RealGM

We just our ass handed to us...

We need to trade for a big man and get to the line...

Yeah that game pretty much confirms my belief that we cannot beat LA in a series as currently constructed.

Agreed. The game on the 14th of Jan was just fool's gold really, and I admit I was drinking the kool-aid after that win.

But we are simply not on their level at the moment.

The Spurs were bound to having a bad shooting game. Just in the first half the Spurs miss around 16 points worth of wide open shots. I see us as slightly behind the Lakers but close enough where we can beat them. Duncan nor Manu had there typical game and we stayed close for almost three full quarters. We need another big man to close the gap. However, this game only proved our big three must stay aggressive for our role players to shine. The Lakers wanted the win more than the Spurs and played like it.

We love to shoot the three too often and we don't get to the line.

We love to shoot the three too often and we don't get to the line.

I think we're in a better position than this time last year though. I feel the team is stronger than last year. We're stronger at our guard positions, we now actually have a decent packup for TP. Mason has been great and a dead-on clutch performer.

Red Rocket is providing quality minutes at the C position. Granted, we desperately need help up front though. But how many teams have glaring needs at various positions?

The only team that concerns me in the West are LA. The only problem with that is, the Lakers are much improved over last years regular season team. Their D is getting back to what it was in November, they're athletic, they're young - and they have a point to prove (ie. beat the Celts). Plus, you know Kobe just loves to kill us.

Once the playoffs roll around, if we're healthy and firing on all cylinders - who knows? Stranger things have happened.

But my money would be on the Lakers.

If the Spurs don't want the Lakeshow to go back to the finals, they need to make a couple of keys like getting a C and a SF to keep the defense from putting too much pressure on an single players.