West

[mattyc2422]

Timmy D didn't have a great offensive game, but that triple double was vital to the team having a good game.

Jackson and Manu. What can I say? I love those guys and they've injected alot of athleticism and energy compared to last years "Give the ball to Tim and watch him" tactics.

To the Suns, I'd say they've won a bit of respect in this series and they will get a bit of experience. The series was a good tussle. Thank god we came out of it.

Parker and Malik put in once again. Good signs.

As for Steve Smith...I think today's game was proof that he no longer is capable of adding to this team.

The Lakers. Again. I'm excited, yet somewhat wary because of their recent playoff success against us. But, we are a much different Spurs team.

 

[jerry springer]

Laker vs Spurs should be great hopefully the home-court advantage should end the Laker's reign.Its getting too boring with the lakers anyway.How bout the t-wolves losing again in the first-round.Wally has to go.

 

[jerry springer]

Actually in saying that it will be interesting how the referees go,as im sure the league wants a Lakers-KIngs match-up

 

[Dingster]

SA took care of business, but will want to shoot better from the line against the Lakers.

 

[mattyc2422]

Originally posted by Dingster
SA took care of business, but will want to shoot better from the line against the Lakers.

Shoot FT's. Don't commit turnovers.
It's simple!

If we can get on top of that, we have a great chance.

 

[Dingster]

So what are your tactics to get the Spurs over the line?

 

[Kenny_01]

Damn Wolves

Another first round exit.

 

[jerry springer]

Originally posted by Dingster
So what are your tactics to get the Spurs over the line?

If we break even with the laker's starting line-up that will be a start.The spurs need to profit from their deeper bench when Kobe and Shaq rest,especially with Fox out now.Also Parker needs to drive all night at Fisher as he has trouble with quicker guards.Dave needs to play some inspired "D" and Duncan needs to be.....Duncan and go at Shaq or who ever is guarding him alnight.

Winning at home is a must as well.

 

[mattyc2422]

Bruce will have to contain Kobe. If we can keep Kobe to 20 odd points from 30 shots, I'll be happy. Bruce is the man to do it.

Shaq will be tough to contain. David, Tim and Malik will have to collapse on him a bit, and I expect Jackson and Manu to attack him early and to try and draw some early fouls.

Fisher will need to be restricted early. If he hits some long jumpers early, then we will be in trouble. If we put him off his game, we get an advantage. Parker will be able to run around Fisher off the dribble and will be able to get to the bucket alot easier compared to Marbury.

Tim Duncan should have a fair series competing against Horry/Walker.

With Fox being out, Devean George will see a lot more minutes. He should match up on Stephen Jackson and I reckon Jack has a bit of an advantage there. If George is subbed, I can't see Pargo or Shaw doing a whole lot - especially defensively.

A concern I have; Bowen will have to play big minutes on Kobe. Possibly around 40. So, where does Manu Ginobili get is time because we have recently used Jackson and Manu together because their athleticism flows. With only one on the court at a time, we lose a bit of energy.

Quite simply, Shaq and Kobe will get their points. Collectively, they will contribute on the majority of the offence. We need to stick on Kobe, and try and keep the Lakers role players to very little on the offensive end.

The Lakers are reknown for their defence. With Fox out, the Spurs perimeter guys, in Parker, Jackson, Bowen and Manu should have a bit more of an influence.

*Minimise the avoidable, careless turnovers
*Attack the offensive boards
*Hit FT's!
*Don't settle for too many threes. Attack the rim.

Our shooting is not always great. When it's failing, we have to use our strengths and get the ball in to Tim and Malik early.

I reckon the Spurs have the deeper bench, so that could be an important factor.

Talk is cheap, but we are a lot better than previous seasons. We must avoid foul trouble, because I can't see Steve Smith doing a whole lot.

I'm excited for a great series.

 

[jod23]

I just wanna give some big up's to the Phoenix Suns. A thoroughly entertaining series and they will only get better. Marion will get better, Marbury has turned into a team first PG instead of a me first player. If he continues to build on the great season he has this year then he could become the best PG in the league. What more can you say about Stoudemire....he is just gonna be awesome.

As for the T-Pups...well to fair to them, they were unfortunate in drawing the 3 time defending champs in their opening round. I didnt think they would get 2 games off them so I suppose they went better than I thought. But it's time the club had a shake up.

