?
tbh if we have to play our scrubs a lot of minutes, things will not bode well.
these guys should get bulk of minutes:
TP
TD
Splitter
Green
Kawhi
we basically have NO BENCH. Let's hope Manu is available and at least we possibly have a bench that can at least stay compe ive vs. Lakers bench:
Manu
Bonner
Blair
Neal
If Tony plays like in Jan/Feb, we'll sweep them. Simple as that. If Tony plays like 1-10 in the last game against them, we're in a big upset. If Tony plays in between, we are in a dog fight.
I agree with LJ's assessment in his random thoughts, in the first round, it's all about the Spurs, or specifically Tony.
Just need Tony and Ginobili healthy, and please God no hack-a-Howard.
Outside of Jamison and Clarke, Lakers don't play a 'bench'. D'Antoni has been running the same 7 guy rotation for weeks now, with Meeks being upgraded as a starter when Kobe went down.
Unless Nash comes back before the series is over, the Spurs' bench, whatever it is, will most likely play most of their minutes against the Lakeshow starters.
Diaw injury is huge. He plays well against Lakers, especially Gasol.
Parker just needs to step up. if TP plays up to decent level no match-ups discussion will be needed, LA gon be ed. But then again, it's TP. Very mysterious.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
