RealGM

21-9

VERSUS

25-4

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TV:KCAL
TIME: 5:30PM
ARENA: AT&T CENTER (18,797 CAP) SAN ANTONIO,TX.
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GAME PREVIEW

The Lakers are coming into San Antonio on a two game losing streak after losses to the Bucks and Heat at home. The Lakers are 4.5 games behind the Spurs in the conference, and are currently 4th based on conference records.

The Spurs come into the game off a loss to the Orlando Magic last Thursday, their next game is against the Washington Wizards Sunday in Washington.

KEY MATCH UPS
Bryant vs Ginobili


For the first time in a long time Manu Ginobilli is healthy and playing excellent ball. Kobe for the last few games has struggle with his shooting and his defense has been spotty. He can't roam as much off Manu, so he'll have to stay home or in range of him most of the game when matched up. Manu has the ability to make plays off the dribble for others now as the Spurs have moved away from Tim Duncan being the primary focus on offense. Kobe will have to stay near and push him from side to side and try to funnel him to the interior help. Bottom line it's time for Kobe to earn his praise of a 1st All Team defender.
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Gasol vs Duncan


Tim Duncan is averaging career lows in points, rebounds and minutes played. Popvich is easing the load on his 34 year old center and placing more of the offense on his guard trio of Parker, Ginobili and George Hill. Duncan is averaging 13 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks a game. Pau's job is simple make him work harder on defense. Pau's play lately has been not acceptable. Pau will have to go to work quickly once he receives the ball in the post, make the Spurs decide on and how quick to double. Seeing as the Spurs are under sized compared to the Lakers, Pop may elect to have Tim guard Pau one on one. Pau must win this match up period. These two match ups will decide who comes out on top.

KEYS TO WINNING

Tempo- The Spurs are one of the top teams in fastbreak points, they now look to push tempo.
Not the same team from the past that look to slow it down.

Rebounding-The Lakers are ranked 2nd in the league while the Spurs are tied for 9th.
The Spurs are 12th in offensive rebounding, the Lakers have to limit them to one
shot and out.

Interior Scoring- Bottom line is simple......pound the Spurs interior defense relentlessly.
Put pressure on Duncan and Blair especially.

Final Analysis

All this means nothing if the Lakers don't come ready to play, judging by the last 2 games we just don't know what this team will do or even if they decide to show up.

Damn' Deep this should have been up 30 seconds after the Heat game today, no excuse! What we lost to the Heat, didn't notice, opening gifts. What's that, Heat board ? There was a game today ? Where are the Heat from? Is that the Cleveland team? I get so confused. Stop shouting Heat fan, what ? LALALALALALALALALA, I can't hear you, LALALALALALALALALA.

Nice GT Deep. Merry Xmas.

DubaLakers wrote:Damn' Deep this should have been up 30 seconds after the Heat game today, no excuse! What we lost to the Heat, didn't notice, opening gifts. What's that, Heat board ? There was a game today ? Where are the Heat from? Is that the Cleveland team? I get so confused. Stop shouting Heat fan, what ? LALALALALALALALALA, I can't hear you, LALALALALALALALALA.

Nice GT Deep. Merry Xmas.

I had to mellow out and calm, you know me Dub I can be lethal once I'm pissed. But I left and refocused, seriously though yeah we got beat but nothing about that game struck me as "oh no we can't beat them"..... we lost. Just have to move on and start getting wins or relive 08 all over come spring......if we make it to June.

A MUST WIN.

great game thread as usual deep. i think our guys will respond.

Thanks Deep, I needed some reassurance after today.

I don't mind MIA fan saying statment game, huge win, etc, but the ones that pile on with garbage like kick them when their down shi*...Wade's had a better career than Kobe, Shaq and Pau got him those wins, Kobe can't guard Wade, Kobe's done, I heard these today I could easily get banned for life on the MIA board, but went straight to Real GM Anger Management Solution Class Techniques...Deep breaths.

The first of many, many tests.

Great GT Deep.

I don't wanna hear that the Lakers aren't motivated for regular season games BS anymore.

The Bottom Line is that they have recorded Two Losses in a Row
and they gotta come out with some fire against the Spurs.

You know San Antonio is gonna come out pumped up.

Lakers need to tighten up their defense!
The offense will comeback naturally once we get it together on the "D".

Lets Get It!

I hope we win this game, hopefully we do and it can give us some momentum going forward...

I think we should look to start giving Bynum more minutes... maybe around 24-28

I'm sure San Antonio was watching this game today.

But it really surprised me that Miami was not double teaming Kobe or Gasol today. They played them straight up and still beat them easily.

I'm sure San Antonio is going to push the tempo today and Parker is going to try to make DFish play some D. We will see.

a must win game

Every game a must win.

laduane1 wrote:Every game a must win.

Exactly, smash the inferior teams and just beat the good ones when you can especially on your home floor. It's time to smash now, teams and fan bases getting way too confident about where they stand when facing the Lakers.

drew is ready to break that 20 minute mark, c'mon phil.

Great GT DEEP. We must focus & return to the team we know we can be. Drew's minutes need to start increasing a bit but our starters on a whole need to start playing better

and looks like we're a week or two away from increased minutes. well, hopefully they slowly increase starting with this game. 20-21 would be nice.

WINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MUST WIN!!! I don't care who it is we have to come out there and execute! Screw the complacency, we have to eat our opponent alive!!

That loss yesterday left a bad after taste. I want blood.