GAME#53 LAKERS VS SPURS 2/8/10 7:30PM TNT

[DEEP3CL]

NBA RIVALRY MATCH UP

39-13 1st in Conference
VS
29-20 6th in Conference




FISHER| BRYANT | BYNUM | ARTEST | GASOL





PARKER| BOGANS | BLAIR | JEFFERSON | DUNCAN

ARENA: STAPLES CENTER LOS ANGELES,CA
TV:TNT
TIME:7:30PM PST


SEASON & SERIES NOTES
Welcome to the second match up of 4 between the Lakers and Spurs for the 09-10 season. This will be the 137th game between the two championship franchises. The Lakers won the season series last season 2-1. The Lakers are 6-5 against the Spurs in their last 11 games Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 16-19 against San Antonio in the regular season. In the postseason,Jackson is 15-7 against the Spurs, advancing to the next round in four of five series meetings.


KEYS TO WINNING GAME
Against the Spurs it's always going to be about controlling the boards,the Lakers should dominate the boards against the Spurs but DeJuan Blair at 6'7" is a beast for his size but the longer Lakers front line should be able to hold them off. Secondly the Lakers must control the tempo, the Spurs have added players specifically to match up with the Lakers so Popovich will be eager to see what his team does against them. The Spurs in the past have preferred to play a slow tempo with L.A., but now they're a little more up tempo with the new additions.

Last but not least the Laker must pound the ball in the paint and exploit the lack of size on the Spurs front line. If Blair is on Bynum, the Lakers need to give Bynum a touch on every possession they have in the game to keep the Spurs defense off balance since Duncan will be the help defender. This means Lamar Odom should have a field day if the Spurs double off him, he has to make them pay. Parker will be effective against Fisher, but Fish has been known to stick some daggers against them. Shannon Brown will guard Parker some and Farmar should provide a change of pace.

HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF YOU

[iamworthy]

Are the Spurs even considered contenders anymore? This is no longer a big game for us, its just another game.

Nice GT DEEP!

[magic1fan]

great game thread...here's to another total team effort like we had against the blazers.

[Anklebreaker702]

Great GT DEEP. I want to get this one back.

[DEEP3CL]

Are the Spurs even considered contenders anymore? This is no longer a big game for us, its just another game.

Nice GT DEEP!

I totally agree iamworthy........just another of 82 that we play, the Spurs are no longer contenders and though Spur fans will say other wise it shows that they are clearly blinded. The deterioration of that team before our eyes since their last title in 07, has came quick and hit them extremely hard.

Problem is their core guys got old and used up fast, Parker is the youngest but international competition has taken his body. Same as it has for Ginobili and Duncan has been in regression for years.

Pretty sure SApuro will be here since we have them tomorrow. It seems like it was only a few short weeks ago that all the Spur fans came from out of now where when they started that little run.

Now all you have is silence........

[dockingsched]

not sure if u agree with the just another game thing. i wouldn't be ok with just shrugging off another loss to this team, kobe or no kobe.

[DubaLakers]

Here we go again with an unguardable PG, TPark is back.

I disagree that the Spurs aren't a threat anymore, the SAS are in the hunt and are a threat.

I try not to jump to conclusions until that trade deadline passes.

[DEEP3CL]

not sure if u agree with the just another game thing. i wouldn't be ok with just shrugging off another loss to this team, kobe or no kobe.

Yeah that's true dcash, I mean it's still the Spurs. I think what myself and iamworthy was getting at is that the gusto is gone a little, but heck I still love sticking it to them dudes.

[sunsfever68]

The reason the Spurs are not a defensive unit any more is because of Bruce Bowen not being there like the Bowen from years ago and how duncan and ginobili have deteriorated in health. Bruce didn't allow dribble drive penetration which is now killing the Spurs just like it kills every defense because it forces people to switch leave a man open. NBA players hit open shots usually.

Bowen was the cog to that defense. It's great he's not playing anymore he was a little bit dirty and he was a pest.

[chefy]

the spurs are always known for keeping it low in the season and then surprising everyone in the playoffs

they might be just resting their key players right now and letting the bench players get some burn

so yeah I wouldn't count them off

plus a threat/contenders or not, this game would be a good challenge for us. spurs are probably the most focused and the most disciplined team in the nba.

[TylersLakers]

Hopefully Andrew plays. He usually dominates against Duncan.

[The Skyhook]

Have you guys seen the General Board and all the crap they are saying about Laker fans being Laker fans? It honestly pisses me off because those people will never state how they became fans of their team yet the assume ways of how we became Laker fans. When I bet most of them became fans of their team the same exact way many of us did.

Can someone please tell me the proper way of becoming a fan of a team in sports. Maybe I should stop "pretending" to be a Lakers fan after over a decade of supporting this team until I find the way to become a fan of a team according to the laws of Real GM general board.

[dockingsched]

Hopefully Andrew plays. He usually dominates against Duncan.

dominates? eh. i'd say bynum is able to neutralize duncan, which is already saying a lot.

[Sofa King]

Have you guys seen the General Board and all the crap they are saying about Laker fans being Laker fans? It honestly pisses me off because those people will never state how they became fans of their team yet the assume ways of how we became Laker fans. When I bet most of them became fans of their team the same exact way many of us did.

Can someone please tell me the proper way of becoming a fan of a team in sports. Maybe I should stop "pretending" to be a Lakers fan after over a decade of supporting this team until I find the way to become a fan of a team according to the laws or Real GM general board.

Don't let it get to you. They are just haters.

Look at Kobe and how much hate he had to endure as a Laker and then some.

[Donald Kaufman]

Problem is their core guys got old and used up fast, Parker is the youngest but international competition has taken his body. Same as it has for Ginobili and Duncan has been in regression for years.

How is Duncan in regression as you put it? I'll give you Manu, he's done - but show me evidence that TD has regressed, because I don't see it and the numbers don't support your uninformed theory.

[magic1fan]

Have you guys seen the General Board and all the crap they are saying about Laker fans being Laker fans? It honestly pisses me off because those people will never state how they became fans of their team yet the assume ways of how we became Laker fans. When I bet most of them became fans of their team the same exact way many of us did.

Can someone please tell me the proper way of becoming a fan of a team in sports. Maybe I should stop "pretending" to be a Lakers fan after over a decade of supporting this team until I find the way to become a fan of a team according to the laws of Real GM general board.

don't let it bother you. people always hate the best,and we are the BEST franchise in basketball history.

[SApuro_]

Time for the Spurs to wax that ass again.

[butter17]

Time for the Spurs to wax that ass again.

Crack kills.

[semi-sentient]

This would be a solid win, if for no other reason than to make up for that whooping last time out.

[Pablo Escobar]

Is Kobe going to play or is he still out with his ankle