The Lakers arent going to go away and Duncan is still so young with other youngsters like Manu and Parker, they too wont go anywhere. The Kings are obviously gonna be a roadblock for as long as Stoja, Bibby and C-Webb stick around. Then the Suns are gonna get better with Marion/Marbury/Stoudemire! The Rockets will surely get better with The Ming Dynasty into its second year along with Stevie Franchise and Cat Mobley!

But where is the improvement going to come from in Minnesota? Garnett is almost at the peak of his powers and he still cant get them out of the first round. They dont really have any youngsters that look to be getting any better or have an iota of that specialness you see in kids like Stoudemire, Curry, Chandler etc...

IMO they must deal Wally, Rasho, Hudson, get rid of Brandon's contract, get some draft picks, trade for some improving kids. Or if the T-Wolves get desperate trade KG for the number 1 pick in the draft or for picks 2 or 3 with some players. Bring Carmelo Anthony in or Darko Milicic and start again.

But that probably isnt the way to go as replacing KG will be a whole hell of a lot harder to do than replacing role players around him. But something needs to be done to get the T-Pups out of the first round.

Suns, Jazz and T-Wolves on the scrapheap. Only 10 teams remain with a shot at the title.

 

[jod23]

Good post Matty....here is my take on the Spurs v Lakers series.

First of all make sure you win at home. Taking a 2-0 lead to LA puts a world of pressure on the defending champs. New York did that to the Bulls I believe in 96 or 97 IIRC but the Bulls being the champs they are came back and won the series, we are yet to see that from the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant is going to be a problem and if I were Bruce Bowen I would come out publicly and praise Kobe and tell the media how great a player he is and that he is going to have all sorts of trouble guarding him. Champions respond when they are threatened so at all costs dont threaten Kobe or Shaq like the Kings do. The Kings are good enough to have a media bash and still win, the Spurs arent.

Anyone remember the Jordan stopper? He didnt stop bugger all and Jordan made sure of it because of how much attention it received in the media. Dont give LA any more motivation to beat you.

On the court the Spurs must hit their free throws, they were woeful at times during the Suns series and absolutely must make their free throws. You know the Lakers will...foul Shaq in the first quarter 3 times and he will go maybe 2-6, foul him 3 times in the fourth and you can bet Shaq will at least make 5 out of 6. Foul Kobe at any time and he will make both, it's almost automatic. So the Spurs must match the Lakers from the line.

The Spurs must expose the Lakers at the PG SF and PF spots. Duncan must be more aggressive in this series than he was against the Suns. In the Suns series he tended to actually wait for the double and then pass out instead of making his move before the double arrived. TD must take it at Shaq at all costs, try and get the big man in foul trouble.

At PG Parker has a big advantage in quickness over Fisher, something he didnt have over Marbury. Parker must attack the rim at all costs, it spreads the floor for open jumpers and if the defence doesnt collapse then shoot his patented tear drop. He must also do the job defensively on Fisher. The Wolves lost their games to LA not because of Shaq and Kobe but because too often they let Fisher get 15 or 20 points. That takes a huge weight off Shaq and Kobe's shoulders to provide all the offence.

Make Fisher invisible and S&K will have more pressure on them to score, hopefully lulling Kobe into taking too many shots and shooting a low percentage. At SF, Bowen will be guarding Kobe so Manu, Jackson will get pleny of time at the 3 spot. It is a must that they hit their open looks, both teams are pretty similar, Shaq and Duncan when in the post provide wide open shots for their teammates.

Whichever team does the better job of rotating on the loose man or hitting their open jumpers could find themselves in the Conference Finals.

Bottom line...

Hit your FT's
Take Fisher out of the game
Make your open jumpers
Dont give LA any more motivation than they already have
Exploit LA's lack of bench
Duncan must be agressive
Bowen has force Kobe into bad shots

Go Spurs!

 

[Dingster]

There are bound to be some close games. If I`m the Spurs, I want Shaq to beat me. Not Kobe or Horry. Kobe likes to take it and we all know what Horry can do. With Robinson and Duncan, I want Shaq to get the ball as far from the hoop as possible and for him to take a tough shot.

 

[jod23]

Dallas v Portland about an hour from tip off. Can Portland become the first team in history to come back from 3-0 down??

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by jod23
Dallas v Portland about an hour from tip off. Can Portland become the first team in history to come back from 3-0 down??

No! Nowitzki, Nash and Nick the **** come up big and save Dallas from humiliation.

 

[mattyc2422]

Did ya see Sabonis' no-look pass? That was sick!

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by Dingster
and save Dallas from humiliation.

