Getting to the WCF this year

[wizardg]

IMO getting to the WCF this year has been tougher for the Spurs than winning the championship last year.

Also I believe the Spurs have beaten two teams, (Suns & Hornets) each better than any team than Boston, Detroit, and LA have played.

What do you think about our first two rounds compared to our past and compared to the other three survivors first two rounds?

[LyMinh]

Well Boston and Detroit are in the weak East, so of course we've played stronger competition than either of them. New Orleans was the best team, and yeah I'd rather have faced Utah than Phoenix.

[Blame Rasho]

I agree.... we have played the far harder opponents and hopefully that will translate to another championship. Hell, last year I think that the first two series( the Nuggets and Suns) were much harder than the last two series vs the Jazz and Cavs.

[lukeridenour]

i definitely think that we took the hardest path to the WCF and that the experience will bode well for us. we should beat the lakers in 6 and if we play the pistons, it might goto game 7 again.

[bstein14]

This time Detroit would have game 7 in Detroit.

One thing we know, Spurs will not have HC the next two rounds.

I really think SA could win it all.

I picked a SA Detroit finals all year and I won't change it now.

[Ballings7]

Interesting, but obvious, how the Lakers haven't played a solid defensive team yet. We'll see how they all react to the level of play as a whole being increased a level. Especially with a decent part of their roster being younger.

[DEEP3CL]

Interesting, but obvious, how the Lakers haven't played a solid defensive team yet. We'll see how they all react to the level of play as a whole being increased a level. Especially with a decent part of their roster being younger.

Yeah Denver was crap on D but how do you discredit the Jazz ?
The way you make it seem we should just wilt to the defense of the Spurs huh ?

Come on Ballings7 your better than that .

[Blame Rasho]

-= original quote snipped =-

Yeah Denver was crap on D but how do you discredit the Jazz ?
The way you make it seem we should just wilt to the defense of the Spurs huh ?

Come on Ballings7 your better than that .

We were far from an offensive juggurant and we can score at will vs them(Utah).

[DEEP3CL]

We averaged 108 for series against them Rasho, we certainly didn't struggle against them either.

[Blame Rasho]

We averaged 108 for series against them Rasho, we certainly didn't struggle against them either.

Do you understand what is being said?

Lakers haven't played a solid defensive team yet

[Ballings7]

Yeah Denver was crap on D but how do you discredit the Jazz ?
The way you make it seem we should just wilt to the defense of the Spurs huh ?

Come on Ballings7 your better than that .

The Jazz are not a solid or consistent defensive team, I've seen plenty of them to know that.

I never intended to say the Lakers are just going to be owned or something by the Spurs defense. You assumed I meant it like that, I didn't make you feel that way - you took it that way.

All I meant was what I said, because that's how things have gone in the playoffs for the Lakers, up to this point. This is a different level of team the Lakers will be facing, and with the significant increase of defense compared to the Nuggets and Jazz, there will be a difference with the Lakers offense.

Maybe they're up enough to the task, but they also could just as easily not be.

There's no need for me to be better, what I said was truthful and credible. You just took it out of context.

[davidse]

???


the lakers are the no. 1 seed in the confrence.
by defenition you guys should have played the tougher opponenets - and perhaps you did.

but it was something the lakers earned and worked hard for (even though the season was plagued with injuries and still is), it makes for a little fresher legs, and it gives the LAKERS the edge over your team for sure.
and don't kid yourselves that playing tougher opponents translates into a title.
it's the other way around.

bottom line - the lakers are taking care of business, and because they were the better team all year - they get to not only have home court advantage, but also play the "easier" oponents.

thing is, in the west this year - nothing is easy. defenetly not easy enough so that a team can lose it's edge.
so at this point - the tougher path (assuming it was - that's a completely subjective defenition) - translates only to heavier legs.
you have no edge over a team that played the nuggets and jazz but managed to get it done playing two less games.

sorry.

[Blame Rasho]

All Zaza.........NOTHING EASY!!!!

[Ballings7]

Yes, that adds on to that the Spurs basically having no advantages....

The Lakers are going to slow down all three of the Spurs big three to some extent

The Spurs won't be able to have much success defending any of the Lakers big three

Derek Fisher will tire out Tony Parker, making him a 15 PPG, 3-4 apg, lowish 40 percent shooter, combined with everything else that will really lessen him.

