Spurs or Hornets?

[milesfides]

Really, the Spurs' defense had a lot to do with how they played Chris Paul.

Our lack of consistent defense would have freed Paul to abuse our team, like he did all year.

I feel we play the Spurs a lot better than the Hornets. We match up with them better. Our combination of isolation players and great passing makes it difficult for the Spurs to shut down our offense - although I'm guessing that will happen at certain points of the series.

But the Spurs are the storied franchise, the reigning champs, the right enemy, and beating them is destiny. For the respect factor, for the sake of posterity, beating the Spurs means a lot more than beating the Hornets.

And beating the Spurs will give us the needed confidence to face and conquer the Celtics.

[Verbal]

As one of my favorite current commentators/analysts likes to say:

"You couldn't script this!" -Hubie Brown

http://youtube.com/watch?v=K6yXgcd0P-E

"i think this game is scripted anyway by the coaching staff of the lakers, they came out with a perfect first half then they tease you and allow you back in and now this guy (kobe) has just put in two incredible shots" -Hubie Brown

Here's a snippet, in case y'all missed it.^

[B-Scott]

I fear the Spurs a lot more then the Hornets because they D up and they don't rely on 1 guy to create for the entire team. Relying on your PG to basically do 95% of the work when it comes to creating high percentage shots for teammates in the long run can be contained. Just make Chris Paul a scorer and make David West create his own shot opportunities. David West is not the low post threat of a Tim Duncan when it comes to simply posting up and either scoring or passing out the double team. west relies on Chris Paul setting him up for the open 18 footer. The key to containing that is make Paul a scorer and simply stay on West. Peja always chokes in the playoffs.

The Spurs have 3 stars who are battle tested in big games in Manu, Duncan and Parker. All 3 have the ability to force your defense to collapse, then they re-kick to the open shooter. There willingness to be unselfish once doubled.

The Spurs also have more of a ability to play straight up 1 on 1 defense and stay on our shooters. Unlike the Hornets who don't have a defensive wing player to make Kobe work. Hornets would have had to double Kobe and that would have left our shooters wide open. I think we would have averaged 110 points + on the Hornets.

Bruce Bowen makes Kobe work a lot more then whatever the Hornets got at SF. Didnt Kobe drop 81 on Mo Peterson

[LLcoleJ]

Kobes " work " is a non-issue. If the Spurs want to double Kobe.. then perfect. Thats what we want. We have Gasol and Odom to make them pay and good 3 point shooters in fisher, Sasha, Vlad..etc..

Kobe will either get his or let the rest of the team pick them apart. We are a very balanced offensive team that any team in the league will have trouble with.

Why its better to play the Spurs over the Hornets is because we can play the half court game and we can run.

Its not going to be easy by any stretch to play the Spurs. But having a team that can get out and run on us...has always posed a problem.

I think you are not appreciating the balance we have... Yes, we have shooters.. but we also have low post theats in Gasol and Odom AND Shooters.

So, pick your poison. double Kobe and pay.. The Lakers are one of the better passing teams in the league with finishers at every position.

Kobe has also always played well against SAS.



Lets go!

[LLcoleJ]

I fear the Spurs a lot more then the Hornets because they D up and they don't rely on 1 guy to create for the entire team. Relying on your PG to basically do 95% of the work when it comes to creating high percentage shots for teammates in the long run can be contained. Just make Chris Paul a scorer and make David West create his own shot opportunities. David West is not the low post threat of a Tim Duncan when it comes to simply posting up and either scoring or passing out the double team. west relies on Chris Paul setting him up for the open 18 footer. The key to containing that is make Paul a scorer and simply stay on West. Peja always chokes in the playoffs.

This is a funny post. You were saying in a couple other threads awhile back that you cant just double Paul ..because he will find the open man. I guess that doesnt bode well for your current point.

[B-Scott]

Where in my post am i saying to double Paul. I said make him a scorer and stay on everyone else. This means avoid helping out on him and just stay on West and Peja. This strategy doesnt work as well with Tony Parker because Duncan can create better from the low post then David West and Gionobli can attack the basket also and create problems for your defense. Unlike Peja

West and Peja without Paul creating for them are not as good as Duncan and Gionobli withouit Parker creating for them and that was proven in last nights game 7. Just stay on West Mid-Range jumper and make him create his own shot.

This is how we beat them by 39 earlier in the season.

[LLcoleJ]

Where in my post am i saying to double Paul. I said make him a scorer and stay on everyone else. This means avoid helping out on him and just stay on West and Peja. This strategy doesnt work as well with Tony Parker because Duncan can create better from the low post then David West and Gionobli can attack the basket also and create problems for your defense. Unlike Peja

West and Peja without Paul creating for them are not as good as Duncan and Gionobli withouit Parker creating for them and that was proven in last nights game 7. Just stay on West Mid-Range jumper and make him create his own shot.

This is how we beat them by 39 earlier in the season.

Yes, we beat them good in the reg. season ( 1 time) We had Bynum also.
They beat us pretty good too. Making Paul a scorer is easier said then done. Pop tried that and it took 7 games to figure it out.

I am not saying either matchups will be easier. However, Paul is more explosive with the ball than Parker and has a bigger front line of finishers in Chandler and West. Plus they run more than the Spurs.

Make no mistake,playing the Spurs will be difficult to say the least. However, Phil is also more clued in on Pop's system. Its going to be a dog fight with our Offense out shining theirs if we have a chance to win this series.

[LLcoleJ]

Where in my post am i saying to double Paul. I said make him a scorer and stay on everyone else. This means avoid helping out on him and just stay on West and Peja. This strategy doesnt work as well with Tony Parker because Duncan can create better from the low post then David West and Gionobli can attack the basket also and create problems for your defense. Unlike Peja

West and Peja without Paul creating for them are not as good as Duncan and Gionobli withouit Parker creating for them and that was proven in last nights game 7. Just stay on West Mid-Range jumper and make him create his own shot.

This is how we beat them by 39 earlier in the season.

oh and...you cant just go 5 on 5 and let Paul pick us apart either. You are going to need to double and trap Paul and or Parker. 2 quick guards that can score. However, with Paul you have a guy who can score 25 points and 15 asssits.

You seem to look at last nights game as how well the Spurs have played in this series. The 3 other games in NO they were blown out by 19 points. Thats pretty scary for such a young team to do that to such an experienced team.

[Erik Eleven]

The Spurs won the WC semi-finals for two reasons, in my opinion:

1) The Spurs were disciplined enough to step it up
2) The Hornets were inexperienced enough to choke completely

I actually thought the Hornets had what it takes to beat them.

[howard2]

From ESPN
5/20/08
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sec ... id=3404892

Western Conference finals capsule preview

A look at the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals, which begin Wednesday night (with regular-season record, playoff series marks in parentheses):

No. 1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS (57-25, 8-2) vs. No. 3 SAN ANTONIO SPURS (56-26, 8-4).

Season Series: Tied, 2-2, with each team winning both its home games. The Spurs were never at full strength in Los Angeles, missing Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in their first loss and Manu Ginobili on April 13, when the Lakers rolled to a 106-85 victory to clinch the Pacific Division title. That was the only meeting after the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol. Kobe Bryant averaged 24.3 points for the Lakers, while Parker scored 20.7 per game for the Spurs. Ginobili managed just 14.3 on 31 percent shooting.

plus more

[Trifecta7]

I think the adjustment of Bowen on Peja killed the Hornets. In the first two games, he had a 22 and a 25 point game. After Bowen was on him, it was a 8, 6, 9, 13, and 7 point game. His disappearance finally caught up in Game 7 for the Hornets where they needed his production.