Save?? Perhaps "prolong" is the correct word here. Will they win a game against the Kings?

Business end now, probably the 4 best teams in the league going at it, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Dallas. Should be a couple of awesome series'.

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by jod23
Save?? Perhaps "prolong" is the correct word here. Will they win a game against the Kings?

Business end now, probably the 4 best teams in the league going at it, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Dallas. Should be a couple of awesome series'.

Hehe. It will be interesesting to see if they rise to the challenge or fold like a deck of gards. We know that the Kings will come to play.

We play all season to finally see who talks the talks and who actually can walk the walk.

 

[CURVE]

Dallas defeating Portland in the first round has handed the Kings the Championship. While Lakers and Spurs belt themselves to oblivion in one Semi, Sacemento will cruise to a 4-0 or 4-1 whitewash of the over achieving Mavs. Come the Conference Finals, the Lakers will have little left in the tank and Sacremento will cruise past them as well.

By the way, 38-35 to the Spurs at the half. Fisher is being held and the Lakers are struggling, although Shaq has 12pts and 15reb.

 

[thehardaway]

Spurs get home 87-82

 

[mattyc2422]

Phew!
It seems like we just got out of that game. Lucky Shaq got fouled out late in the game, or the game could have been even closer.

Devean George picked up an injury when Manu Ginobili and he fell. Should miss about 2 games I'd say? That leaves the Lakers very thin. Shaw can't play big minutes, while Kareem Rush ain't ready.

Stephen Jackson had his worst game of the playoffs, but Manu stepped up. Manu is a true gun and is totally vital to our rotation.

Timmy D and David are determined. Great signs.

Bring on Game 2!!

 

[jerry springer]

Good solid win to spurs,that should give them heaps of confidence.Loss of george will really hurt the Lakers.they have no bench at all now,basically is a 2 man team,how many shots did kobe let off!!!!Kobe really has to learn how to make his teamates better,that is the one thing lacking in his game.

Don't know why everyone is giving dallas no hope.I give them a good chance.Sacromento arent the world's greatest defensive team and Dirk could give them fits,he is the X factor.Webber has never been known to explode in the play-offs so if Dallas can contain the outside shooting of the Kings they have a good chance.They need Van Exel to really step up and ignite them though.

 

[jerry springer]

Listen to this utter crap from Phil Jackson

Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the first half - "It kind of went as projected. The first half was like sparring heavyweights, then they got a jump on us in the second half. The difference was the foul shots. They had 35 attempts to our twelve. That’s ridiculous in a ball game this hotly contested. Tim Duncan had more than my whole ball team. I know it was an MVP night for him, but that’s ridiculous."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

gee phil if you were as agressive as the the spurs were, you might get a foul.getting sick of phil's shi.t of late actually,i used to really respect him but he is sounding more like a broken record every time he loses now.Why doesn't he praise the opposition and challange his own team.God I hope the Spurs sweep the fakers then win the championship and then tell the Faker's that there is a * next to last years championship cause the Ref's gave them game 7.Fuc.kin sore loser

And this from Shaq

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On losing 5 in a row to the Spurs - "It’s not a trend. We just didn’t shoot well. We feel good about the position we are in because were not at our best and that team over there played the best they play. We just have to step it up now and shoot the ball better. Even without that we had a chance at the end of the game."


If fat Shaq thinks the Spurs are at there best he is in for a rude shock,I thought the Spurs were average myself.

 

[Darealrath]

Nice one Spurs, stick it up them. Just remember the fundamentals

 

[jod23]

I thought the Spurs were average but they did the things they needed to do.

• They attacked Shaq and it paid off with him fouling out in crunch time
• The Spurs bench pressed the advantage, coming out with energy and outscoring the Lakers bench 28-4!
• Kobe shot the ball 38 times!!! and he had only 2 assists. Not team ball. Individual brilliance may get you out of the first round but the whole Lakers team will need to turn up to beat a quality side like the Spurs.
• Fisher was kept out of the game, leaving LA with no third scorer.

They did the things they needed to. Now they just need to do that 3 more times. Devean George getting injured could be very crucial. Already without Fox for the playoffs if they lose George even for a couple of games it leaves them extremely thin.

 

[mattyc2422]

Originally posted by jod23
Devean George getting injured could be very crucial. Already without Fox for the playoffs if they lose George even for a couple of games it leaves them extremely thin.

Yup.
If they go small, such as Shaw or Rush, the Spurs have a height advantage.
If they go big, such as Walker or Madsen...well, Samaki is just bad.