Horry's pretty much useless

the Spurs won't be able to defend that well in transition

Sasha Vujacic will get into Manu's head and take him off his game

Udoka will suck like he always has

Ariza on his return, will just, own, on both ends of the floor almost every time he plays

=====

I think the overwhelming projection of the Lakers being quite a bit better, or relative to that, is just ridiculous.

If it turns out like that in the end of the series, I'll give the Lakers their deserved props. But I don't think it's credible yet to say this is going to be a one-sided series, which I've seen a lot of.

[SMRattler]

Compared to last year, this path is much tougher. I think we were the 3rd seed last year too, but we crushed the Nuggz after spotting them a 1-0 lead. We ran the Suns out 4-2. Then those Jazz guys the Lakers just played, never threatened really, out 4-1 and a sweep in the Finals.

This year the West was more competitive than maybe ever. That #3 seed we got was tougher than last year's because of that. We took a Suns team that supposedly got better and dismantled them 4-1. But it took epic efforts sometimes, particularly in game 1.

Next we took a team in the Hornets that some said was our toughest matchup because they had two guys that could get whatever they wanted, they rebounded, they played some of the best defense and had homecourt and "youth" which everyone boasts like the greatest thing in basketball.

Funny, I don't remember the lat time the best "young" team won titles.

But yeah, this series, against a well rested and prepared Lakers team will test how drained we are. These guys have been through the gauntlet many times though. They know how to overcome energy problems with 48 hours between games. Ok, for game 1, we'll have much less rest because of our wonderful charter, but after that we'll be ok.

But to answer the OP question, yep, this path taking us through a Suns team that would normally be much higher rank, the #2 team and their enthusiasm at home, and the #1 seed with Kobe and Phil... if we get through this, it would have to rank as tough as any path any team (not just the Spurs) has taken to a Finals recently.

[Ballings7]

I think the plane thing is somewhat overblown, they still got rest, and then got into a hotel that morning. Then had more rest between then and the game tonight.

[DEEP3CL]

[quote="Ballings7"][/quote]OK Ballings7 maybe I misinterpreted what you originally posted. I do realize the Jazz and Nuggets weren't much of a challenge but may your view of the Jazz is a bit jaded.

Bottom line is the Laker coaching staff knows what the Spurs will attempt to do to them.

[Ballings7]

OK Ballings7 maybe I misinterpreted what you originally posted.

Yes, you did.

but may your view of the Jazz is a bit jaded.

No, it is not jaded at all, because that's how it's been with the Jazz.

Like I said, I saw several games of them - Utah's not a consistently effective defensive team. They foul way too much and have no significant big man to defend the paint. Which contributes to why they foul so much, as well as their team lacking quickness in some spots.

They did well against Houston, because Houston was a limited offensive team.

[DEEP3CL]

OK Ballings7 so level with me, in your opinion the Lakers haven't faced a stingy defense like the Spurs. OK I can deal with that assessment. But you make it as though the Lakers will struggle to score when in fact no team all year has effectively did that.

Now I do know the Spur can effectively take away parts of the triangle seeing as Rob played in it for 61/2 years so he knows certain elements of it.

But what I like about it is that it's not like your basic set most teams run. It's just read the D and react to what it gives. I guess I'll have to see how effective the Spurs can be with their defense.

Hey Ballings did you play in high school or college ?

[Ballings7]

OK Ballings7 so level with me, in your opinion the Lakers haven't faced a stingy defense like the Spurs. OK I can deal with that assessment.

Well it's not my opinion, it's the facts. The Nuggets and Jazz are not legitimate defensive teams. I can't deny what I've seen involving a significant amount of material, on a consistent basis over the last 2 years.

But you make it as though the Lakers will struggle to score when in fact no team all year has effectively did that.

What you're saying here, is similar to what you thought before about the Lakers "wilting" to the Spurs defense.

No, I don't make it like that. I didn't say the Lakers will struggle to score over the course of the series.

I've already stated what I meant in the previous post.

Again, you're assuming, and taking what I've said for more than it really is.

Just because no team all season has slowed down the Lakers offense doesn't mean it can't happen - especially in these latter rounds. I can definitely see it happening in this series, and against either of the Pistons/Celtics if the Lakers move on. I say that, because of the level of ability defensively of those three teams. Be interesting to see.

Hey Ballings did you play in high school or college ?

No.